FBCWest 351 | Jesus' Testimony About Himself
Recorded On: 09/01/2019
Bulletin
FBCWest
September 1, 2019
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
Love You, Lord”
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 23
“Your Love Awakens Me”
“Up and Up”
“Raise a Hallelujah”
“You Alone Can Rescue”
GIVING OF SELVES AND OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
MESSAGE Pastor Joe
“THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH”
“Jesus’ Testimony about Himself”
Time of Reflection
PRAYER TIME
“My Savior, My God”
Benediction “Only Jesus”
Scritpures
John the Baptist
Luke 7:17 This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district. A Deputation from John
Luke 7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.
Luke 7:19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"
Luke 7:20 When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, `Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'"
Luke 7:21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:22 And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
Luke 7:23 "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."
Luke 7:24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:25 "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!
Luke 7:26 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
Luke 7:27 "This is the one about whom it is written, `BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'
Luke 7:28 "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
Luke 7:29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and the 1lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
Luke 7:31 "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?
Luke 7:32 "They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, `We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'
Luke 7:33 "For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, `He has a demon!'
Luke 7:34 "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, `Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
Luke 7:35 "Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
Transcript of Service
We are.
Going through a series.
On the earthly life and Ministry of Jesus.
And when I initially.
Decide to do this series, I was going to admit.
This particular teaching.
Because it doesn't deal directly with the life and Ministry of Jesus that deals with.
John.
But I decided last couple weeks that I would take if you will.
A commercial timeout.
Now in a sense of a commercial time I'm not trying to sell you anything so you can your wallet safe.
It's more like a public service announcement. You know how if you watch television. It's always telling you not to drink and drive 'cause. The consequences are serious or found a radio you hear you're not supposed to text and drive because the consequences of the same if they've public service announcement. They're not trying to sell you anything there. Just wants you to conform to safety standards. And so I guess it's better to call this instead of a commercial a disciple.
Service sermon.
Because what we're going to talk about.
Every disciple will experience at least once and probably multiple times in his or her.
Life of
Following Jesus and ministering therefore so we're gonna take a look.
At this instance in John the baptizer's life, but the context is in verse 17 of Luke Chapter 7. It says that uh this report. Concerning him that being Jesus went out all over Judea and all the surrounding district. So Jesus was healing and raising the dead. In doing all sorts of miracles and especially the resurrection of the dead just.
Went out everywhere.
Now, John.
Who was the one who baptized Jesus? Who is the one? Who said Behold the Lamb of God Who?
Takes away the sins of the world. The one who was baptizing one so that People could attack knowledge. The forgiveness of their sins, but also he was looking for the Messiah.
An when he baptize Jesus and the spirit of God descended.
He knew it with him.
But in this instance, John is sitting in jail.
And that's kind of a knife.
Prison dungeon is much more so when we think about. We think of big screen TV's, and places to go out and play basketball in the court. Whatever no no. He was any dark damp dingy dungeon.
Because he preached.
About the Kingdom of God, but he also preached against.
That Esri arc who was Herod Herod, the great son and the reason he preached against Herod. The Tetrarch because her a divorced his wife.
And merry his brothers wife.
Now even in most other cultures.
That would be reprehensible, but especially.
In the life of Jews because there's several violations of the law right in and of itself and so he condemned.
Herod the Tetrarch.
And so instead of repenting.
Her it had him arrested.
And so.
Knowing that we see the disciples of John reported to him about all of these things summoning two of his disciples. John sent them to the Lord sane? Are you the expected one or do we look for someone else?
Again here's the one who's ministry was to make straight, the path of the Messiah. The one who declared that Jesus is the one who will take away the sins of the world. And yet, all of a sudden we see that there's doubt because his circumstance isn't working out the way he supposed. I'm sure he probably thought that the Messiah as many other People thought was going to come set up his Kingdom.
Pick out the Romans it rid of all the.
Unrighteousness instead up a righteous Kingdom.
And at this point Jesus isn't doing that.
So he's going.
God's not doing what I expect him to do.
