Sign of Authority - Week 3
Notes
Transcript
Sign of Authority week 3
INTRODUCTION
preview: Bless Every Home
intro
Calling witnesses to the stand.
Review: Jesus heals man at pool of Bethesda on a Sabbath and commands the man to take up his bed and walk.
Jesus is defending himself with legal language.
He is calling witnesses to the stand.
He is making his own charge against the religious leaders who came to judge him.
He is charging them for submitting to the wrong authority.
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
41 I do not receive glory from people.
42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.
43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
How do we know if we have submitted to God's authority?
4 Questions to Determine Authority
4 Questions to Determine Authority
1. Who Do You Live For? (30)
1. Who Do You Live For? (30)
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Night before crucifixion
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
God's will is not the easiest. But it is the best.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Joshua called out God’s people who were worshiping the gods of Egyptians and Amorites.
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond 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.”
Seek= look for diligently.
We are not going to accidently find ourselves living in God's will.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
It matters where we look.
2. Who Do You Listen To? (31-34, 37-40)
2. Who Do You Listen To? (31-34, 37-40)
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
We choose who we listen to.
God, others, self?
In Jewish law you had to have two witnesses in court.
The religious leaders were judging Jesus for healing on the Sabbath and commanding someone to carry their bed.
Jesus is saying that John is testifying on his behalf.
They didn't listen to John and because they are ignoring Jesus, they are not not listening to God.
34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
vs 34- "So you may be saved"
He is giving them two witnesses so they will receive it- and be saved.
What you do with God's Word determines your salvation.
Jesus is only way to salvation.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
When you receive Jesus, He abides in you. (37-40)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
"The proof is in the pudding"- You prove who you abide in by the fruit you produce.
3. Who Do You Look Like? (35-36, 41-44)
3. Who Do You Look Like? (35-36, 41-44)
35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
Light= good works.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
41 I do not receive glory from people.
42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.
43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Who receives the glory for your good works? (41-44)
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Who receives the credit?
4. Who do You Believe? (45-47)
4. Who do You Believe? (45-47)
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
The World or God's
Satan is the great accuser.
ILL- Pakistan this week- Hundreds of Christians had to run for their life as they were hunted like animals and homes burned by Muslims.
Religious persecution is happening all around the world.
It's better to lose it all than lose your soul.
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
We are judged by what we do with Jesus.
The Lamb's Book of Life
CONCLUSION
Whose authority are you living under?
Are you ready to surrender to Jesus?