TRUTH FROM ABOVE

TRUTH FROM ABOVE

Introduction:

There was a Navy Seal by the name Michael Monsoor. On September 29, 2006, his platoon shot at four insurgents in a firefight in Ramadi, killing one and injuring another. After there battle, civilians aiding the insurgents blocked off the streets, and a nearby mosque broadcast a message for people to fight against the Americans and the Iraqi soldiers. Michael and his team took higher grounds on the building rooftop anticipating an attack. Michael position made him the only SEAL on the rooftop with quick access to an escape route.

A grenade was thrown onto the rooftop by an insurgent on the street below. The grenade hit Michael in the chest and fell to the floor. Immediately, he yelled, "Grenade!" and jumped onto the grenade, covering it with his body. The grenade exploded seconds later, and Michael body absorbed most of the force of the blast. He was severely wounded, and although evacuated immediately, he died 30 minutes later. Two other SEALs next to him at the time were injured by the explosion but survived. Although only he could have escaped the blast, he chose instead to protect his teammates and lay his life down so that they could live!

The question is, do you know anyone that would die for you? Yes!

And I Know He came from above, Jesus!

Today is the third week of the four-week series From Above. We will continue to discuss John chapter 3 and learn about the truth from above!

As Bobby preached last week on John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This is the core of Christianity: God loved the world enough to come as Jesus and die for us so that anyone who trusts in Him will be saved from sin. The phrase "One and Only Son," or in some translations such as KJV, "his only begotten Son," is the Greek word here, "monogenes." The English word "begotten" might often make people think of biology; however, the Greek word monogenes doesn't imply that. The word means the same thing, meaning that John was primarily concerned with demonstrating that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31), and he uses monogenes to highlight Jesus as uniquely God’s Son—sharing the same divine nature as God. John 3:16 is essential to showing the biblical concept of the Trinity.

As a believer of Christ, I want to share the truth from above with you! Jesus dying on the cross and the sacrifice He made gave those who chose to be with Him a relationship that was broken because of the sins that entered into this world through Adam and Eve. In verse 21, Jesus reminds us that "whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Jesus speaks that He is the truth. In the Bible the word “truth is mentioned 333 times. Qualitatively, truth is characterized by its unwavering consistency and faithfulness. It represents that which is genuine, reliable, and unchanging. When the Bible speaks of truth, it refers to the ultimate reality and absolute moral standards that stem from God's character. It serves as a guiding light for believers, directing their hearts and actions in alignment with God's will.

When Jesus states that he is the Truth, He is making a statement that He alone is the only God and there is no other.

There is other belief in this world that make the claim of other gods, however when looking into the evidence one can only see that those other beliefs are a false gods, and God warns us about those false gods. Jesus Christ is absolute truth, and His truth doesn't depend on circumstances!

Today is all about the truth from above and how when examining other beliefs they do contradict each other. Some would say Jesus never die on the cross, where others would say that Jesus is not God. However we must examine the evidence and see what is true and false and allow the evidence to lead you into the truth and that is called sound doctrine.

Sound doctrine is important because the gospel is a sacred trust, and we dare not tamper with God’s communication to the world. Our duty is to deliver the message, not to change it!

The evidence supports that Jesus is who he claimed to be, the One true God and the only God! Now I am not going to go over all the evidence that support the claimed that Jesus made but here is a short acronym called "CASE."

C: Crucifixion, where Jesus was killed by crucifixion. Virtually every historian on earth who has specialized in studying the life and death of Jesus will agree that Jesus was killed by crucifixion.

A: Appearances: Jesus' disciples believed they saw Jesus resurrected from the dead. Non-Christian scholars don't believe Jesus actually rose from the dead, but they do acknowledge that Jesus' disciples believed they saw Jesus rise from the dead.

S: Skeptics: Paul, an enemy of Christ, and James, the brother of Jesus, a skeptic, both became followers of Jesus after what they believed to be resurrection appearances. It wasn't just Jesus' friends and initial followers who were convinced; early skeptics and even enemies of Christ were convinced that Jesus was the risen Lord.

E: Early: Jesus' resurrection was proclaimed very early after his crucifixion, beginning in Jerusalem, where the events occurred. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 is widely recognized by New Testament scholars as a statement of belief (creed) that was systematized long before Paul quoted it. It represents the earliest historical account of Jesus’ resurrection and goes back to the eyewitnesses themselves. Gary Habermas who is a N.T scholar has been studying the resurrection of Jesus for over the last 50 years and he stated that 1 Corinthians 15 this Creedal statement that predates the text itself. Richard Bauckham (N.T Scholar) stated that the consensus New Testament position is that Paul received this material about 35 A.D. That is extremely early when it comes to ancient writings.

It is essential to understanding Who Jesus is, so that we can build a firm foundation on the truth in His words and be obedient to Him. This will bring me to point 1 of 3.

1. Reliance on Christ.

John stated 3:27, " A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. " Before this verse, John's disciples wanted him to deal with what seemed to be a threat to his ministry. John was extremely popular with the people. He could have tried to cling to his success; he could have milked his notoriety for all it was worth, but John knew that reliance on Christ is rooted in developing a personal relationship with Him.