Since he's not doing what I expect him to do.
Is he the one?
That's why I stay in this situation is just like all of us disciple.
Think back when you first made a commitment to Jesus.
And you said the sinners prayer or however, was that you came to him. There was a sense of release of guilt in the sense of understanding your forgiveness and the love of God and you felt excellent and you wanted to tell everybody and there was that sense of of an emotional high if you will.
And if there was some distance between your baptism and your profession of faith. When you were baptized again. There was a sense of I've done what the Lord wants in your in your Gung Ho and then maybe you've had the opportunity to go on a religious retreat and usually in Southern California, we go to the mountain.
So start.
Honest better we say that there's this Mountain High with God, and we were just so filled with the spirit and we're so excited about what's going on?
Hoping that that will never diminish.
And we come home.
And it diminishes.
And sometimes there are lives things happened circumstances happen. They were going well. Why would why would that happen to me. I'm trying to be a good disciple. I'm trying to follow Jesus? Why are these terrible things happening or why are these bad things happening to People around me and we and we get our eyes off of those things and misinterpret? What God's doing.
Or sometimes there's those circumstances all there is that what many theological called the desert time.
When were first believers.
We're excited and we read the Scriptures and everything we read is just a new and exciting venture and we're just excited about it and we pray we feel that we're connecting with God.
Then there comes a time.
When the feelings go away.
We pray.
It seems like a prayers don't get any higher than the ceiling.
God didn't change.
Our feeling change.
And all of a sudden we don't have those same feelings.
And I'm here to say that probably the reason that you don't have the same feelings is not that you're not more or less committed. But God is trying to get you off the feelings and committed to him.
There, a whole lot of churches who continue on the path of feeling so all the music has relate to feeling the messages have to relate to feelings the ministries have to relate to feelings because that's how People feel and God. I don't want you to trust feelings. I want you to trust me.
And so when the word of God says that we are to pray about everything.
Our feeling shouldn't say well. My feelings are that they reached to the ceiling. So the word of God says to Brett come before the throne of Grace with fullness.
Even if I don't feel that way.
And here's John.
Who's done some awesome things?
And it's based on feeling.
So he goes, then these People that Jesus.
Are you? The expected one or do we? Look for someone else?
Not very time.
He cured many People.
Of diseases and Afflictions and evil spirits.
He gave sight to many who were blind.
And he answered and said to them go and report to John what you have seen and heard.
The blind receive site the lame walk the lepers are cleansed the deaf hear the dead are raised up and the poor have heard the Gospel preached to them.
Jesus says.
I'm not going to answer yes or no to the question.
See what I have done and what I have done is consistent with the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Dennis says something of a little bit of a review.
Bless it is, he who does not take offense at me.
Jesus this thing stop thinking about what it is, you think I'm supposed to do.
Just because you think God is supposed to be in this box doesn't mean God is in that box.
The God be gone.
You.
Your theology is that I'm going to.
Rule this world.
And Jesus will.
But not at this time.
That's the Second Coming.
The first just as John has said.
He was the lamb who took away the sins of the world.
And all too often.
We try to tell God how he ought to be gone.
Even nonbelievers who don't believe in God.
Try to have God be there got 'cause I.
I don't how many terms times, I've heard.
My God would never do that.
Yeah, 'cause you probably created your gun.
My God might not.
Forgive all that I do.
Forgot.
God my God.
May expect a whole lot for me.
God.
Walk with me everyday.
I wanna talk.
Now a little bit another.
Profit.
One who John came in the spirit up and that the lije.
'Cause I want you to see that when we
Experience these feelings or lack of feelings are confusion about what God's doing or not doing or why are we in these circumstances or not?
An excellent example is a light year.
I want to give you a real quick running view of large is life.
Elija burst on the scene and he says.
Because in a sense because of?
Is real thin?
That, it would not rain.
Until he spoke that it would rain.
Then he took off.
And went to a Brook it had water in God had the Ravens come and feed him twice a day with bread and meat.
So God was supplying all of his needs.
I like God does Brooke.
