John Chapter 2:11-15

It's an intriguing thing when you read the word of God, how the word of God deals with heresies hundreds and even thousands of years before they exist in receipt of this verse deals specifically for the present day heresy if you will.

And that's that. There are other gospel accounts that are in your Bible ever heard that. Well, the truth be told, there are what's referred to as Gnostic gospel. Why do I mention this because these apocryphal gospels and also these Gnostic Gospels mention other miracles of Jesus that he did at eight younger age and and again with that versus beginning of signs that one verse totally rocks the boat on all these other so-called gospel welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, and were glad to have one of the McGee's associate pastors DA Brown here with us as best David continues through the book of John, Bob, we can trust that the Bible is the word of God. One of the ways we can trust is when we apply to our life and see the fruit that confirmation encourages us to Christ… Jump in. As David McGee helps explain why we believe that the Bible is the word of God and makes a difference in our lives today as he continues through the gospel of John chapter 2.

Turn with me to the gospel of John chapter 2 and will pick up about verse 11 were at the wedding feast where Jesus has performed the miracle of turning the water into wine will pick it up in verse 11 this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glories, his glory and his disciples believed in is interesting since this beginning of signs of your in the King James it says this beginning of miracles wises interesting and intriguing thing when you read the word of God, how the word of God deals with heresies. It deals with inaccuracies hundreds and even thousands of years before they exist. Initially, this verse deals specifically with the present day heresy if you will. And that's that. There are other gospel accounts that are in your Bible ever heard that. Well, the truth be told, there are what's referred to as Gnostic Gospels, but they been rejected for a lot of reasons it's not according to the Lao the da Vinci code that says they reject the deity of Jesus Christ. I don't see that in there I've read these apocryphal gospels and these Gnostic Gospels. I really don't.

I did them in the way a study I don't really encourage you to do that but there's just a lot of garbage in there. To be honest, there's historical inaccuracies there's geographical inaccuracies and choristers spiritual inaccuracies and the fact is they were written somewhere between the Hun 190 A.D. to 320 A.D. so they were written hundreds of years after Jesus Christ out where the other Gospels were written anywhere from 45 to 90 A.D. which puts them in the same generation of Jesus Christ. Now, why do I mention this because these apocryphal gospels and also these Gnostic Gospels mention other miracles of Jesus that he did at eight younger age. He did things according to these Gospels astounding call Gospels. These Gnostic stories like he blew on a clay pigeon and it flew off. He didn't like a little boy he was playing with, so he struck him dead.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, you know, looking at the nature of Jesus. I just don't see that in his nature is matter fact when James and John might even had a legitimate reason to be upset at the 24.

Remember they want to call fire down from heaven and Jesus said no no no no no. So it seems inconsistent with the nature of Jesus to see him strike and another little boy down dead are blown on clay pigeons for that matter in and again with that versus beginning of signs that one verse totally rocks the boat on all these other so-called Gospels because they have miracles happen earlier in the life of Jesus. And here we have marriage told you last week. We, the Lord really laid on my heart about being filled and being filled to the brim.

Last week, and I cannot put the marriage thing on hold until this week, but obviously God's blessing here is own marriage.

It's interesting that God's first miracle.

The first miracle of Jesus in his earthly ministry was a blessing upon the marriage blessing is on marriage.

You realize that some we came up with guys this is an institution that God ordained that God orchestrated so who gets to tell us about the details. God does. We don't get to come up with them. We don't get to change this so what did God say about marriage with real basic rural sample. It's a man and it's a life that's pretty complicated. Let's review it's a man and it's a wife.

Scott's Scripture is so clear on this. To deny that scriptural truth shows that you have an agenda you have agenda and agenda, not to obey the word of God and what you believe in what you're saying is in conflict with the word of God guys to be honest I understand somebody doesn't know the Lord understand if somebody doesn't know the Bible how they could be confused about some leasing. What I don't understand is people that call themselves teachers of the word of God who are confused about these things because it's unacceptable. If you believe in same-sex marriages. State your case but don't say that you believe in the Bible and you believe in same-sex marriages.

Sorry there's a contradiction there that's interesting that Jesus does his first miracle at a marriage was that because you know what life lesson number one.

Marriage is a miracle in marriage takes a miracle. Amen. Bellevue had been married long, you know the first part second part, because when you take two people who are by their nature fallen sinners and you put them in a relationship where they need to consider the other person more than themselves, and you need a miracle you need a miracle. And you know what that takes God and the awesome thing is, God is willing to bestow that miracle on us. I've seen it over and over near marriages that people support us not to work well, that's not going to work.

That's even Christians are that'll never work. But God puts his hand on a relationship and does a miracle in changes if you will that water into wine, but it takes God, it takes God and not just yourself that here's a trap that a lot of believers fall into.

They think well I you know I got improve America got to do this and I got a really focus on my marriage. God please heal us Lease Lexus please put the pieces back together and focus on the wrong thing. You can't focus on the marriage, you have to focus on the Lord because if you put your focus on something else.

