Making Jesus King
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Introduction
Introduction
Brief Summary up to the present story:
We find ourselves in John chapter 6 with a group of people following the Lord. His Fame had started to increase through every miracle he performed. As the news began to spread more and more people we're attracted to him. As Jesus performed miracles he would then go on to explain the significance of what he was doing. After the explanation, many people simply walked away.
The Interesting Conclusion made by the men in verse 14
In verse 14 we see an interesting conclusion made by some of those that had been satisfied by the lunch Jesus just provided.
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
The lack of understanding in the timeline of events
We must remember that this group of people in the first century did not have a full understanding of the Kingdom that was promised in the Old Testament. God's people at this time were sorely oppressed by the Roman government. Israel had, for the previous five hundred years, rejected the council of God. Due to this wholesale rejection of the statutes of God, various Gentile powers we're allowed to expand and control great regions of the world.
Daniel's Dream Interpretation
In Daniel chapter 2 we find an interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream that summarizes this period in history. The interpretation culminates in a kingdom set up by God. It is a Kingdom that will destroy the previous Gentile kingdoms. It is a kingdom that will be brought down by God and one that will have no end!
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Isaiah's Prophecy concerning the Kingdom
Quote: Thus, Christ’s kingdom will come, not by evolution, not by a gradual leavening of mankind by the gospel, but by divine intervention. It will be imposed sovereignly on the world by God. The returning Christ of God, the "stone cut out ... without hands," will crush all of His foes. He will raise up a kingdom that will embrace the whole world: the glorious millennial kingdom heralded by Isaiah and other Old Testament prophets. -John Phillips
Isaiah 62:1-4
Summary
So in summary these men and the whole of Israel were looking for a deliverer and a king. However, they wanted to define what that looked like on their own terms. They wanted to "take Jesus by force".
In many ways we are no different today. We want to mold Jesus into what we want him to be. We don't want to be conformed to the image of Christ we want Christ to be conformed to the image we have made for Him.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
I want us to see two contrasting responses to Jesus Christ found in John chapter 6.
I want us to see two contrasting responses to Jesus Christ found in John chapter 6.
I.By Forcefully Restraining
I.By Forcefully Restraining
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
A. A Contemporary Jesus
A. A Contemporary Jesus
The contemporary Christian movement is on every corner of every city and town in our country. We have churches filled with people that are being served the world on a "Christian platter".
* Contemporary Music
* Contemporary - Non Confrontational - Non Judgmental Preaching
"for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine"
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
* Complete lack of substance - its just religious mush!
B. A Culturally Relevant Jesus
B. A Culturally Relevant Jesus
Our culture is constantly changing and there is an ever increasing cry to make the church more relevant. To make the church more palatable.
Homosexuality is becoming increasingly popular in America, but it is still disgusting to God.
Illustration: Andy Stanley sermon entitled "When Gracie meets Truthy"
Illustration: Commercials - television shows - movies - all geared around the wholesale societal acceptance of an "alternative lifestyle"
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Differentiate between a man and a woman but God has made them different.
Illustration: Can you believe that in America we are telling people that we cannot have separate bathrooms?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The whole of our society is hyper concerned with offending someone and its crept into Christianity. What about offending God? Well, we don't have to worry about that if we can take Jesus by force and make him "Culturally relevant"!
C. A Convenient Jesus
C. A Convenient Jesus
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Illustration: Using leftover food at the restaurant I worked at during a banquet the following day. It was convenient but it was what was left over!
Jesus is not looking for your leftovers!
Honour the LORD with thy substance,
And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Its not convenient to
Tithe
Make Church attendance a Priority
Make Bible Study and Prayer a Priority
Get involved in church outreach
D. A Complementary Jesus
D. A Complementary Jesus
Many times we want to write the story and put Jesus' name at the bottom. We are going to do things our way and just #Jesus!
Illustration: Going to "Charming Charlies" with Amanda - they have every accessory for every color - for every outfit
The Jesus Christ of the Bible is not an accessory!
The Jesus Christ of the Bible is not a Christmas Tree ornament!
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
II. By Freely Receiving
II. By Freely Receiving
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
A. For the Saint
A. For the Saint
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
We have received him as our Saviour - lets not reject him as our Sovereign Lord
B. For the Sinner
B. For the Sinner
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
i. Recognize your Need
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ii. Repent of your Sin
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Illustration: Repentance is emptying your hands of all your self righteousness and whatever you are trusting!
iii. Receive the Gift of Eternal Life
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus is better than anything you could ever imagine. The problem with these men in John chapter six and frankly our problem as well at times, is we think we know better than God.
I can promise you that Jesus does not need our assistance!
We are not conforming Jesus - He is conforming us to His image by His Spirit!
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.