Learned Dependance

Subtitle:

Courageous Living: Relying on God’s Strength

INTRODUCTION

Pray for Boldness in the Midst of Consternation

Consternation

a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay.

alarm

amazement

anxiety

awe

confusion

dread

fright

horror

panic

terror

Mark 14:43–52 ESV

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

EXPLAIN

Immediately after praying in the garden,

Judas comes with a crowd to arrest Jesus.

They come with swords and clubs, as though they are coming against a violent criminal.

They are coming under the authority of the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

These Jewish leaders had long followed Jesus, seeking to arrest him because of their jealousy and greed.

The reason Judas needed to betray Jesus with the sign of a kiss,

was because it was dark. They wanted to make sure they had the right guy.

A kiss, which was meant to be a sign of love and affection, an act of evil and betrayal.

After seizing him, Jesus calls them out for their cowardly act.

While he was a man of integrity, teaching openly in public…

they are cowards, arresting him under the cover of night.

But then he highlights the fact that this is not a victory for the enemy,

but a fulfilment of God’s Word.

This is a part of God’s plan!

Summary

This is the beginning of the darkest season of Jesus’ life.

Betrayed by one of His own disciples…

Abandoned by all the other disciples…

and yet Jesus stands strong in the midst of it!

Why?

Because God strengthened him as an answer to His prayer.

ILLUSTRATE

Jesus Himself was not spared from pain and suffering in this life,

and we are never promised that we will have an easy life either.

There is a new bill that has been put forward by the Bloc Quebecois called…

Bill C-367…

“This enactment amends the Criminal Code to eliminate as a defence against wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism the fact that a person, in good faith, expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”

If you’re like me, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

I need it in simpler terms, so I asked ChatGPT (AI) to summarize it in laymen’s terms for me:

ChatGPT Summary

In simpler terms, it means that if someone is charged with intentionally promoting hatred or antisemitism, they can no longer use the defense that they were simply expressing their opinion or beliefs about religion in good faith.

This seems like a good thing right?

We obviously don’t want people to be promoting hatred right?!?

But how do you think this could be used against Christians?

The Bible is offensive in confronting sin.

This could be deemed hate speech!

David Cook from LifeSite News says:

So far, “hate crime” charges against Christians have been very difficult to prove because of an important protection in our Canadian Criminal Code. There is a “religious exemption” in Section 319 that states: 

“No person shall be convicted of a [hate crime] offense… if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”

In other words, if you are saying what the Bible says about sexuality, gender, marriage, family, or anything – no matter how unpopular, offensive, or “hateful” it might sound to someone else, you have the freedom to express yourself under Canadian law. Christians have the right to quote the Bible in Canada.

But if Bill C-367 passes, that protection will be removed from the Criminal Code. We will then expect to see a flurry of charges against pastors, churches, Christian organizations, and ordinary believers who dare to speak the truth in love in the public square. This will, in turn, create a chilling effect that will diminish everyone’s freedom of speech.

No longer will we be allowed to share God’s design for human sexuality and marriage in public. No longer will we be able to speak out in the name of God against drag shows for kids, child drag, or child “sex changes.” All this could be misconstrued as “hate speech” against the LGBT community. Even our pro-life message could be spun as a “hate crime” against women.

Christians may possibly be charged for claiming that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), because it discriminates against other religions. In fact, to criticize the teachings and practices of other religions may be tantamount to a “hate crime!”

APPLY

From what I’ve read this bill is unlikely to pass,

but we know at some point religious freedom is going to be taken from us.

We know that we are going to experience trials, and that the world rejects the Bible.

Jesus was able to stand strong in the midst of suffering because of his trust and dependance on God through prayer.

We too need to depend on God in prayer!

Looking to Him for strength to be faithful witnesses… even in the midst of threats.

Even though we don’t face prison yet, we do struggle with how people will receive our words if we speak the Bible.

We are afraid they will get angry…

or we are afraid/embarrassed how they will view us.

We need to pray for boldness like the disciples did in Acts 4.

In the midst of threats they asked God for boldness to continue to speak God’s Word.

God answered their prayer, and filled them with the Holy Spirit to continue you to speak.

Can you remember a time when you stepped out in faith to talk about your faith? How did it go?

Share about the time you shared with a few high school students in McDonalds.

Summary

We need to remember to pray to God for courage and boldness.

Fears, worries, anxieties will try to get in the way,

but we need to ask God to for strength to be faithful.

As He answered that prayer for Jesus, He will answer it for us!

Pray for Boldness in the Midst of Confrontation

Mark 14:53–65 ESV

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

Mark 14:66–72 ESV

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Mark 15:1–5 ESV

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

EXPLAIN

Here we have another “Markan Sandwich”.

Mark is highlighting Jesus’ ability to stand strong, while Peter caves.

A — Jesus’ faithfulness to the truth when confronted

B — Peter’s unfaithfulness to the truth when confronted

A — Jesus’ faithfulness to the truth when confronted

A — Jesus Faithfulness

The religious leaders try to find anybody who will bring an accusation against him.

