THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS
TEXT- LUKE 25:1-6
INTRODUCTION
ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1780 A BRITISH MAJOR NAMED JOHN ANDRE TOOK A BOAT RIDE UP THE HUDSON RIVER TO MEET WITH AN AMERICAN GENERAL IN ORDER TO MAKE PLANS TO BETRAY WEST POINT AND THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY. THIS INFAMOUS GENERAL NAMED BENEDICT ARNOLD MAS THE COMMANDER OF WEST POINT AND HAD FALLEN UPON HARD TIMES FINANCIALLY AND HAS PROMISED A SUBSTANTIAL SUM OF MONEY AS WELL AS THE POSITION OF BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE BRITISH ARMY IF HE WOULD BETRAY THE AMERICANS.
NEARLY TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL MAS BUSILY MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO BETRAY JESUS CHRIST THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND.
THIS MORNING IS THE DAY THAT WE CULMINATE OUR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN.
DURING MY LAST TWO MESSAGES I HAVE EMPHASIZED HOW GOD GIVES TO YOU AND ME IN ABUNDANCE.
AS PAUL TOLD US IN EPHESIANS 3:16 GOD DOESN'T GIVE TO US OUT OF HIS RICHES BUT ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES.
THEN LAST WEEK I EMPHASIZED HOW THAT AS CHILDREN OF GOD EACH ONE OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN VARIOUS KINDS OF TALENTS BY THE LORD AND THAT EACH OF US ARE TO USE THESE TALENTS FOR THE GROWTH OF THE BODY OF CHRIST WHICH IS THE CHURCH.
THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 22:1-6 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS. "
SOME TODAY MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF, "HOW DOES THIS KIND OF TEXT GO ALONG WITH STEWARDSHIP OR FOR THAT MATTER THE RESURRECTION?"
I BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT OUR FAITHFULNESS IN GIVING SERVES AS A TESTIMONY THAT JESUS LIVES.
HEBREWS 7:8 IN THIS CASE MORTAL MEN RECEIVE TITHES, BUT IN THAT CASE ONE RECEIVES THEM, OF WHOM IT IS WITNESSED THAT HE LIVES ON.
AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT THREE THINGS THAT ARE FOUND IN THESE VERSES.
LET'S LOOK NOW AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT STEWARDSHIP AND FAITH IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.