What what just happened.

You put something in front of God's idolatry friend I mean the Bible is real clear about that. You have to focus on the Lord and you know what I've seen. Time after time after time after time after time when people are willing to do that when a man and a woman are willing to do that the marriage becomes incredible as they focus on the Lord but is a focus on the marriage trust in their own strength and it becomes difficult and if you're in here this morning, then you know this is one of those messages that makes your elbow sore because you know as I'm up there teaching elbows around the room I was sure you glad you're in here. Note list listen to me, family take this to heart, because often what we think in our marriage.

We think our spouse needs to change. But you can't change your spouse can, but you can allow the Holy Spirit to change you. And you know what you should be the first to change, especially guys ghosting for dissecting, especially if you're the leader of the home. We think of the leader of the home is to get all these really twisted notion go walk behind me 5 feet in single file and don't say anything in the world goes pilots submission know that's that's a lot of things but that's not submission. If you're the leader of the home, then you know what friend Lee and often, that will mean lead in repenting first lead in saying sorry. First lead in the way that Jesus did and being willing to die that leadership in the marriage well and I married my wife.

You don't know her, she's all ornery and she's all she's just me. She just thinks he says all these mean things in these hateful things in the spiteful things we know what she wasn't that way when God gave her to you what did you do, chances are abusing back on your history and the relationship you remember couple of shipments that that owe shipment on that and shortly thereafter.

Perhaps it got a little cynical and got a little bitter wonderful thing about that is you can repent no forgiveness.

When's the last time you told your spouse that you left. When's the last time you told your spouse how much you cared for. When's the last time you told your wife how beautiful she was, without any sort of prompting what the dress looked like her. When's the last time you told your husband how much you love and respect. When's the last time you prayed for your spouse. When's the last time you think God for your spouse.

When's the last time you will see your spouse and what will your words be guys are sick people sitting here who lost their spouse and sometimes unexpectedly and they would tell you to be careful with your words.

The Lord wants to equip us and strengthen us in our marriages. Well, I can't live sacrificially like that. You're right, you can't. But you know what God can and desires to give you the strength to live this out this an amazing thing. Are you will and asking to do that he's here this morning to restore relationships.

Perhaps some of you are carrying burdens in brokenness and wounds from previous relationships, previous marriages are not doomed to repeat those things and less you try to cure them yourself. You can come to the Lord asking to forgive you and you know what he will. But if you want to act like there's no problem and you don't need any help, you're in trouble you're in trouble.

So my it's been married over 17 years. Let me assure you. Trouble is coming. If you think that because we do need help if you say Lord help me fill me told my water to wine and mean he will do a miracle in your life and in your marriage a promise you this, and if you're in here this morning. Don't think well I like this young man are like this young woman.

As long as they would change this that this that this that I got a little shortlist about three pages long. Find somebody that loves the Lord will be right back with more from David Magee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want to take a minute to pray for listeners in the cities in California have Joshua tree Lake Isabella Lakehead Las Cruces Laurel Lompoc in the San Jose area God, we thank you for the cities. We pray for the leaders in the cities that you would give them wisdom and discernment. We pray that people would be following you, with all their heart all their soul and all the strength they be sharing with others the hope that they found in you. We pray that many would accept that offer of hope and eternal salvation, and that they would get plugged in Bible teaching churches. They will begin to grow in their relationship with you and be a blessing to other people. In Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse is an interesting thing in Scripture. A lot of times people found their spouses were at the well that's good I like that fundamental well now guys that doesn't mean that you come in here and this is the will the church I believe is the wells water springs up, but that doesn't mean you come anywhere near Toby. Do we own the Lord wait on the Lord you see Adam waiting on the Lord. You notice that he was waiting on the Lord because there were a lot of animals around Adam could of got confused.

That orangutan is a voice, but he waited and when he was waiting when he was resting when he was asleep is when God did the miracle you got a rest. If you get out arrest you can get in trouble rest on the Lord rest in the Lord and the Lord will do work in this area. Be careful about following your for your feelings owns a couple more things because this is so important to be careful about following your feelings follow your faith because if you file your feelings.

You probably got get in trouble because your feelings will mislead you.

I can remember in times past. I just knew that I felt this or I knew that I felt that ended up I was wrong, but you can trust your faith and see in in in marriage being called one is not feeling it's a physical, spiritual fact and if you want to doubt something don't doubt that doubt your feelings is always frustrating when I'm talking to people to go watch the love them anymore rule. What what twisted notion of love. Do you have love is not just a feeling. Only can be, but it's a fact is a commitment in Mark chapter 10 verse eight lattices and the two shall become one flesh. So then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

That includes the husband and the wife in the marriage. Don't put distance between is the inference from the Greek don't put distance between yourself and your wife Jesus. Jesus was invited to the wedding. Hopefully hopefully you invited them to the wedding is invited to the marriage you dependent upon him in that marital relationship.