But none of their testimonies agree.

Jesus’ silence in the midst of this adds to the drama of the scene.

Finally, the high priest asks if he is the Christ.

And Jesus boldly declares that He is!

Through Jesus’ words, He has sealed his fate, as they condemn and mock him.

He doesn’t answer EVERY accusation,

but is faithful to speak the truth about the core issue.

B — Peter’s Unfaithfulness

Peter was willing to follow Jesus and put himself in a dangerous situation.

But after being singled out, probably because of his accent, he denies Jesus, three times!

Peter was afraid for his life…

He was proud, trusting in his own strength…

He had fallen asleep, and not prayed!

After remembering Jesus’ words, Peter broke down and wept.

Peter was unfaithful to His Lord in the midst of confrontation,

because he was trusting in himself and not God.

A — Jesus’ Faithfulness

On the other side of Peter’s unfaithfulness,

Jesus is once again faithful when confronted by Pilate.

Again, he does not answer EVERY charge brought against him,

only the main issue at hand, which is his power and authority.

Summary

Jesus’ ability to be faithful in the midst of confrontation came from His dependance on God in prayer.

ILLUSTRATE

Let’s brainstorm situations where we may be question about our faith.

There are no wrong answers here!

What places/people could potentially ask us about what we believe as Christians?

Family members

Friends

Coworkers

School

Can you think of a time when you were confronted/challenged/questioned about your beliefs as a Christian? If so, how did that conversation go?

Mike Beaudoin asking, claim that all religions are the same (story of Noah flood in many religions). I struggled to answer questions.

Would you respond differently if you could have that conversation over again? If so, how would you respond now?

With Mike, I might have changed the conversation to one of faith in Christ.

Summary

Our job is not to convert anybody to Christianity!

Jesus was faithful in the midst of confrontation, and we don’t see anyone turning to faith in him.

It is our job to be faithful when the confrontation comes,

and the only way we can do that is when we pray and trust in the Holy Spirit for boldness.

Pray for Boldness in the Midst of Cancellation

Mark 15:6–15 ESV

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mark 15:16–20 ESV

And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

EXPLAIN

Jesus had been faithful to God, teaching, and performing miracles, following God’s will.

He had only spoken the truth, and pointed the people to the truth of God’s Word.

He was not guilty of any wrong-doing…

and yet His life is traded for a common criminal.

The religious leaders were envious and jealous of Jesus, and wanted him dead.

Pilate was not overly motivated to kill Jesus, but the claim that he was king was treason against Rome.

We can see that cancel culture was alive and well in their day!

So they were willing to work together to shut someone up who wasn’t saying and doing the things they wanted him to say and do.

Summary

Jesus’ message was not a popular one,

and it got him killed.

But he the boldness to speak the truth even if it got him cancelled.

This boldness was his because of his strength through prayer.

ILLUSTRATE

You all probably know a lot more about cancel culture than I do…

What sorts of things get people cancelled these days? (not necessarily Christians)

Insensitive/offensive remarks

Past misconduct

Cultural appropriation

Failure to apologize/show remorse

What Christian views are likely to get Christians cancelled?

Traditional views on marriage/sexuality

Opposition to abortion

Salvation through Christ alone

Conservative views on gender roles

Belief in biblical authority

APPLY

We must be faithful to God and His Word,

even if it is going to get us cancelled!

This is going to take a lot of courage and boldness.

We need to be praying for that boldness!

Jesus was faithful to God’s message because of his trust and dependance on God and His Word.

We will only be willing to defend something that we live out.

If you’re not in the Word and in prayer, you will not be willing to stick your neck out for it.

CONCLUSION

This story has a beautiful reminder of Jesus sacrificial death.

Barabbas was guilty, and deserving of death on the cross…

but Jesus took his place, while he went free.

Josiah Queen — “I Am Barabbas”

They made me sit right there

As I watched them beat that preacher man

39 of all them lashes should've been on my own skin

How can it be?

How can it be?

I am Barabbas

You took upon my cross

I was a prisoner

Till you bought my bond with blood

And I can't run away

From what my accusers say

'Cause I am Barabbas

I am Barabbas, your friend

Christian…

Christ has sacrificed His life in your place!

He gave up his innocence and freedom…

He took your guilt and bondage…

so that you could be holy and righteous, and walk free.

May it be your joy to live your life courageously and boldly for the glory of Jesus!

Go to God often…regularly… seeking power/strength/boldness through the Holy Spirit in the midst of:

Consternation

Confrontation

Cancellation

Non-Christian…

Christ has died in your place!

If you’re honest with yourself, you know that you’re a sinner.

If you were to stand before God today, you know you would be guilty.

Maybe you’re expecting that God will show you grace…

HE HAS!

He sent Jesus to die in your place!

Through faith in Him, you can have all your sins forgiven,

and be given new life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Action Step

I would love to talk to you more about what that looks like.

We have a first step class coming up this Sunday.

Get to know our church…

leads to a baptism class…

Closing Prompt

In what area of your life/circumstance/person do you need to pray for more boldness?