John Chapter 2:23-3:2

Serving the Lord serve in man and that's important to remember when things happen that remove your motivation of your servant because of man is. Let me assure you that motivation will be tried if you're doing it just to please another person, God will put the fire under that is okay I need to remind you why you're doing what you doing not doing it for them.

You're doing it for me.

God sees God remembers God knows and nobody else knows what you do for the Lord. It's all right. As you know what he who you serve sees everything. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, were glad to have one of the McGee's associate pastors DA Brown here with us as Pastor David continues through the book of John the above.

It's important that we realize will not start again a reward from people that God will serve.

But DA we were in a world where there are people around us as were serving God. There are people around us and we want them to see our good works and say all will praise God he's doing something for God, but not for us to get the reward Bob with all the attention to Jesus and we pointed attention to Jesus. He's glorified that provokes others to follow him to. Well, let's listen.

I'm sure David McGee will explain more as he continues teaching in John finishing up chapter 2 and beginning chapter 3 will turn with me to John chapter 3 we teach verse by verse chapter by chapter.

Here we don't skip anything.

We don't leave anything out now. I say chapter 3 were actually going to pick it up in chapter 2, verse 23.

Reason I said.

Chapter 3 is really these three verses understand that the chapter divisions in the first divisions came much later. Well, after the guys had written the Bible to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the divisions are in great places sometimes are in unfortunate places in this place is kind of an unfortunate place and we decided to group the last three verses of chapter 2 in the chapter 3 and I just ran out of time. Last week, but this sounded like a really good excuse. I'm jealous.

Lord, we thank you for the treasure that is on our laps. Right now, what would an awesome thing that you've entrusted in our lives to speak to our lives to be a light into our path.

A lamp unto our feet. Lord we ask that it would go for my ears to our minds to our hearts this morning, Lord, that we would by your Holy Spirit really understand what it is you're saying to us, Lord, because it is so important. Lord, we thank you that you desire to speak to our lives you desire to teach us this morning.

So Lord, we ask that you would open our hearts to your word and open your word to our hearts. In Jesus name.

Everybody said amen. He's got to John chapter 2 verse 23 says now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name when he they saw the signs which he did. So here we have Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover. John actually records the three Passover's of his ministry where he is in Jerusalem. It's as many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did. Who do you think was in Jerusalem during the Passover Jewish people see we have the mistaken notion that for the most part the Jewish people rejected Jesus, and will see in chapter 6, he starts to lose some people that had before committed to himself, but a lot of Jewish people were converted during the ministry of Jesus.

And certainly when you go into the book of acts you see people being converted, that were Jewish. Now some of the Jewish leaders. In fact, did reject the ministry of Jesus, but a lot of them accepted the notice also that Jesus was being obedient to the Hebrew Scriptures to the Old Testament in going to Jerusalem during the Passover.

Now a lot of people say what you have. Jesus broke a lot of the laws in the Old Testament. I disagree strongly with that statement. What Jesus broke and what they had a problem with Jesus was over what was termed the rabbinical law. Now there's two types of law. There's the Levitical wall that is the law that were given in Scripture, we really don't have an instance I don't leave a clear instance where Jesus broke a Levitical law what we have is him shattering rabbinical laws, rabbinical laws were the laws that they added after the fact. They started adding so many laws that it took 36,000 pages for them. The record and they got into a lot of silliness princes about the Sabbath where you can only travel 1500 feet from your home on the Sabbath, but if you tied a rope to your house that was long you could extend that 1500 feet by the length of the rope. You see, they begin to get in the sum legalism if you can imagine a church doing that.

I can imagine that.

