John Chapter 7:1-7

What's wrong with the advice of the brothers are there advising him out of their unbelief. Be extremely careful and skeptical when taking advice for nonbelievers don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, were told someone welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today on the program. We have DA Brown, one of David's associate pastors here at the bridge welcome brother Bob.

Everyone is always time telephone should should not it's important that we don't receive advice from just anyone.

The Bible clearly speaks to who we should be listening to check out this teaching today as God gives us good advice on where to resume. Now here's David McGee as he continues his teaching rejected John chapter 7 verse one after these things Jesus walked in Galilee for he did not want to walk in Judea because the Jews saw the killing that you may have jewelry jewelry.

If you and the King James.

This is in the King James walk in Judea now this is about six months before the cross we see that John more so than the other Gospels takes a lot of time with these final six months. As a matter fact the six months is covered in a few chapters actually John chapter 12 through 21 is the final week of the life of Jesus. So we get more and more in depth in the Gospel of John than the other Gospels.

In regards to the life of Jesus in verse two.

Now the Jews feast of Tabernacles was at hand. I remember we discussed this before. There were three Jewish feasts that all the Jewish males needed to come to Jerusalem for the was the Passover, the feast of unleavened bread. There was the feast of Tabernacles or booze, and there was the feast of Pentecost, or weeks and so the first feast was packed my top that comes from matzoh in the matzoh like we used during our communion, which is unleavened bread and Sue got means Tabernacles or booze. That was in celebration of their deliverance from Egypt in you know if you've been here and then pack how shuffle is the means weeks are feast of weeks is the feast of Pentecost.

Now these are mentioned right here in the Bible anything been here very long. We do something every spring we have Passover and what we do is we get together and it's about a three hour thing I we get together we eat a lot and it's real blessing and we talk about the elements of Passover because they reveal and show Jesus Christ. What's amazing is how many Christians have never celebrated Passover. There is a picture in these feast, that if you don't understand that you've been ripped off and and and I understand that many of you have been ripped off. I spent years of my Christian life. Not understanding the Jewish feast, not understanding that they were important been involved in ministry since its Old Testament, we have a whole book is comprised of the Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament and let me assure you that you will have a clearer picture of the New Testament.

If you understand these feast, you will have a clearer picture of prophecy.

If you understand these feast and and I don't think that as Christians we should be ignorant about these things now understand you may have not been taught these things, but let me assure you that if you're here, I will be talking about you go to in Romans chapter 11. This is the roots of our Christianity. The Hebrew Scriptures are the roots of our Christianity. You can understand the gospel to you really understand the book of Leviticus.

Why did Jesus have to die.

Why did he have to shed his blood for us.

What's there that life is in the blood without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Now also you can understand why the feast are more important in this chapter, I don't know that's can be next week of the week following. But if you understand more about the feast of Tabernacles. Let me assure you, this chapter if you've never made the connection is going to open up to you like never. Never before because there are certain things that Jesus does that. He says that her key back to the feast of Tabernacles and it's in is just exciting stuff and and you know, if you don't understand the feast of weeks or Pentecost. Now then you're left hanging because the feast of Pentecost are feast of weeks when the first one of the things it was about was that you were bringing your firstfruits to the Lord and what they would do is in their field, they would gather up the harvest and before they would eat it before they would sell it before they would do anything they would take it the 10% and they would take it to the Lord. That's what is called firstfruits not last fruits.

That's why when somebody says well I you and I would give to the Lord.

But at the end of every month.

There's nothing left over.

That's not the way it's supposed to work.

You don't give God what's left to give God what's right. But that concept firstfruits also has another application in the book of acts sees the feast of weeks or the feast of Pentecost will check this out in the book of acts. What happens the birth of the church, the firstfruits of the ministry of Jesus Christ. It wasn't just happenstance that happened on that day of that feast. It was planned.

It was an appointed time. If you will me just in that two-minute thing now, you make a connection with the feast of weeks or Pentecost in the book of acts, and those are connections that we need to we need to make as believers and and again were going to be looking closer at the feast of Tabernacles because it really adds weight to what Jesus says here later in this chapter verse three. His brothers therefore said to him, depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see the works that you are doing for no one does anything in secret why he himself seeks to be known openly.