Then when the rain had not come for a long period of time. The Brook right up to God sent him to a widow.
But not just any widow, not even a widow in Israel, he sent her sent him to a Gentile.
And he saw this widow woman who had one son.
And she was going to get some sticks to make a fire to take the last oil in the last flower that she had.
Make a meal and then that would be their Last Supper, and they would die.
And allowed to ask something very selfless suffer, he said, make some for me for.
But if you do that.
The oil and the flower will not run out.
And she does so and the flower and the oil does not run out the entire time. The Liges with her.
Now the interesting thing about this widow is she was going to make their last meal.
But during the time that Elijah was with her, her son died.
And she gets upset.
And things that.
Evil have been brought to her because her son die.
I always think it's interesting 'cause without alijah or son would have been dead a lot long or ago.
In a larger does something interesting, he carries the The Boys body upstairs to his room.
And he lays on any praised not just want you praise and he praised and the boy is resurrected.
Now I don't know about you, but if I experience that I'd be alright.
God allowed me.
To participate in the resurrection of this young man.
Got the flight all of Elija Sneeze God is continuing to supply all of the largest needs with oil and flower.
And then he raises.
A young man from the dead.
Then God sends him.
'Cause he's been hiding out from the King whose name is dab.
And he goes to one of the lesser profits that he says.
Go tell the King to meet me and in his.
So she goes wait a minute, we've been looking for you.
And I'm afraid that if I go tell the King.
Guys gonna send you out, and he's gonna kill me 'cause we've been looking.
And at the same time, he says to elija that he's hidden 100 different profits. In 2 different cave 50 each, and is providing food for them.
Well, I just says I want you to tell us and I want you to send.
450.
Of the priest of bail.
And also bring along 400 of those who are involved with asteroid.
And he goes to the King and they mate, they meet.
A Mark Mark Mount Carmel or as we would say in Southern California Mount Carmel.
And Elijah says I'll tell you what, if
If God is God follow him if if Bayless God follow him, but why you keep going back and forth.
And the People like People today don't make a commitment.
They don't say a word, so logical. I'll tell you what this take to walk you take one cut it up put it on an altar. You pray to your god of fire comes down, and consume it will know that pales got.
An I'll do the same.
Anne if God brings down fire will know that.
God is God.
In essence you go 1st.
So they go and they?
Present their offering they do everything in their frame in there, yelling an Elijah's having great fun.
He starts mocking and ridicule well. Maybe you're God's gone on a trip or maybe he's asleep. Maybe you need to yell out orner yelling louder there, cutting themselves and doing all kinds of things and Elijah's having a great time.
And then after several hours.
Logical case by turn.
And he built an altar of 12 Stones each stone representing the tribe of Israel.
He takes the offering in places that on it, and then he tells everybody to put water on the altar.
They do it 3 times, so much so that the water overflows.
The damning area.
And got an Elijah praise.
In God since fire down and consumes the offering and the water and everything.
Now I just tells the People have got to kill.
The prophets of bail and they do.
Then Aliger says that wasn't a great.
'Cause they have to go eat.
'Cause the rains come.
And he gets in a very odd prayer position. He put his head between his knees. He phrased it doesn't pay, one time he praised 7 times.
They keep talking and finally there's this cloud that it says this is size of man.
And he didn't go.
Get outta here.
It's gonna rain hard.
So they have jumps on his chariot and takes off.
And then
Elija starts running.
And even though a have has an advantage.
Opportunity take off and it's in a chariot.
Elijah runs path.
There are that that's a great movie that whole scenes. I don't why would they have made a movie at that.
But it goes any passes.
Great mountain Top experience God has demonstrated himself in supplying the needs of large and needs of the widow and her son, raising the dead fire coming down from heaven. You would think that Elijah would be.
A rock.
We have tells his wife, Jezebel, what happened in Jezebel.
Was the father of Ellen she was upset?
And she goes.
If my God, don't do to me what happened to the priest to Elija.
Then maybe they do it to me, so she was looking to see that Alijah was dead within the next 24 hours.
