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John Chapter 5:31-47 – “Court is in Session” Part III

The Opening Statements – To tell you the truth...

I am... The Son of God,

The Equal with God,

The Giver of Life,

The Judge of All

Jesus the Defense Attorney

The Calling of Witnesses – The Six-fold Witnesses...

§ Jesus Himself

§ John the Baptist

§ Jesus’ Works

§ The Father

§ Moses

§ The Scriptures

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Jesus transitions in the Courtroom from defense attorney to prosecuting attorney...

Twelvefold Indictment: (of their unbelief... our unbelief?)

1. You have not heard His voice at any time...

2. You have not seen His form...

3. You do not have His word abiding in you...

4. You do not believe, whom He sent...

5. You think you have eternal life... “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think...”

6. You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life... “You don’t want to come to me...”

7. You do not have the love of God in you...

8. You do not receive Me in My Father’s name; if another comes in his own name, him you will...

9. You, how can you believe, who receive honor from one another?

10. You do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

11. You have one who accuses you—Moses,... (if you believed Moses, then Me; he wrote of Me.)

12. You do not believe Moses’ writings, how will you believe My words?”

§ John did not mount up these indictments for nothing...

§ John was going somewhere...

:

“31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

That you may believe...

The question this morning is, do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? If so, will you come to Him? Then, in coming to Him, will you believe?

§ The Spirit wants to do something for our faith — for your faith and mine right now...

§ He wants this analysis of unbelief to penetrate into our hearts and reveal one of the deepest causes of unbelief... OUR unbelief...

§ Why did the Jews not believe?

§ Is it only a ‘Jewish’ issue?

§ Or is it a humanity issue at its core?

Let’s consider three of these indictments...

1. #4. You do not have His word abiding in you...

§ “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

§ “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...”

§ , “Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom...”

§ The Question: Have I hidden His word in my heart? Are there areas of my life being destroyed as a result of this lacking?

§ Two fold... Scenario

§ I have not hidden His word...

§ I have his word, but I don’t believe, therefore I don’t obey

o Cast all your cares...

o Bring in all the tithes...

o Consider others...

o Be anxious for nothing...

§ The Solution: Start today! Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate, Obey God’s Word!

§ Believe, simply believe... “Oh ye of little faith...

2. #6. You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life...

§ , “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”

§ , “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out...”

§ But we do not come... we pray, but we do not come... Why?

§ Often, there simply is an unwillingness to submit to His way, do to “Unbelief”...

o Due to Unbelief... We do not believe what He says... (Archaic, Not in today’s culture...) Like the man at the pool of Bethesda, we make our excuses...

o Due to the necessity of ‘Change’

§ In his book “Change or Die”, Alan Deutschman sites numerous studies and surveys compiled regarding change...

§ Studies in the medical fields, criminal justice field and in the business field “Change or Die”

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What percentage of people would choose to die? 90%

90% would choose death due to their resignation that change is either too difficult, perceived impossible, or there is an unwillingness to put forth the effort to achieve lasting change...

The basis for the title "Change or Die" is that numerous studies have found that upwards of 9 out of 10 people don't change their lifestyles and behaviors...even when their lives depend upon it.

The book asks the question, "Could you change when change matters most?" It is a fact that five behavioral issues drive the large majority of the health care budget in the United States. They are too much smoking, drinking, and eating; too much stress and not enough exercise. If potentially only one out of every ten people can change our behaviors, even in a crisis, then what hope do any of us really have?

THE SUBTITLE OF HIS BOOK - THE THREE KEYS TO CHANGE:

§ The First Key to Change –

RELATE: You form a new, emotional relationship with a person or community that inspires and sustains hope. The leader or community has to sell you on yourself and make you believe you have the ability to change. They have to sell you on themselves as your partners, mentors, role models, or sources of new knowledge. And they have to sell you on the specific methods or strategies that they employ.

Renewed RELIANCE to and upon Jesus! And His initiative, the body of Christ, the Local Church!

§ The Second Key to Change

REPEAT: The new relationship helps you learn, practice, and master the new habits and skills that you'll need. It takes a lot of repetition over time before new patterns of behavior become automatic and seem natural - until you act the new way without even thinking about it.

Renewed ROUTINES – Spiritual Disciplines practiced... Practice makes permanent

§ The Third Key to Change

REFRAME: The new relationship helps you learn new ways of thinking about your situation and your life. Ultimately, you look at the world in a way that would have been so foreign to you that it wouldn't have made any sense before you changed.

Renewed REASONING – Renewing of our minds by the washing of the water of the word

§ These are the three keys to change: relate, repeat, and reframe. New hope, new skills, and new thinking.

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"Lord, may this analysis of unbelief penetrate into my heart and reveal one of the deepest causes of unbelief. May You Lord open our hearts to see our own souls. Lord help me to make lasting change in my life through a renewed reliance upon You; a renewed routine in You; and, a renewed reasoning through a constant washing of the water of the word." Amen

3. You do not receive Me in My Father’s name;

§ “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Because you have rejected knowledge

§ “...if another comes in his own name, him you will receive...”

§ What is the “Other ways” we are accepting...

§ Paul warns the churches of Galatia, “Who has bewitched you...” they were, building again those things they had destroyed, making themselves transgressors...

§ Methods of gaining life other than those of Christ and His word...

§ The Question: Do I do this? Where in my life...

We want, another ‘Messiah’... we want ‘another way’... Look at verse 43,

43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

“If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

If some one comes in their own name...

Then, you will receive them... “Why?”

Because, then, they will be “LIKE” YOU...

And, that will require NO CHANGE...

§ Your “Wants”

§ Your “Self”

§ Your “Centeredness”

Look at verse 44,

44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

We seek glory... of man...

§ From self – Self satisfaction, Self gratification...

§ From others – Esteem, Applause, Honor, Glory...

We do not seek satisfaction and honor from God...

It is the parable of the sower revealed... The seed sown amongst the thorns... the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches a