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Our sermon will be in Luke 19:28-40

We have a website: https://tahlequahworshipcenter.com/

Service this Wednesday Night - We are in the book of John

Diaper Drive

Business Meeting Next Sunday

Prayer requests

Gerald

Georgey

Dorcas

Cristy’s Grandparents

Sandra

Donna

Ukraine

Joe

Kevin Black

Songs

G

Goodness of God

a

Who’s the Boss?

I was watching or reading on the internet the other day and I saw that they are doing a sequel to “Who’s the Boss?”

That show came out when I was a teenager.

I don’t know that I’ll watch it, but remembering the show and the title of it made me start thinking.

The show was about a single mom with a high profile job who hires an ex-pro baseball player to be a live in housekeeper.

Some of the humor revolves around the role reversal of the 2 adults.

I already had been looking at our text for awhile and it made me realize that the religious leadership of Jesus’ day had their roles reversed as well. They were taking authority over Jesus.

That applies to us sometimes as well.

We set our authority above Jesus.

Do you put your ideas about Jesus?

Do you create your own religion?

What I want to answer today is: Who’s the Boss?

Luke 19:45–20:8 NKJV

45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. 1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” 3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Jesus came to Cleanse

Before we look at what Jesus is doing here, let’s look at the account of this in Mark 11:15-17

Mark 11:15–17 KJV 1900

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

So what is Jesus objecting to here?

He’s upset that about 2 things that we can get from this passage:

They are not being honest in their dealings

Because of the size of the outer part of the temple, people would use it as a shortcut. The idea is that they were only to bring in the things they needed for inside the temple.

So ladies, this means you can’t bring your purses into worship.

I carry a bag that has all my stuff in it.

We need to ensure that we are keeping the principles of what Jesus is teaching.

The main thing taught is that they were stealing.

Let me give you an example.

There is a televangelist named Peter Popoff that was caught listening in an earbud getting instructions from his wife.

Someone would come in, the wife would get to know them, and then Peter would use the details the wife gathered to act like he was receiving them from the Lord. Even to this day, this guy is selling “Miracle Spring Water”

So the problem is that they were using the church/temple for their gain.

They are improperly using the authority of Jesus.

We here at this church take up a collection in which part of it comes to me.

But I’m not trying to trick or steal anything from the church.

Jesus came to cleanse the wrongdoing from his church.

Jesus came to Confront

In the previous section of scripture, Jesus confronted those in the Temple.

We get an idea of Jesus that he was all love, and no anger.

He is often portrayed as a weak man who is a bit effeminate.

But this ignores the scripture like we see here where Jesus is standing up the religious types.

It ignores where Jesus called them white washed tombs, snakes, and even worse.

Having anger or confronting someone is not sinful.

Actually, we are commanded to do so.

Sometimes confrontation mush happen in order to maintain the peace of the church.

Here in chapter 22 we see the religious people confronting Jesus.

The confrontation is only bad if it’s illegitimate.

Here, these people know that the miracles that so many had seen could only come from God.

The same is true of John.

They knew these answers, but they didn’t want to acknowledge it because they would lose their authority.

Many of us don’t want to accept the authority of others.

We want that authority for ourselves.

We had an incident last week.

I don’t want to tell the details, but I talked to a law enforcement officer.

He was a bit upset at first.

I said I’m sorry sir.

I accepted responsibility for my actions.

His tone changed immediately.

Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-3

Romans 13:1–3 NKJV

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

There are times that we have to question authority, but generally speaking we should submit to the authority that God has ordained.

So what is our ultimate authority?

Jesus came to Claim

Let’s get the first things first.

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What is the root word of authority? Author

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

Now he sets at the right hand of God.

Acts 7:56 KJV 1900

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

The right hand of a leader is the one that wields the power of the throne.

I’m here to tell you that I don’t fully comprehend how this all works, but even Jesus came to this world and came under the authority of those in power.

Think about it: first his mom and dad, then extended family, and then the Jews and the Romans.

But now that he has risen, he has shown that he has power and authority over death itself.

He has power over problems.

He has power over pain.

He has power over people.

And through his word, he has proclaimed himself as King

We need to acknowledge Jesus as King

Several years ago in the 80s, there was a controversy called “Lordship Salvation”.

The idea was a separation between believing in the work of Christ and his authority.

Here’s the deal: if Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, then we need to acknowledge him as Lord and as Savior.

What did Thomas say to Jesus? “My Lord and my God.”

Do you have a problem with the authority of God?

Do you believe that he died for you?

If you do, then you need to bow down to his authority in your life.

Jesus showed that he had the authority to drive out the thieves in the Temple and through his works he showed that his power was of God.

He has now taken his place in the throne-room of God and we have no excuse.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day didn’t want to acknowledge the works of God because the truth showed their hypocrisy and their reliance on their own works.

They trusted in themselves and not in God.

Do you trust in God, or do you trust in yourself?

I submit to God.

I trust in Jesus.

I believe that he died and rose again.

I know that one day, I will see him with my own eyes.

No matter the illness, no matter the loss, no matter what the Lord has for me.

Lord, I trust in thee.