This statement by John the Baptist reflects his humility and understanding of the divine order. He acknowledges that everything, including his ministry and authority, comes from God. John sees himself as a messenger preparing the way for Jesus, whose authority and mission are directly from God.

But John knew his success was all from God. Not even "one thing" was true of him. He relied on Christ. John wouldn't even have a ministry were it not for God's plan to send His Son. His position didn't make any sense apart from Jesus.

It is funny how, in today's world, when someone is successful, they take credit for it, but when something terrible happens, they want to blame God for it. In verse 27, John clarifies that a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. As we do the work of Christ, there are so many opportunities to give credit to Christ if we take them. But John goes to show that, in the same way, he also understood.

Recognition of God's Sovereignty:

John's statement acknowledges God's sovereignty over everything. It reflects the belief that everything, including opportunities, gifts, and authority, ultimately comes from God's hand.

Story:

(As God has blessed me and working in what I call the three I’s ministry which are, Insight, Impact, and Ignite. When I first started, I wanted it to grow because I figure if it doesn’t grow than these position might not be for me. however, after hearing a pastor state whoever God brings needs to be there for that time. That is when it hit me that Whether large or small in scale, the essence of the ministry remains unchanged dedication to serving God and others with humility and faithfulness.

John's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty provides the bedrock upon which this ministry stands, guiding its trajectory and ensuring that every endeavor aligns with God's purposes and glory.)

Trust in God's Provision: John emphasizes the importance of trust in God's provision by affirming that people can only receive what is given from heaven. This trust invites believers to rely on God for their needs and to surrender control over their lives to the divine will.(Not my will, rather the will of God will be done!)

Gratitude and Stewardship: Understanding that everything comes from God encourages a posture of gratitude and stewardship. Recognizing God's ownership of all things motivates believers to use their gifts and resources wisely and to cultivate a mindset of thankfulness for God's provision.

Imagine you're chatting with a friend who is earnestly seeking to deepen their faith and walk with Jesus. You might share John's statement with them in a practical context:

"As you're navigating your journey with Jesus, it's important to remember what John said about God being the ultimate source of blessings. This means recognizing that every good thing in our lives—whether it's our talents, relationships, or material blessings—comes from God. Our role is to acknowledge these blessings, receive them with gratitude, and responsibly steward them. This mindset not only cultivates humility but also aligns our actions with God's will, reflecting our commitment to walk in faith and honor God in all that we do."

2. Relationship with Christ:

When John stated, " 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete”. ‘He is clarifying the nature of his relationship with Jesus.

John was giving a very familiar scenario here because they were Jews that he was talking to, and they know how Jewish wedding plays out. The two illustrations he gives in these verses are that Jesus is the bridegroom and that he is the bridegroom's friend. It is essential to understand that by calling Jesus the bridegroom, he is calling Jesus God.

In the Old Testament, Wedding terminology is common in the Bible. God is often pictured as a groom who takes Israel, or His people, as a bride (Isaiah 54:4; Jeremiah 2:2; Hosea 2:19). The relationship that God had with Israel was depicted as husband and wife, and when they fall away from God, it was considered as adultery, because Israel violates their covenant with God. God is the bridegroom, and Israel is the bride. John said that Jesus is the bride. John means that Jesus is Yahweh and is equal to God. Through the Gospel of John, he shows that Jesus is God.

The bridegroom's friend is different from what we think of today's wedding as being the best man. A friend of the bridegroom did way more than what we see today. The best man at a wedding is not meant to be the center of attention. Of all the men involved, the groom is supposed to get all of the applause. The best man's role is to help the groom and be his advocate and friend. When the groom has his bride, the best man is joyful. He's not jealous or angry because that outcome is exactly what he wanted in the first place.

The bridegroom's friend planned the whole ceremony and oversaw the wedding feast. The friend of the bridegroom was also the guard of the bridal chamber. The bride would wait for the groom in the bridal chamber, and he would not allow anyone to go into the room until the groom showed up. When the friend heard the groom's voice coming, he would be so happy and open the door so the groom would be with his bride and consummate the relationship. The groom's friend would then walk away with Joy because he knew he had done his job!

In this way, John the Baptist has acted like a best man for Jesus. Now that Jesus has come on the scene, the Baptist is happy to see Him succeed.

Application: In our own lives, we can learn from this example by embracing our roles with dedication and joy and remembering how God plays a role in our lives to do anything worth praising. Can you remember a time in your life when you had a conversation with someone and after that conversation, they gave their life to Christ? That person might have thanked you or praised you for it, but in reality, it was all Jesus. No matter what it is in life we give all the praise to Him because without Him we could do nothing!

Story:

Last Week Pastor Mike, 13 other leaders and I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip with 32 students. What we experienced was truly amazing and how we say the hand of God over all of us. We had 5 students surrender their lives to Christ and numerous students rekindle their fire for Jesus. When the focus is primarily on Jesus, He would turn up in mighty ways.