If you do these things, show yourself to the world for even his brothers did not believe in him now.

Jesus had brothers that it's it's right here in the Bible but sit in on your left, married man, a perpetual version and never having any other children obviously doesn't come from the Bible when it comes from is church tradition and we need to base our beliefs on the Bible you see later that Peter has a mother-in-law now Peter had a mother-in-law. What can you surmise or guess that Peter also had the Hannah why so he was the first pope. I mean does God know he had a wife, so these concepts are scripturally inaccurate. Now you gotta love brothers she means. Proverbs 1717. Those brothers are born for adversity and when most of us who have brothers know that is a true scripture. A man looking first floor for no one does anything in secret why he himself seeks to be known openly is you do these things, they were here here in a Jesus was doing miracles that he was doing these these things with with water into wine. He was doing these things with laymen and as brothers what they think about that. That's amazing to me that they could not see before. Now that Jesus was indeed the Messiah coming. Growing up with him.

Can you imagine growing up with Jesus as your brother. I mean, you would always be here.

Why can't you be more like Jesus.

He never murmurs he never complains. He's always thankful he's never rebellious. I mean, it would validate top one anyway.

I heard that as it is a younger brother and me assure you my two older brothers were not Jesus, but they were hearing about these things that Jesus was doing and notice because I don't they're not supportive. They seek to undermine him with her words and that's her first life lesson. Our words are important because for to say our words are important to be careful what you say it's amazing the power that our words have our words are the vehicle. Somehow, by which we receive our forgiveness are so powerful you say a prayer that you eat can't be just words. It has to be felt with your heart, but these words are used to gain your entrance into heaven that Jesus has provided and certainly using our words with other people to encourage them because it's so easy to tear somebody down and it it's a little more difficult to take the time to encourage somebody and in let me you guys gotta make it a goal that every time you come here you you encourage somebody look around, find some might. It perhaps looks like they need encouragement and encourage them to perhaps find them when they're coming in and and you can tell so you know when somebody's a visitor not quite comfortable there, looking around, like on what is this you know then you can go and say hey you know, do you need to find your way around. Can I help viewer unit were glad to hear or something like that but to encourage someone in their faith as well.

It might make all the difference in its what's it going to cost you to 10 seconds, 30 seconds, sending emails is a great way to encourage people phone calls is a great way to encourage people because words can tear down or they can build up James chapter 1 verse 26 says anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself and his religion isn't worth much strong words doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself and his religion is it worth much. Have met this guy I met several of them actually, we have to control her tongue so James goes on to speak about our tongues and in the rudder that start that steers the ship, we have to be careful again with her tongue. I would say there's probably no one in here who hasn't been hurt or damaged by words that were spoken to. I've had things spoken over me that were just horrible horrible I you know and in high school I had a football coaches that you know the best thing that could happen it now.

I was a troubled youth will me paint the picture I was troubled T youth. But this teacher sitting in the best thing that could happen to you is somebody to find you dead in the ditch.

At least it would be over. Went to a psychiatrist to that was it said I was 16 and he looked at me and he said you know there's something wrong with you you're you're going to do drugs until the day you die, and those things impacted me now. Praise God I'm drug-free. I don't take any drugs, but how damaging words can be and how often we use words against the ones that we love the most.

You notice that in all man if we could catch them because you know so often right after you say that you're like I should set that which can't catch them again once they're out there out and there's a picture that we are supposed to encourage one another to understand that in a marriage you're supposed to that spouse is your ally through your friend that's not something the someone to be in battle over to be in war with that. Your strongest fan. Your your biggest fan. Your strongest proponent and yet the world has painted that is a battleground and as understandings talk about brothers at you and we all understand it and that's one of the hardest places to live on your face with your brothers and sisters in it because they know Jesus.

He didn't have any sins, but unfortunately none of us are like that Ari and so as we deal with our brothers and our sisters there. Remember in how we mess up in the past and it makes ministering to them difficult understand that guys don't go in, like, you know some commando into family gatherings in Lambeau and in kicked the door down and and and you guys all gear following your faces and repent.