And then they started doing thing where you you couldn't carry a current shift in your pocket because that was works you work working the carry that handkerchief. But if you took the handkerchief out independent to your clothing. It became part of your clothing and then you are really caring. So you can see, they started to slip in the stuff that Jesus just didn't really have any respect for you. Realize that Jesus still has very little respect for our man-made traditions. I'm glad because there's so much stuff to get stumbled over and caught up in an man-made traditions that we need to leave the man-made traditions alone. Amen when you know when people ask about the servicer we all do you know what they'll do what you service like this really pretty simple pretty straightforward. We worship for a while. We have some brief announcements and then we dig into the word for probably longer than you may be used here know they're coming from another church but people used to 15 minute sermons 10 minute sermons. If you're new here, go ahead and you must take your watch off maybe put it under your chair because we dig into the work because you know what I'm trying to do. I have a limited no amount of time to help prepare you for the coming week and the stuff that's in your life. So I want to take the time to really dig into the word and to present the word of God.

In verse 20 forces. But Jesus did not commit himself to them because he knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for he knew what was in man. This is an interesting couple of verses. Since Jesus knew all men had no need that anyone should testify of man because he was assured of his relationship with his father, and of course at this point, when Jesus realize what was in all men knew what was in man. He decided to abandon his ministry and his mission and head up into the hills didn't.

I saw it happen is and yet how often do we use that excuse not to serve God. I call it excuses not a reason we use the excuse of people. Jesus didn't abandon his mission.

He realized it was part of the deal realize we need to realize it was part of the deal as part of the deal that in serving God.

Sometimes we will meet opposition.

Sometimes people say things sometimes people do things know what it doesn't really matter because Jesus died for us and because of what he did. We should serve him.

So please don't use that as an excuse not to serve the Lord when I was serving the Lord's money looked at me wrong somebody look like they were thinking, so I just am not going to do know you serve God because God first served. You I love Colossians 323 20 forces in whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, not to men, knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ to you serve. If you serve here in children's ministry or sparkle or hospitality or greeting or whatever you serve in the Lord you not serve in man and that's important to remember when things happen that remove your motivation if you're serving because of man is. Let me assure you that motivation will be tried if you're doing it just to please another person, God will put the fire under that and said okay I need to remind you why you're doing what you doing not doing it for them. You're doing it for me.

Hebrews 610 tells us that God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love what you've shown George's name that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister God sees God remembers God knows so nobody else sees it's okay and nobody else knows what you do for the Lord.

It's all right because you know what he who you serve sees everything he knows, take such comfort a lot of things that go on here. Go on behind the scenes. A lot of the people serving in ministry people aren't aware of what they're doing but if they didn't do what they were doing they be sorely missed use.

For example, the media guys you know it.

If they didn't do what they did, then you'd be unable to hear the teaching on Sunday morning. It would be out on the radio Whitby on the Internet.

It would be going into the prisons like it is, but they're committed and they don't care is if nobody ever goes back there is manna really appreciate you. I don't care because they're here to serve the Lord. Now you guys are probably bombarded up the service segment. Just steal your reward right away from life lesson we may be serving people in ministry, but it is God we are really servant you need to remember that because if you ever get in and out of that junction.

God will remind you, God will remind he has a mandate to remind you if you forget you think it's about serving man, God will remove that motivation so that your clear that it is the Lord to serve and you know what else. This means this means that when you don't serve the Lord. Do not serving when you're not an active member of the body of Christ. It's not that you're not serving me. It's not that you're not serving the team leader or ministry here it is that you're not serving the Lord himself. You should not be okay with that. See we are all part of the body should be gung ho should be ready to serve the Lord because if you're not it's not healthy. It's not right you're part of the body, but your part that well the analogy that the Lord gave me. You know sometimes when I'm seated for a long time seems to happen more get older but one of my legs will fall asleep. I hate that probably bothers you in some falls asleep an email and I go and I get up to go do something and you know one of my legs as it's useless is my right is worse than useless, it makes it harder because you know it's like I'm going to walk over there but invariably some I don't see what's wrong George's.

I'm just things asleep. You realize it or not. Serving the body Christ you like that like this asleep, sums gone wrong. Something is not natural about somebody that is in the body, but not servant.

Now that convicts you then praise God that it be the word of the Lord for you see, because Jesus it didn't matter.