Now you would think Elijah having experience all these things that God has done for him and through him with they bring it.
He doesn't, he takes off.
And he goes home.
Always be.
I wish I were dead will hang around that's what she wants to do to you.
But he takes off.
Any any rest under a Juniper St and God instead of being mad at him for sends an Angel.
Who prepares a meal for?
Neat.
And you rest the more and Angel of your journey is a lot further things are going to happen. We need to feed you enough that you're going to not need it for 40 days and 40 nights, so he prefers another meal.
And then he goes off in a larger ends up.
In a cave.
And again.
You would think, OK, God is provided for Maine.
Through this Angel.
I've been on the mountain Top I've seen God at work. I've seen him raise the dead so even if they kill me. He can still raise me from the dead.
He's in a cave complaining that he's the only one left even though he's been told.
That there are 100.
Other prophets hang in there.
It's for me.
I've been faithful, but nobody else has.
And got the
What you doing?
He goes come out of The Cave.
And all of a sudden there's this mighty wind so much so that it breaks rocks for the scripture says God's not in the wind.
Then there's an earthquake.
Is God not in the earthquake and then there is a body fire? Is this God is not in the fire?
And then there's a still small voice.
And God speaks to him in a larger complain.
That I'm the only one left, I've been faithful take them. I'm done in Chicago.
I got 7000 have never bought the need to bail, but he mean you're the only one left.
I got one more job for you and again, most of us say OK look at all that you've done.
Within through God.
You blew it, I'm going to somebody else goes Nope.
I got another job for your logic once you go.
Annoying to King of Israel anointed King of Judah.
Anoint your successor.
Then God does something also very interesting for you see Jessabelle had made.
About.
Is she might die if it? I just wasn't dead in 24 hours?
Well guess what God does.
Elija never die.
He takes off in a chariot of fire.
James tells us.
Elijah.
With a man just with that with the nature just like ours.
Even though
He experienced God's power.
Both in his life and in seeing what God is done.
He was still subject to.
Or me.
I don't understand what is God doing?
The good uses.
Even though we do those things as well.
God doesn't give up, using it.
Notice what Jesus says in verse 24 about John.
You would think Jesus would be really tough on John.
Because to whom much is given much is required?
When the merger John had left.
He began to speak to the crowd about John.
What did you go out into the wilderness to see a Reed shaken by the wind, but where did you go out to see if they're gone when you went out the desert with you there to to look at the font on the floor. A no you want in the desert for particular reason.
A man dressed in soft clothing. Those who are splendidly clothes and having in luxury are found in Royal palaces.
You and go out the desert to see those things you would go to the Palace.
But what did you go out to see a profit?
Yes, I say to you and one was more than a profit.
This is the one about whom it is written. Behold ice in my Messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you, he's the advanced.
Messenger for the Messiah.
And I say to you.
Among those born of women there is no one greater than John now. I want you to understand what he just said.
No one born of women so who is this floating Adam and Eve.
That's the only two People Jesus just saluted.
He said the only two People who are greater potentially than John is Adam and Eve everybody else has been born a woman.
That means he's greater than Abraham.
That means he's greater than.
Jacob.
That means he's greater than Israel.
Why is it? I zic he's greater than David he's greater than most? He's greater than Daniel he's greater than Isaiah. He's greater than Jeremiah.
Everyone that you can think of his Jesus basically gave a big lift who he's greater than.
This is the one sitting in prison.
Not quite understanding what's going on at this particular moment.
And Jesus still says he's greater.
Yeah.
He who is the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than He.
How could you just say that because being in the Kingdom is far better than being outside the Kingdom no matter how great you are.
It is better to be.
A beggar in the Kingdom of God than a King ruling.
Elsewhere.
Which means
I won't give you any false pride.
I don't think I'm the least in the Kingdom.
There's probably 2 or 3 People worse than me.
So I'm not gonna give any fault, but let's say I am the least in the Kingdom or let's say you're convinced that you are the least in the Kingdom Dodges said. You're greater than jaune.
