Apostle's Sermon notes 10/5/2025

I Can't Turn Back

Written By Apostle Clinton Bethea III, D. Evan. 10/5/2025 (7:50 AM Completed)

Luke 9:51-62 NKJV

[51] Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, [52] and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. [53] But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. [54] And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” [55] But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. [56] For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. [57] Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” [59] Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” [61] And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV

[31] “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Focus Scripture(s):

Luke 9:62 NKJV

[62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

I Can't Turn Back

Intro:

The Biblica Study Bible Commentary clearly defines Matthew 6:16-34 as follows:

Jesus emphasizes that having God at the center of our thoughts and actions is paramount. TRUE care for anything can only be achieved through trust and love for God. When money and material possessions dominate our lives, we inevitably serve false gods, distancing ourselves from the true Creator. Worry must not control God's children; our Father in heaven knows and loves us deeply. The Creator ensures the well-being of all living beings, including humanity, demanding that His children place their unwavering trust in Him. We are called to fulfill our Father's will within His kingdom.

When it comes to heaven, the Biblica Study Bible Commentary asserts:

In the Bible, the term "heaven" has two distinct meanings. The first refers to the sky above the earth, while the second denotes the realm where God, the King and Creator, rules supreme. Heaven is not a physical location to be traversed by the flesh or mortal body; it is the sacred space where God is rightfully worshipped.

John 4:19-26 NKJV

[19] The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. [20] Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 

[21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 

[23] But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 

[24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

[25] The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

In the new creation, God will bring heaven to earth. People cannot fully understand or imagine what heaven is like.

Matthew 6:10 NKJV

[10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I Can't Turn Back

To advance from this point, it is crucial to grasp the significance of apocalyptic writing.

The term "apocalypse," derived from Greek, means to reveal or uncover something. Apocalyptic writing has been a staple among Jewish and Christian prophets. These prophets utilized vivid signs and imagery to address events unfolding on Earth. Such signs and images unveil essential spiritual truths about these occurrences, enabling people to understand God's perspective. They clearly demonstrate how God will save His people and judge their enemies. The powerful and often frightening imagery in apocalyptic writing is designed to command attention and provoke thought.

I Can't Turn Back

When discussing the Kingdom of God, it is imperative to grasp the significance of the major prophet Isaiah and his profound messages regarding God’s impending judgment and the promise of a new creation.

The Biblical Study Bible Commentary on Isaiah 24:1-27:13 asserts that the judgment messages in these chapters address the entire world. They exemplify apocalyptic writing, employing powerful and striking imagery to communicate the reality of judgment. Isaiah faced immense difficulty in delivering these messages, as they evoked feelings of weakness and despair.

These judgment messages present dire warnings for those who are prideful and for those who place their trust in fortified cities—symbolizing reliance on governments or armies instead of on God Himself. Moreover, these messages serve as a stark reminder to the spiritual forces of evil, including malevolent beings and the devil, of their inevitable downfall.

Conversely, the messages of hope articulated in these chapters hold profound significance for all nations. They declare that God will reign supreme as the King of the entire world. He will dismantle the proud cities, which signifies the overthrow of governments and leaders that fail to emulate His model of righteous leadership. This reality will bring immense joy to those who have been oppressed by such authorities. Every individual will learn to act justly, and all nations will honor God. Those once seen as enemies of God will have the opportunity to reconcile with Him, finding safety and solace in His presence. God will eradicate sorrow and shame, vanquish death, and grant life once more to His people.

This period of joy is portrayed as a magnificent feast prepared by God for all nations on Mount Zion—the sacred site of the temple. This imagery powerfully illustrates how God intends to bless all nations through Israel, leading every nation to worship Him as the one true God. These messages compel people to raise their voices in songs of praise to God. The Jewish people understood that Isaiah’s prophecies pointed to a future time. Many of these promises of hope began to materialize when Babylon fell. Furthermore, the visions in John’s Book of Revelation resonate strongly with Isaiah’s themes of judgment and hope. Revelation chapters 19 to 22 unequivocally clarify when Isaiah’s prophecies will be fully realized—when Jesus reigns as the sovereign King in the new creation.