They said this they did that. It didn't matter. Didn't matter to Jesus because he was serving his father. He was serving us and if he could have been turned around.

Don't you know he would've been after being accused of blasphemy after being accused of this that of being beaten of being spit on if he could have been dissuaded from it.

Don't you think he would've been seen. The enemy wants to dissuade you from servant. He'll throw stuff at you and and if he can dissuade you, than he is one don't let them win guys. Don't let them win. What if Paul had used a gauge of how people appreciated whether he ministered or not we would be missing a lot of the New Testament because polity given up is in copy and I mean I went to that town and I wasn't necessarily expecting an honorarium. But they beat me up to an inch of my life I'll never go back there again. He didn't do that actually went back to that very place that beaten within an inch of his life and established the church there guys. This can be a trap. If you use the motivation of man serve God and be a trap to fall into will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob Luna pray for some listeners today and these California cities Maple Creek Mariposa, Marysville, Mount Shasta must coy Napa and North San Juan God, we thank you for the people living in the cities and those tuning in today. Lord, we pray that they would get excited about following you, Lord, that they would use that excitement to be a blessing and love other people that they would get plugged into godly churches. We pray for the pastors in the cities that you give them wisdom and discernment, how to lead their flocks point them to your word. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse.

The amazing thing is in and we don't know all that's in the heart of man but Jesus knew all that was in the heart of man he knew what was in the character of Peter.

He knew what Peter was going to do with his denial.

He knew what was in the heart of Jesus coming in Judas.

He knew that Judas was going to betray him. He knew what Nathaniel was like he knew what the Samaritan woman was like, but he kept servant seen one amazing thing he sees your fears or doubts or mistakes your past. If you have and asking to forgive you of those things but doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because he's committed to you.

He's committed to you in a commitment is something that is kind of lacking in some Christians today commitment in the light of opposition. That's what Jesus had. He was committed, and how often it's an amazing thing. Being a pastor I get to see a lot of things that are very interesting. I get to see a lot of things that are awesome people growing people responded to the Holy Spirit.

Sadly enough, also get to see the other side of people that say you know I love this fellowship man I'm committed and then I'm here in like the next week. Well, some ice, it's about me. I'm out here. That's not commitment guys we you know as a church is a fellowship. We may not get everything right, but I can assure you that we are focused on the Lord Jesus. We want to do what the Lord wants us to do in the Lord is leading this fellowship.

No doubt about it and what is your commitment to the Lord. Is it you know as long as I agree with the Lord all servant is not. Commitment is not submission interesting is not submission. When you're green with somebody you can see in a marriage, or you can see in an and in the relationship. Perhaps a business relationship.

Perhaps up a store relationship as long as you're agreeing with somebody that's not a test of submission because you're in agreement with with them. What happens when you disagree with them. Are you still submitted to them. That's the test that's the test the submission.

That's kind of a surface Christianity that lacks a commitment because of faith that is not been tested cannot be trusted.

Faith, it is not been tested cannot be trusted, and often we say well I could see something I would believe it interesting. That's backwards for Christian you believe it and then use it. That's life was number two for the Christian you believe then you see that CN is believing go deep in your faith. Don't give up back up or shut up.

Go for when I don't know I don't want to be one of those crazy Christians you know what, there will be a lot of people.

If you're worried that there won't be enough Christian sitting on the fence. I promise you will be plenty of Christians little stay on the fence and spin sit right there be one of those that goes for because at some point you will be looking back at your life what you want to see what do you want to see and start living that way now John chapter 3 verse one says, there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus of ruler of the Jews now see here we have a Pharisee that's coming to see Jesus again. We've gotten this mistaken notion that all Pharisees rejected Jesus that all Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, and it's just not so. Acts chapter 6 verse seven there's other references, but then the word of God spread the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priest were obedient to the faith.

A great many of the priest were obedient to the faith. So many of the spiritual leaders, the Jewish leaders then accept Jesus as the Messiah Pharisees were the conservative branch or sect if you will.

