Chasing A High View Of Jesus' Authority

Several weeks ago now I suggested that you should memorize God’s Greatest Commandment:

Chasing a High View of God: His Character and Glory.

High View of You: A high View of what Humans where created to be and do. A High View of God’s Purpose and Calling for me.

Chasing a High view of Others: His Desire for them to Rescue them

God’s “GREAT” Narrative is a rescue story!

This week we are going to go deeper into the Wilderness. We are going to add to God’s GREAT NARRATIVE. To The GREATEST COMMANDMENT WE ARE GOING TO ADD THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

A High View of God and you is a High view of Jesus’ Authority.

What do we do make of the Authority of Jesus.

Matthew 28:16–18 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

THREE OBSERVATIONS:

Some worshiped and some doubted

“Faith is the wrestle with Doubt” Martin Luther

2. Jesus saw the worshippers and the doubts and came near.

3. To both the worshippers and the doubts Jesus spoke the same unifying message: All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Authority Marks Jesus’ Life.

Called people as one with Authority

Taught as one with Authority

Fished as one with Authority

Forgave sins as one with Authority

Healed as one with Authority

Slept as one with Authority

Dealt with Demons as one with Authority

Dealt with politicians, military personnel, and religious leaders as one with Authority.

In the Great Commission, Jesus proclaims what His life has always shown, that the complete authority given to Him calls for our surrender and obedience.

The Great Commission calls for absolute surrender and obedience.

STORY OF ARMY RANGERS RESCUING HIKER… In the early moments of my time in North George this summer I sat with Rudi and Sandy the hosts and directors at Shepherds Refuge. They asked what I was planning for my stay. I told them that I loved to hike and that I was planning to spend considerable time on the trails. Instead of lecturing me on my preparedness they simply told me a story.

“Several years ago there was a hiker who when out into the Chattahoche National Forrest. He had wondered off the path. He didn’t pack the supplies he needed. He didn’t have a proper map, compass, matches and his cell phone wasn’t fully charged and he didn’t think of bringing a battery backup. He got off trail, missed the trail blazes, and end up deep in the Forrest. He was turned around, didn’t know where he was… night began to fall and so he finally put his pride Down and he was going to call for help. But his cell phone battery was dead. Finally, he decided to tray to make some form of camp site. As the cool of late fall night set in he tried to make a fire. But he was no boy scout, so without matches he worked in vain. He must not have been to bad of guy, because at some point loved ones noticed he was missing and alerted authorities. Park Rangers looked for him to no avail. The next morning exhausted cold, our of snacks, and with little water he set off again. To no avail, he only worked himself deeper into the Forrest. The park rangers searched, but the Chattahoochee National Forrest is 866 thousand acres.

As the search for this lost hiker grew, from a few park rangers, and desperate friends and family Urgency grew!!! The temperatures were expected to drop. So a new rescue plan was adapted. They need a crew who was more highly trained and could work in the dark of night, so the called the Army Rangers out of Fort Benning Georgia. Talk about highly trained.. One of our nations top special forces teams used the urgency and hunt for a lost hiker as training exercise. The were taken out into the Forrest and repelled from Helicopters. With night vision goggles they looked for heat signatures… finally because of they located the hiker… can you imagine his surprise in the midst of his complete exhaustion. A ranger battalion, night vision goggles, and guns to rescue him.

When someone is lost we will go to any length to find them.

Think of the Authority it took to get the Army Rangers Involved.

The Trust is, we are that hiker. Lost on our own. People cared about us, prayed for us and looked for us. Ultimately God sent in the special forces… Jesus . He has one mission. To seek and save the lost.

Let’s look at a large scale teaching/ story from Jesus life and ministry. First, Jesus was clear about his mission!

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus rescues us, trains us, and prepared us for the mission of rescuing those who Find themselves confused, off trail, disoriented, without supply for what they are surrounded by. Aren’t you thankful!!!

LET’S Take 10 Minutes and Look at this Story in A Greater CONTEXT.

Luke 18:22–23 ESV

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LOST?

TO MISS THE MARK. TO GO ONES OWN WAY. TO BE STUBBORN.

WHAT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Luke 19:7–10 ESV

And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The rich young ruler wanted Eternal Life, but he didn’t want to accept the Authority of Jesus. Zacchaeus fully surrendered and moved to practical obedience.

Zacchaeus saw the rescue plan was surrender of what he previously thought was salvation and turned to Jesus.

Zacchaeus saw that the authority of Jesus required practical obedience:

Serve the poor

Restore relationships (understood it would cost)

Zacchaeus Understood Jesus’ authority.

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CALLS ME TO FULL UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER AND OBEDIENCE.

Philippians 2:9–12 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

1. The challenges is how rich we are! When we are rich it’s easy to live in practical surrender.

God, I have obeyed these commands with my life.

Okay, now join my rescue mission.

I don’t know God, that’s going to cost me!

God’s terms are this, UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

When you fully surrender you will discover:

Unconditional Surrender and Full Obedience is not a burden it is a blessing.

2. The AUTHORITY OF JESUS CALLS ME TO FULL OBEDIENCE.

GRACE DOES NOT MAKE SIN SAFE!

REBELLION… INSUBORDINATION

Delayed Obedience is disobedience.

Questions for everyday:

How is this choice a high view of God?

How is this choice a high view of others?

How is this choice a high view of God’s purpose for my life?

B.L.E.S.S.

Begin with Prayer

Listen

Eat

Serve

Story

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER AND FULL OBEDIENCE IS PRACTICAL?

Is this choice unconditionally surrendered and fully obedient?