John 14:15-18 NKJV

[15] “If you love Me, keep My commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

I Can't Turn Back

The Apostle Paul firmly instructs us to live in harmony and actively collaborate with our Lord Jesus Christ to advance the kingdom of God.

Paul was a key figure in establishing the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1–18) and dedicated over a year to teaching about Jesus in that city. In his letter to the Corinthians, he asserted his position as an apostle chosen by God. He did not serve the Corinthians based on personal authority but on the authority of God Himself. The Corinthians became part of God’s people through their belief in Jesus, and they have been blessed with new life through Him.

Paul passionately called for an end to their divisions. The believers in Corinth were splitting into factions, following different human leaders: Paul, Apollos, and Peter. However, it is crucial to understand that all these leaders taught the same core message: to follow only the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul made it unmistakably clear that the Corinthians should not align themselves with any human teacher. Serving Jesus as Lord is what unites His followers as one body.

1 Corinthians 1:4-10 NLT

[4] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 

[5] Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 

[6] This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. [7] Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

[8] He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 

[9] God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[10] I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 

I Can't Turn Back

Hebrews 3:1-15 NLT

[1] And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. [2] For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house. 

[3] But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 

[4] For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God. [5] Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 

[6] But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. 

[7] That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, [8] don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. 

[9] There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. [10] So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ [11] So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’” 

[12] Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 

[13] You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 

[14] For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 

[15] Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”

The Biblica Study Bible Commentary underscores the crucial connections made by Hebrew writers between Israel's history of rebellion and the vital lessons we must draw from their experiences.

The story of Israel stands as a definitive warning and powerful example for all followers of Jesus. Time and again, the Israelites stubbornly ignored Moses and blatantly disobeyed God's commands. Consequently, many failed to enter the land that God had promised them. Among those who received the message of Hebrews were Jewish believers who honored Moses and the Law. However, the writer of Hebrews explicitly urged them to strengthen their commitment to Jesus, whom he identified as their apostle and high priest. They must resolutely cling to their hope and faith in Christ.

I Can't Turn Back

In Closing:

In our examination of Luke 9:51-62 (NKJV), we assert that the remainder of Luke's gospel focuses on Jesus' decisive journey to Jerusalem, where He would fulfill His mission by sacrificing His life to save humanity from sin and ultimately reign as King from heaven.

During this journey, a village in Samaria flatly refused to welcome Jesus. However, He refrained from punishing them for their rejection. Similarly, He chose not to punish those who declared their intent to follow Him but later failed to uphold their promises. Jesus made it clear that entrance into God's kingdom is an invitation, not one achieved through violence or coercion; it is a choice individuals must actively make.

The book of Joshua powerfully illustrates this imperative to choose God, emphasizing the vital role of personal decision in one's spiritual journey.

Joshua 24:14-18 NKJV

[14] “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! [15] And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [16] So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; [17] for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed. [18] And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”

But Jesus comes to us today with a better covenant and makes it even easier to choose Him, as the only begotten Son of God, sent by His father to pay the price for us so we can be enrolled into the mission of leading by example to the rest of the world around us, as to what an outstanding person really is; because without the Lord Jesus we are nothing.

Romans 10:5-11 NKJV

[5] For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” [6] But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) [7] or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): [9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 

With Jesus: You will be Outstanding and will not be put to shame

Without Jesus: You will be put to shame and have nothing to stand on

I will leave you with this quote by Zig Ziglar

"Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission"

In today's world, time is too valuable to waste. Stand firm in the righteousness of God and commit yourself fully to your father's business.

I Can't Turn Back

Here’s the question: Are you enrolled in the mission, or are you just drifting through life with selfish ambitions?

This is your call to action: Today is the day to make a decision. Will you choose to enroll and commit to your Father's business?

Connect now and experience the transformative power of God in your life through your unwavering commitment and obedience.

I Can't Turn Back