They believed in resurrection. They believe in the supernatural. They believed and all of the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures for the Sadducees did not believe in those things they were the more liberal of the bunch and we see places where Pharisees came to the Lord. We never see a place for the Sadducees came to the Lord in verse two.

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him rabbi. We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with them is interesting that Nicodemus did not doubt the miracles. Actually, it was the miracles that caused this spiritual leader in Jerusalem and Jerusalem to check out this upstart from Galilee. It was the miracles, but Nicodemus says something that's actually incorrect there and we need to understand that he says no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with them what Nicodemus says there is simply not true that don't take my word for take the Bible because many places it talks about the end times. There's going to be lying signs and wonders, so if you base as Nicodemus here now. Nicodemus did it correctly because he was referring to Jesus, but if you base your estimation of of what a ministry is about on signs and wonders, you can be to see Scripture very clear about that because we have this coming lying signs and wonders to be careful and have heard some people say will look at me Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night that's pretty lame that he came to about nine how prideful and legalistic we can be guys don't you realize that every one of us come to Jesus in the middle the night you may come to him this morning but really you're coming towing in that darkness of your life, you're coming to them in the darkness of your sins you're coming to them in the privacy of your heart. Communicate with him. Even if you do it publicly.

See Nicodemus knew the law. He knew his weakness. He knew his disease and sickness, but he also knew where to seek out the cure became the Jesus was convinced that he couldn't fulfill the law so he came to Jesus saying asking what, what's the deal with the kingdom of God in you. You need to understand that because as long as you think that you can keep the law you will seek out a Savior using lock and do this I can handle this. There's people all over the Triad this morning, sit in church.

It think they can fulfill the law and think they can obey the law hundred percent of the time and it's nothing more than spiritual arrogance as friends, brothers, sisters, family, we can't do it. That's why we need a Savior because there's an inability in us to keep the law. And if you're sitting out there and you think that you've kept the law. We've done this before and got one of the reasons I repeat this if you been here for a while referred to so many times is it so you will use it in exchange communication with other people because so many people's will say well I you know how you get in heaven while basically I can on the bay in the 10 Commandments. I'm doing the best I can and they think that that will allow them and that got a jump in and of the next verse will bit to go with me.

They think well you know in the say well I basically kept the 10 Commandments really what's amazing what you know and then ask a couple questions of masturbation ever stolen anything in writing, mostly never stole anything.

You don't have anything in your house that belongs to someone else, something you borrowed that you never return enough. Well, if you have to go all the way back to school member that Frazier was always an interesting phrase me when you say let me bar piece of paper and you barred these paper and you never gave it back to you need to repent for that. Even if you got stolen anything since that well-regarded pencil that you didn't get back okay so was it make you well been a basically good person. No major safe total and some people issue I have.

You just did you just did. I mean, whether it's in that you know an exaggeration or or whatever, so disappointed as a child because my dad used to tell me it restores about you having to walk to school 3 miles uphill both ways and I was at my grandmother's house when they you know, and I was looking in an accident. The school that's at the end of the driveway in that the school you went to will yes there's what you do, walk around eight times it can't be 3 miles the other further away. What was your issue. Vlad was at make you basically good person on the sure liar makes you a thief and a liar use God's name and appropriately pictured them with a hammer and said the wrong work tenses are yes was at make you basically convert no major blasphemer. Have you ever looked with lust at another person.

Frazier and not the ones that make it well according Jesus to make sure the adulterer so you are lying, thieving blaspheming adulterer well about self-affirmation here. Are you feeling warm and fuzzy.

No seat.

You have to realize that you can obey the law that you can't fulfill the law perfectly before you realize you need a Savior. You have to come to that.

And you know what guys very often when were witnessing.

We present the answer before we present the problem. People have to understand their inadequacy to fulfill the law to go to heaven before they want to hear about Jesus Christ 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. 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 could 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 it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

So congratulations free and 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