TUNSTALL APO 11.11.07. SUNDAY PM Who is Jesus Christ to You

Place: Tunstall Apo.               Date: Sunday, pm 11th November 2007.

Text: Matthew 16:13-17.       Theme: Who is Jesus Christ to You?

Introduction:                          Reading:

These are the TWO things we all must understand,

1.     The person of Jesus Christ.

2.     The work of Jesus Christ.

So Jesus asked a question of the disciples. Their answer will determine where they spend eternity, and your answer does the same.  Who is Jesus Christ to You?

1ST POINT: THE QUESTION.

Matthew 16:13-14 “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

          This question is repeated in every age, over and over again. There is no getting away from this question, you cannot avoid it, and you must answer it yourself. The opinion of the crowd gives THREE theories:

1.     John the Baptist.

Because of Jesus preaching of repentance. But Jesus was a far greater preacher than John, and He spoke with an authority that was astonishing.  He not only spoke the Word of God, He IS the Word made flesh! John only pointed to the Lamb of God, but Jesus was the Lamb.

2.     Elijah.

Because of His prayers. Elijah prayed and the heavens opened and closed, whether rain or fire. Jesus had a powerful prayer life. The disciples never asked Him to teach them to preach, or to work miracles, but they DID say, teach us to pray! They were blown away by His ability to talk to His Father, and they were happy to learn they could easily do the same.

3.     Jeremiah.

Because of His compassion. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, and was known for His tears. And Jesus was known for being moved to tears, from His view of a multitude in a crowd like sheep with no shepherd, to the tomb of just one and the shortest verse in the Bible, our Jesus wept and wept, and still today when we are hurting.

He hurts right along with us, His heart breaks for us, and our tears are a language that our God understands!

Yet, all of these opinions were wrong, because you just cannot compare Jesus to another man. He is unique, supreme, the Name above all names, the God-man, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We will never find the right answer to the returning question by taking a public opinion poll. When it comes to Jesus, the big crowd is always wrong, yet many make public opinion their main method of gaining spiritual understanding.

Invite people to church or to be saved and you will hear the same excuses over and over again. Maybe we need to stop asking them to church, and start asking them the persistent question they need to answer, who is Jesus Christ to You? If they get a hold of the true answer, they will be saved, get into church, and be forever changed!

2ND POINT: THIS IS A PERSONAL QUESTION.

Matthew 16:15 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

          Jesus now asks YOUR opinion. Every person must answer this question. The crowd cannot answer it for you. You cannot opt out from answering, you can delay, but you cannot hide forever, you will answer someday.

Confess Him as Lord today, and not on judgment day: Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

On that day it will be too late; today it is just too simple! Who is Jesus Christ to You?

3RD POINT: THE ANSWER. 

Matthew 16:17 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven”

Jesus says it is only by the grace, goodness, and guidance of God that any of us can ever come to the place of answering this question correctly. The right answer comes by divine revelation, and not by human speculation. Only the Father in heaven can make the truth real in your heart.

It is no accident that you are here today. God has arranged the circumstances of your life so you will hear this message, and you will be forced to answer the question, who is Jesus Christ to you? And do not just answer it in your head; make sure it impacts your heart.

Do not miss heaven by 18 inches, the distance between your head and your heart. 

CONCLUSION:  So, who is Jesus Christ to you?