December 2nd, AM

Right now here we are.

Do any of you know who this chat is as if you know what I got is. Yes. It is the reverent Mez McConnell Yes Man Pastor Nutri Community Church. And that's a pretty tough gate and Nutri is a healthier than regular what was the reason for measure success? There is that he is from not kind of background himself out of the same as thinking about trying to reach that means a couple of things and looks like he's had a bit of a tough life cuz he also doesn't really follow the rules of normal pastro wear for you should dress up. This is actually him speaking and together for the go-ahead together for the gospel, which is like the moon the biggest most prestigious Christian Conference in the world right at anybody gets an invite. There is a speaker's like was a big deal. I'm going to put on my best clothes Dilute my fast but no man walks up fitted hoodie. Beanie hat ripped jeans exactly. Like he's just walked off the estate and I'll be roast and give this message early on when he came to an injury. He was driving his Ford Mondeo around the estate and the police drove past and coming the other way and they were like that guy looks suspicious and severe and the number placed undefined of this Ford Mondeo belongs to the Reverend Mez McConnell. They're like no way that guy in Redford Miss McConnell's car. They're saying and of course, they're like no way son. You've had this car we had it took him quite a long time ago Mez McConnell rather than this slightly rough weekend guy is obviously not meeting their expectations of what they think of Pastor looks like and maybe the police are thinking dog collar. Pastor teacher you think things like a Cardigans chinos boots shoes, whatever you think spin their minds of his way. He doesn't fit that which makes me wonder do I know he would charge we've been working through a part of the Bible written by a doctor called Luke and it's his account of the life of Jesus. And if you've been with us, you know that Jesus has been gradually becoming more and more prominent having largely lived in obscurity in a nowhere town outside of the city center for 2 years. And then he comes to the minister gets going I didn't rest him is gathering who sings My richest things people Gathering right? Listen to go to see he's making some big claims. He's claiming these come from God that you can usher in a new kingdom a restored relationship with God heal, the Brokenness of the world established a new way of knowing god. But time and time again in throat looks like can we see that the people feel to recognize who Jesus is a group to hear you would expect so you would expect the cultural Elites the religious leaders those who knew about things to do with God. They would get who Jesus is, but they don't seem to get it on time and time again Luke in his account draws our attention to the nobodies cast the normal people the cooler that don't roll in the uneducated. Can you see who Jesus is a new respond to his message on this matters to us know as it did then you can ignore Jesus and you can say to a time in your life. But if what he says about himself is true, then it changes everything. If you don't recognize who he really is, then I can guarantee you it will be the most significant mistake that you ever make sure let's get into the section. Take your bibles. If you got one of these blue Bibles were on page 1035. I'm going to go to Luke chapter 7 it's about three-quarters of the way through the Bible. If you don't know your way around the Bible is a Content page of the star and you can find it there. But 1035 The Bible explained to 66 boots with names like Genesis Exodus Matthew Mark Luke and John and we are in the Book of Luke and you'll see big numbers on the page in Bull. They are the chapters and the little numbers are the verses when I say Luke 7:18. That means the Book of Luke big number seven little number 18. So hopefully I'll have what they're doing there. You will have to find your way to that and I'm going to ask to come on with that to a stinky pain.

John's disciples told him about the only things cooling two of them. He sent them to the Lord to ask. Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else? The men came to Jesus and said John the Baptist sent us to you to ask are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else at that very time. Jesus killed many who had diseases illnesses an evil spirits and gave sight to many who were blind, but he replied to the messages go back and report to John what you have seen and heard the blind receive sight the lame walk those who have leprosy are cleansed the death here. The dead are raised and the good news is proclaimed to the pool blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me?

Tuesday as well as left Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. What did you go out into the Wilderness to see a reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go to app to see a man dressed in fine clothes know those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in the luxury or in palaces for what did you go out to see a profit? Yes. I tell you. I'm more than a Prophet. This is the one about too much is written.