3. Jesus must increase in our lives, and our desire must decrease!

Let us look at verses 23-24, "After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now, John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)

Two things that are important in these verses. The message That John was talking about and telling everyone to repent was growing. Jesus and John were a legitimate spiritual threat to Jerusalem's established religious order. In fact, there must have been an extremely strong response. This verse says that John chose his location "because there was plenty of water." If so many people are being baptized that it's necessary to find a place with "plenty of water," the message is having an impact.

And Just like God says that His Word will not return to Him void Amen!

The Second important thing here is that the disciples were spending time with Jesus. Spending time with Christ is one of the most important aspects of being a Christian: time with God! Someone who spends time with Christ in prayer, reading the Bible, and fellowship with other brothers and sisters, will be feed spiritually in which will could continue to poor out onto others in order to do the will of God. We All need to be feed everyday the Word of God!

Christian need to live out what God has pour into us, such as:

Acts of Service and Compassion: Living out one's faith often involves acts of service and compassion towards others. This might include volunteering, donating to charity, or being kind and generous in daily interactions.

Or connected with God through:

Nature: Some people find a sense of God's presence and majesty in the beauty of nature. Spending time outdoors, whether hiking in the mountains, walking along the beach, or simply sitting in a garden, can be a form of spiritual connection and renewal. That is God’s design!

Reflection and Journaling: Taking time for self-reflection, journaling about one's spiritual journey, and recording moments of gratitude or answered prayers can help deepen one's relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

Talk about when you were in seminary school, once a week they would check up on me and ask how my spiritual walk is going with Christ and do I feel closer or future from Him.

Story:

Talk about how, on the team building retreat, we put a vase on the table and had the students take five stones and pray to God about the sins they want Him to take away. Then, the students went up to the vase and dropped the rocks to symbolize letting go of whatever sins they felt were a stronghold in their lives. (show a picture of the vase with the stones.)

The disciples were able to transform the world because they were deeply, intimately connected to Jesus. Jesus wants workers who will do their part by preaching the truth and reminding people who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross. The fact that these men preach in the "countryside" is interesting. Rather than preaching in the urban areas, He and John the Baptist call out to ordinary people.

This is a good reminder that our primary task is to lead people to Jesus. We don’t have to work in the church or be on the pulpit to lead someone to Christ. As a believer in Christ one can have a conversation in the gym, supermarket, car wash and lead and give them the good news, which is the Gospel. Plant that seeds and allow God to work through them!

Talk about how Jesus was flog , spit on and beating for hours. after all that they made him walk with the cross for over 650 yards, which is almost six football fields.

Verses 30: He must increase, but I must decrease.

In Proverbs 30:8-9 “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” In this verse King Agur asks to be kept from deceptive attitudes and he also requests a balanced lifestyle. Throughout the Bible we see how people would seek for the will of God to be done and decrease in their own ways.

Gods knows best and we should always trust in what God is doing in our lives and where we are at. Meaning like the king in that verse doesn’t want to be rich if that means God will be absent from his life. nor does he want to be poor if that means that he will steal and lie to get what he needs. Ask God to balance your life for what you need so that you can continue to be in close relationship with Him.

As we journey through life, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, constantly striving for recognition, success, and validation. Yet, during our pursuits, it's crucial to remember the profound wisdom encapsulated in the words, "He must increase, but I must decrease." If we don't allow Jesus to increase in our lives, things could become fuzzy with the understanding of His word. (Point to the video of the lake with the cross)

Those words in verse 30, spoken by John the Baptist about Jesus, are a powerful reminder of the importance of humility and surrender in our lives. They invite us to shift our focus away from ourselves and towards Christ. The Word of God in this verse challenge us to let go of our pride, selfish ambitions, and desires for control and, instead, to magnify the glory and presence of God in all that we do.

Embracing this mindset requires a deliberate choice to prioritize Christ above all else. It means acknowledging our limitations and imperfections and entrusting our lives fully into His hands. It involves laying down our agendas and submitting to His will, trusting that His plans far surpass our own.

Landing the plan:

Story:

For more than half my life, I did not believe in the existence of God. I guess you could have called me an atheist. However, because of trying to debunk Jesus and looking for the evidence to show that Jesus was not who he claimed to be. I only realized that I was wrong, and that Jesus is who He claims to be God! I had to decide at that moment, when I understood that Jesus is God, I did ask myself “do I continue in my lifestyle or seek His wisdom to the end of days. After that, my life changed drastically, and I wanted to be one of those workers Jesus talks about. Wrestling with the idea of returning to college wasn't something I wanted to do. After conversations about what to do and praying, I returned to school and got my bachelor's degree. By God's grace, I continued my education, attended seminary school, and received my master's degree in apologetics and theology. After all that, God has blessed me to work here at Living Faith, and by his grace, I am standing here today and letting everyone know that when we put our faith in Jesus and trust in His way, we will then understand what truth from above really means and how He could change your life!

So, I ask you, brothers and sisters, are we letting go of what we desire, and are we increasing in the will of God, seeking truth from above, so that each day we can become more like Christ?

Join me in prayer.