Be sure to encourage one another in your faith. Verse 12. After this he went down the Capernaum. He and his mother, his mother's and his disciples and they did not stay there many days, so there's no discord there. And Capernaum is still there K for NATO verse 13 the Passover, the Jews was at hand. And Jesus went up to Jerusalem and he found in the temple. Those who sold oxen and sheep and doves in the moneychangers doing business and when he had made a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers money and overturned the tables as is interesting. One thing that's interesting that I didn't see until is really digging in these verses is the way 15 opens up verse that says when he made a whip of cords understand something. Jesus was sitting there watching them, as he was making this with this wasn't done in a heated moment, he sat there watching doing the court Wayton didn't do it out of impulse. He sat there with all with planning. We pray, but also knowing what he had to do these guys ripping people off. They were ripping people off. And you know what, in all fairness, I think some ministries are dangerously close to this now understand a couple things these guys were set up in the court of the Gentiles. It's the outer court of the Temple Mount and part of their job was to change money wise that because the Roman coin of the day had it image of Caesar well, that was they felt and correctly so that was idolatry. You see, people believe that Caesar was God or was a God. And so in order to give to the temple. You couldn't give this going with the image of Caesar, you had to exchange this money for shackled it didn't have a man's image on so they were at first providing a needed necessary service and somewhere along the line they thought well there's good money in this will change the money for a small fee and then they actually begin to make loans. There in the court of the Gentiles.

So, understand people would come to the temple curious about God curious about the Lord. And this is what they would see these moneychangers and it upset Jesus that is so applicable today is see there are people that are interested in God there curious about God and perhaps there flipping around on the radio station. Perhaps there flicking channels with her TV remote and what do we represent to them. Salvation is sometimes more often than not, we are begging for money and poor mouthing God. God doesn't need us to give away her money got to thinking that what God desires for us is to look for us to give away our selfishness to give away our materialism to remember him with our first fruits. But somewhere we've misrepresented this and we misrepresented often to those overcoming the check got out and I think it still makes Jesus anger.

That's one of the reasons we don't pass a plate here here for the first time you're still thinking window. They pass a plate. We don't what you do there's boxes on the back. We believe the Christian should give you better and I've said it before and I'll say it again, we would probably receive more ties and offerings. If we passed the plate together and put in the money where my mouth is what I don't want to happen is for an unbeliever or somebody that doesn't know the Lord to come in here and as the plate goes past once twice six times and some services of them go see it's all about the money and no it's not about Jesus.

So, about the word and if it if there's the chance that you will become confused by plate: Pastor was the structure plate was not due plate ministries need finances to operate OU batch no doubt about it.

This this ministry in this building and all that we got going on. It takes a lot of finances.

It takes a lot of faith, but I'm not going to manipulate some money. That's an unbeliever and leave them with the feeling that I was more interested in their pocketbooks and in their soul.

I will give them the impression I'm interested in their heart you know it. If you think that God just wants 10% of your life and that's it. 10% of your finances and you can skate along man, you're missing the boat on 10%. He wants it all. He wants your heart. You want your mind and want you so he wants your life.

As I read the story as it is a young Christian.

It was interesting to me because you know the pictures they have of Jesus Nellies is very is very meek looking than me and and I don't know. I'm not seeing a lot of carpenters that really look that way and to be honest, some of those paintings were painted by Matthew. Don't think these are actual paintings. These are renderings of your will, because some of those paintings if I saw this guy with a chord in the temple would be freaked out latest so maybe little different and you know what this this radically upsets the apple cart of some people's view of Christianity done Christianity just about get along with every body about being nice. That's what Christianity is about will obviously not Jesus in there trying to get along with everybody. He's mad he's upset he's anger he's we use the word righteously indignant were told by Paul in Romans chapter 12 verse 18. He says if it is possible as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men and you know what I've decided with some people is not possible. I want to live peaceably with all men like Paul talks about here what I am not willing to sacrifice my peace with God in order to live peaceably with all men and I don't think the Lord ever intends us to do that you look at Matthew chapter 10 verse 34 Jesus is do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

And I get often joke when the last time you saw that on a Christmas card. This is the words of Jesus. This is what Jesus said and the reality is, is when you are living for the Lord.

I mean full gonzo 24 seven living for God, it will put you at odds with some people, not intentionally. You don't have to go out of your way. Don't be mean and spiteful to show them what a radical Christian you are. You don't need to do that. Some people think they need to do that and they're very rude and were told first tried inserting you, you're not supposed to be rude, you're supposed to love people. That doesn't mean always get along with everybody is what I found. As a pastor can say some things in such a way that you can guarantee some people get offended by what you can also put it in a way back. It was Scripture in which way they won't be offended by how you say that they may be offended by what you say. They may be offended by the word of God friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day.

You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good pastor day and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday.

Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM Eastern time. This visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church.

The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John