I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you. I tell you I'm on those born of women. There is no one greater than John. It's the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he said stop after this play and then he breathing. So thank you for the rest of that section. And we've been there John the Baptist Teeter John In. This passage is John the Baptist a key figure in the account of Jesus life. He's the one who announces this promised one is coming. It's promised one from God MTG ruffling quite a few feathers himself John. He looks pretty weird dresses pretty funny eats weird foods, and he doesn't pull any punches when he speaking to the elite or Society movie of it like mad Jones in prison, but news of all the jesuses doing gets back to him on Jesus have been teaching about his authority and this new thing them that he's going to bring it and you can read that in chapter 6 In chapter 7 he demonstrates Authority with these miraculous healings and we even meet the person that heals. He just says he actually dead and he brings them back to life with a touch on the word and these things are incredible van as we wear know, it says in the section before and I just said the people were filled with all these things don't happen every day. These are unusual occurrences and their amazfit what they're seeing and all this gets back to join and he's amazed too but he's not quite sure because if you go back to some of the things that John predicted about this coming one this promised one would be like Jesus isn't quite doing what you would expect if you go back to chapter 4 G's sports bar Swansea public scene in the United States that he is the Fulfillment of promises made hundreds and hundreds of years before on Jesus is bringing freedom from oppression restoration to the downtrodden site to the blame. I need some freedom for those in prison in the Bible was promised when he's going to do all this is called Messiah the Messiah the one that everyone's been waiting for but John is stuck in prison. And the room is there still a pressing the Jewish people. So what's going on? It looks like Jesus is this one but it's not really going as we expect and so he's not totally sure so that John sent it to Staples to find out what's going on. Bejeweled isn't the only person to have doubts and questions about who Jesus is and there's another group in this section and all of religious leaders experts and all things religious. I appreciate who we see time and time again, we feel to see if you Jesus and rejecting BC is Miracles the year his teaching and yet they close their eyes ignore the evidence. I miss you. Jesus says, I'm Luke in this section shows us how each of these groups deal with Jesus Westbrook each one in turn John researches Johnson's to find out once and for all okay. Jesus is clear your messenger from God you're doing amazing things. You definitely come from God. But are you the one are you this promise won the last messenger from God the one who is going to be the absolute be rolling in dough. And if you've been through if you've been through us as we've been going through the Book of Luke people ask the same question of John if you go back to chapter 3 and verse 15, you can meet her there says the people were waiting expectantly. John might possibly be the Messiah to Jones doing amazing things. And I know that guy it's not me but wants to know is Jesus. Jesus answer to join it is not to make a claim about anything. It's simply 2.2 the evidence until Jesus looks a kind of set the scene for his reply. So you've gone in Venice 21 at that very time. Jesus cured menu at this eases illness isn't evil spirits and gave sight to many who were blamed know probably doesn't mean that the disciples were those John's disciples actually saw those things happening right then and there is no Jesus. I say, hang on a minute. I'll do some healing and then you can go back and tell John more likely these disciples have been watching. Jesus is doing for a while. And this is a representation of the things that they were telling John the back in eighteen John's disciples. If there's anything John's disciples told him about all these things. These are the kinds of things with jaundice John's disciples told them about what they've seen in hair. Jesus doesn't say anything. You say doesn't say anything. I have said or done publicly dimensions are no only descriptions of things. He's actually done in the recent past but they're the very things that were promised 700 years ago by a prophet called halfway through the Bible. You can look up later and it says in Isaiah that says this in that day when the Messiah comes the deaf will hear the words of the scroll in out of the gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see and then the lean will leap like a deer on the mute tongue chauffeur. Johnnyswim. Poetic language is looking forward to this and these things from its hundreds of years before are happening. The promises are coming true and Jesus a look at the evidence. If all these things that you were expecting to see when the Messiah comes or hot is happening then guess what? I'm the Messiah I'm here. This is the promised one is here. Look at the evidence. Don't be put off by my style or by other things that look at the substance and get to the truth of who I am. The right occasionally in another life Aladdin occasionally, I feel the same spend. My time is not, triste by day and occasionally give lectures as me giving a lecture one's eyes. But this one time know this occasion. I was in the back a couple minutes before I shoot to go on at the table with some of the delegates. I'm one of the delegates was leafing through the program and came to write what's coming up next. This was just after lunch to call Ian Cameron. All right. I think I'll stick around for that. There's another there's another stream that she could have gone on. So I'm sitting at the table by the way. I just at that moment. I don't have anything to say that I was just at that moment the lights went off or whatever or dying and they announced the next session at way to welcome to stay Jeanne Calment. So I'll find out what rhymes with look back at her the back way where we going to sit and mostly a Geist red-faced. There wasn't any need for me to make any claims. I said who I was she didn't believe it was because I can just there's no better proof than just when they say you can Cameron help. I stand I give the light right there is no better proof than that. Just getting up and doing the job on Jesus doesn't need to debate with Jones disciples. He just says Luke. What's the what's been happening when you make any more claims look at the evidence, and so John's disciples go back and report to John and Jesus take the chance to speak to the credible John. This is where is this passage States? And so we're going to your Bibles and read along as we go through. So I'm going to go for a verse 24 after John's disciples left and I'm going to type are afraid of what time in here. So Jesus says through the crowd a boat John. Why did you go out into the desert when you heard about John? What made you go by today after d to listen to him? What time is beautiful scenery? Ella pretty read swing in the wind was it because he had some fantastic cause you wanted some fashion advice from the guy was pretty questionable at best. You went to see John because of his message. Even be your expectations, either you ignored his style and what he said made it clear that he was a messenger from God and you should listen to him and he finishes his answer. They always finishes his little John was in when he was a baby with this cold and Too Faced On fight to the end of the section before the back in verse 23 blast is anyone who does not stumble on a kind of me. This is a message to join you sing John blessed are you if you don't stumble because of me and that is that says that the crowd as well and he says that to us here as well stick with me. Look at the evidence stick with me. It's going to be worth it. So what we take from this interaction why think it's heartening to see the Jesus is building up John here. It's okay to dose John has asked questions, you know quite sure but don't make the effort to go and ask Jesus gives them that reassurance. She says with me. I think you've been a Christian for any length of time. Then I'm pretty sure you will have struggled with dirt so much of faith is is intangible and in particular when the chips are down in life, it's quite easy to find yourself saying is it really worth that is anybody even over there in the first place? I might just a fool for for going along with all this stuff and people in my life to it and I can tell you and I expect I will have them again later in life. And because it is a part of what it is like to be a Christian. I guess we can use this morning if that's okay. It's okay to be in that position go doesn't know me. Well you had your chance and you know what you've been doing it because you didn't quite trust me and you had your chance you had your one show and if you dug your right? No, it's not like that. There's reassurance you can think now usually I guess I'll die for me not being around when Jesus was there if I had seen him myself, you know, if I'd seen those Miracles happening then I would never do Of course one of the mightiest man of the Bible on Amazing spiritual man, a giant of the face. He's met Jesus. These are the reports and still it's hard for him to really accept and understand and kit could Jesus is he really the one is this really at so Christians my brothers and sisters here this morning, if you're struggling with that don't feel guilty, but don't don't feel bad. Don't feel like you have to pretend that you go to all together and then you don't have these thoughts. But Jesus answer to that my encouragement to you is to look at the evidence. We read the accounts of Jesus life in the gospels, Matthew Mark Luke and John the four of them read them again, see what he did see what he said sing back in your own life to God reached out to you in Salvation who's been working in your life who drew you to himself and that's what happens when you think about how you came to become a Christian and how he's working in your life week by week as you come to church as you spend time YouTube His word look at the evidence on people asked by sticking with Jesus. So it's like the second verse the second group a pain in your back up your own verse 29 then I said before this is what I want you to reverse 29 if you would. Thank you.