So why are we sitting worried about ourselves word about? What God's doing feeling sorry for herself instead of doing what it is God wants us to do.
We see God in action and we praise him and we see all these things and then we wonder about the next time.
Even if the only thing you've experienced in your.
Why is the forgiveness of God you've experienced something far greater than the world?
And you ought to be rejoicing, regardless of what your conditions are.
Regardless of what your circumstances.
When the People.
And the tax collectors heard this they all these gods justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
They accepted because John had reached a baptism of repentance and the tax collectors and the center, said we agree.
Were in agreement?
Now, those who have the religious degrees notice what they say, but the Pharisees and the lawyers.
Someday.
Will be better?
The Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
Notice.
The God desires.
Everyone to come to Repentance.
The center, the tax collectors the Pharisees, the lawyers everyone.
But those who thought they were better.
Rejected.
Earth, 31, So what then shall I compare the men of this generation and what are they like?
They're like children to sit in the marketplace and called to one another and they say we play the flute for you and you did not dance.
They say, well, we want it again so.
Some children said, We want to play a game of party time.
So we're going to play the flute in your job is the dance.
And the other children, I don't wanna play that game.
I don't like your game.
You wanna play monopoly. I'd rather play parcheesi? I don't play your game?
We played the flute for you and you did not know we sing a dirge and you did not.
OK let's play a different game display funeral.
This this.
Do a dirt really sad song an and you didn't want to play I don't play that game, either.
I don't like your game.
Or John.
The Baptist.
Is *** eating no bread and drinking no wine and you say he has a demon?
He saying John didn't play the game, you wanted him to play.
He played what it was God called him to do and be.
The son of man has come eating and drinking and you say Behold the gluttonous man and a drunkard.
A friend of tax collectors in center.
You don't like John's way of doing things you don't like the way the Messiah doing things.
Yet.
Wisdom is vindicated by all of her children.
The disciples who follow jaune who would then follow Jesus and the disciples of Jesus.
When they are the disciples of Jesus.
Will vindicate exactly who Jesus is and what Jesus is done?
So.
When you have those mountain Top experiences and you see clearly what God is doing.
Praise him enjoy it.
But when you are in circumstance.
When you're not sure what God is doing or you think God is doing something completely different than you think he ought to do.
Instead of being discouraged.
Look.
Him.
And see what he's doing.
You see the scriptures that keep your eyes on Jesus.
Not on the circumstances not on the feeling not on what you're doing, but who God is and what he is doing.
And understand.
If you're not alone.
The great Prophet.
Including John in Aliger.
Or week.
In favor.
Thought they knew what God was doing and did it.
You're in great company.
You're not alone.
Now I got what I'm gonna do about Joe I mean, this is this is the first time This has never happened.
No, it's happened over and over and over in the course.
Of those who follow God.
Enjoy it.
When you feel.
And know that he's there.
When you do.
As it was once at.
Never trade.
But you know about God.
With what you don't know.
There are times I have no understanding why God does particular thing.
But I'm not going.
He.
He sees it from the beginning and firm VN. I just see it in the liver.
Trust God not.
Circumstance.
And I'm not saying sitting in a prison.
Being innocent.
Is enjoy?
I suspect.
And and when we read the rest of the story, he gets worse.
John only stays in prison for awhile, he loses his head because of a dance.
His life was worth less than a dance.
And yet, he
My Jesus is owned statement.
With greater than everyone other than.
Adamany.
So someday, we may find our heads on a chopping block.
It doesn't mean that God doesn't. Love you doesn't mean that God doesn't think rate of you, it doesn't mean that God doesn't have other plans for him.
It simply means at this particular moment he is going to get more glory.
Why, what happened?
And not.
Look for the opportunity.
And terrible circumstance.
How God might be gora?
And all gods People said.
The fan is going to come and we're going to sing.
My savior my God.
In that there's a Linus is sometimes I don't understand what he's doing.
What is my favorite?
Is Michael?
He came from heaven.
Here.
I will Wash.
I will praise him and I will follow him stand with me as we pray.
All God's People said