All the people even the tax collectors when they heard Jesus was acknowledged the God's way was right because they have been baptized by John for the Pharisees and the experts in the Laurel exit God's purpose for themselves because they have not been baptized by John. Jesus went on to say to Watson. Can I come compare the people of this generation what they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other. We played the pipe for you and you did not dance we sing I did and you did not cry. But John the Baptist came neither eating bread. No drinking wine. And you say he has a demon. The son of man came eating and drinking and you say here is a glutton and a drunk is a friend of tax collectors and sinners but wisdom is proved right by all her children.

So we could John researching a know we have the leaders rejecting forget verse 29 have a look at that in front of you there in this group of people all the people even the tax collectors, and the people that have responded to John's message me. Have they even the tax collectors even even even the traffic Warden even the people who do telemarketing even the chuggers on Princess Street, even the tax collectors responded to John's message. I'm sorry Jesus War. Johnson calling people to get ready for the Messiah. He's coming. He's nearly here get your hearts ready start getting yourself right with God and John baptize people. He wanted to be ready for this Messiah that was coming anniversaire. See we then have the opposing result of what people are the people who reject Jesus for the Pharisees next personal rejected God's purpose for them. And because they had not been baptized by John. So these Foley you would expect to get it the elite the religiously the so-called expert to get themselves ready for this Messiah. They're ready already the Lucas telling us by rejecting John. They're rejecting God. This group in some ways. It's quite like joint they have their doubts about Jesus may be more strongly but they have those they don't know who he is either but they refuse to look at the evidence. They see it but they don't think it in they have their expectations of how God will I what God will do and what his Messengers will be like and I'm like this Messiah will be like in Jesus sent me. Isn't that Sue Jesus and speak to them directly and says 2/4 can I compare the people of this generation? This is the people that have rejected John and Jesus message. What are they like on again? This is a tricky section something to do another we paraphrase for you. But basically Jesus says they're a bunch of spoiled brats. They're having the moon so it goes something like this. That's the thrust of his argument here. What can I compare these people to their like a bunch of spoiled brats? They see we play The Dashing white Sergeant, but you didn't do a Jolie take so we play the funeral March, but you can put on your sad face. And then I met John you he came like a monk dressed funny Forest Preserve food and you so called godly people said he's no messenger from God is demon possessed be crazy Hermits to please God and then here I come Jesus eating drinking normally and you see well anyone called Lee wouldn't act like that. They wouldn't spend time hanging out with those type of people. They would be spending time with the right type of people people like us Answer these religious leader. Grumpy that God won't do what they want. God won't dance to their tune. So we think is a bit better John that you're a bit more. Joyful. It's so cheer up and you Jesus. We think it'd be better if you just going to come down and we bet you don't be a bit more results in a bit more respectful and really a bit more Godly. Jesus says, you're spoiled spoiled brats go to dance to your tune. You dance to hit you don't get to see how God shoot or shouldn't I don't have what is Messenger should and shouldn't see I will see you in the end who is wise and who is foolish who's got this right? We'll see if you were a child of wisdom will see who your parents are where you are a child of wisdom or were you at childish foolishness and will be proved right in the end. So just like John these guys they have seen the evidence but they're hard hard. They're closed minds mean. They have a very definite view of what God should do. Should see this Messiah should be a minor expert expectations, aren't they rejected? We supposed to be boys a corner and Luke are there two years of the best buds, but they're really two years apart like different things a common one is corn always to play football week likes to go on the trampoline. Something times is do things are always better when you got a brother to do with you, right? So he's a bit wiser to this to you two years old. He says, okay. Let's play fruit bowl first for 5 minutes, then we'll go on the trampoline. So they play people for 5 minutes and then what happens? Corners like it's going to trampoline. I'm going inside the particle go to do and they want to be involved in it, but they wanted on their own terms. They want to be the boss. They want to play The Chew and they won't go to dance to their Tune In Jesus says, it doesn't work like that. Now these days there is a lot to like about Jesus retrain the guy right by some Modern postmodern standards and see stablish man gives the elite a hard time preachers 11th East helps the poor feel like all take take take Millennial Jesus. He's so cool. If a guy likes gives the elite hard time says, it's a nice things. I like the boat that kind of things. I want to be a bite and you just stick to seeing those things. Jesus not be fine. We'll just keep going there. But if you stick with us, you're going to hear a speaking to hear Jesus see some pretty challenging things and things that we really something I don't want to hear that. You can't love both God and money that you should hate that you should love those who hate you and persecute you the God's judgment is coming on those who fail to acknowledge in the following. Jesus needs to be so radical and so deep that the love you have for your fan. Should look like hate in comparison, but there is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who reject Jesus.

Jesus quite like the other stuff I love and peace and stuff match with everything. You know, I quite like to take some of your teachings on board, but I'm not sure I really want to buy into all of that will surely want to make a decision based on the desire to emulate please, you know, I don't want all the other stuff in my life have to take a second place the following you but Jesus and his teachings are what they are not the center of Christianity. We could gain first 23 go back over the page and your Bibles stumble on account of me since there is no Christianity is the central figure you go to come to Jesus and you go to deal with them as yes. When were confronted with Jesus we got a decision to make we can be like John we can look at the evidence and we can be reassured the evidences. They are Jesus is who he says he is or we can be like these leaders you see the evidence, but they don't like what they see and they don't like what they hear and they won't go to dance to their tune. The blessed is the one who sticks with him who trust in Jesus who looks at the evidence and sees who he is. I'm pleased to see the police that eventually work out who will maze Wars over slate. Another story is well, you can ask him for the time you preach the Northern Ireland and they thought it was a homeless guy and it didn't let him into the church. He went to the church and they wouldn't let him in half an hour later and give this cuz it's going to be great stories from it. But you can imagine how these officers would have felt that when you make a stupid mistake. I'm just saying you should we not see that and you could have that feeling the shame. You're not feeling. How did we not realize there's more at stake than getting it would get it right on your Jesus's than just losing face cuz in his second installment of his a cone the book of Acts and you can see that in your pipe is well Luke says this Inverse chapter 17 verse 31. He says God man's old people everywhere to repent for your Saturday when he will judge the world with Justice by the man is appointed. He is giving proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. I don't work through Luke will see that the ultimate piece of evidence that Jesus is who he says he is is that he dies on a cross but three days later comes back to life power over life and death once and for all proving that he is this one this promised one and the one who has been appointed to judge with Justice. A day is coming where we will need to give a kind of our lives in the one thing that will matter is what we made of Jesus. Is he the way to Restoration with God is coming just ignore him. I might challenge to you. If you don't know who Jesus is it look into it the evidence is there you can read it for yourself. Look at the evidence. There is nothing more important on my brothers and sisters are Christians. I say to you remember by evidence remember who Jesus is and stick with him and be blessed. So let's pray together and then we'll have some time to discuss with pre.

Heavenly Father we thank you that Jesus is come and shown us for you are like and how we can have a restored relationship with you through what he is done. help us to truly see the Jesus is who he says he is help us not to beep you off by our expectations or by the style of the things that you said, but help with the see-through not to the substance see who he is and to trust in him and Trust in the evidence that we see Help us to understand where all the things we've been talking about this morning and said put them into our practice if we went to practice in our lives. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. create