Don't do that because here's what can happen. You can ruin the opportunity to witness to them at a later date.

You will slam that door shut. Where's if you say you know I got really dense and the changes you guys ever want to talk to me about them. I love to talk to you about and then just wait and God will somehow that person will go through a situation all of a sudden they become open to the gospel. Maybe there is a death or a change or a move or something and then there's an opportunity and if you kicked the door shut, you will get that opportunity. So when we were dealing with family.

Be sure I like these words. Patient persistence patient persistence. Be persistent but also be patient.

You're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's word to them here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button.

All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your love ones to Jesus.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want to pray for listeners in these cities in Colorado. Sterling in Yuma and some cities in Florida, Eastport Gulf breeze, Jacksonville, Key West and Largo, God, thank you for everyone listening today we pray that they would look forward to hearing from you directly through your word. We prayed that they would share this word that you give them with others in their life. And Lord, that they wouldn't fear that they're going to make too many mistakes to folly, but trusted you're going to do the work in them and help them get plugged into a Bible teaching church Lord, not one that's gonna be full of hate or anger, but of love and compassion.

In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse. What's wrong with the advice of the brothers are well I'll tell you what's wrong with it there advising him out of their unbelief they are advising him out of their unbelief brings us to the next life lesson. Be extremely careful and skeptical when taken advice from an unbeliever. Be extremely careful and skeptical when taking advice from an unbeliever. None of that's a strong statement that outputs a little bit stronger in different places don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, were told someone be separate were told another place now understand something and I want to clarify my position in the church's position. I believe in biblical counseling. I believe in biblical discipleship.

I believe it whether you want to call it Christian counseling or or biblical counseling. I do not believe that a Christian should ever, under any circumstances be counseled by an unbeliever ever.

There's no reason for PC because there's two different worldviews. If somebody says I don't believe the Bible. I don't believe in sin. I don't believe in Jesus. What can they speak to you in your situation about it's unhealthy to go to them and say speak into my life because one of the things I may say you got this whole guilt complex about this whole sin issue is why Jesus died for you and incidentally don't you know it is nice as well on the Christian counselor you know what they skeptical still say was that mean you have you been born again… Can a Christian what you think about the Bible. I believe the Bible contains the word of God see words again the Bible doesn't contain the word of God is denominations are using that now the Bible is the word of God see there's a big difference in their state. They sound like the Bible contains words and sounds good warm something strong. The Bible is the word of God and again. Be very careful and in getting advice from an unbeliever in an and guys that's not distant and discipleship are counseling areas that you know that goes with attorneys that goes with accounts because if you listen to the wrong attorney of the wrong account is ungodly and unbeliever, you could wind up in prison.

So be careful. Be careful about taking counsel from an unbeliever. Verse six is a good verse that my time is not yet, but your time is always ready now Jesus is speaking of working to get in their lives and in depth when we get to the trowel entry in John chapter 12 which ties back into a prophecy in Daniel that if you've never made the connection there.

It's Amanda's orbit. Jesus had a time that he was moving toward. That was his top, but he wouldn't be swayed by man in here says your time is always ready. I like the your time is always ready perhaps her sit in here this morning and you saw in the past year. At some point, I'm gonna make a commitment to the Lord at some point him to quit playing games a minute come off the fence and really give my life to Lord this is that morning you times now. Or maybe you've never asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins, your time is. This morning how often we think woman, and I got to get ready to make this step honey.

Get ready to make a step towards God when you clean up your life backwards and it master question. I use this analogy a lot, you get cleaned up to take a shower hopefully not. If you do. We offer biblical counseling. See the shower, cleaned you up.

Guess what that step towards God gives to change your life and you see in Scripture.

Some people took some really weak baby steps in Jesus honored him the honor and honor your steps toward Jesus says in verse seven, the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because of testify of it that his works are evil guys. Keep in mind he speaking to his brothers or unbelievers. It's important you know because as believers we are hated by the world. That's not a conspiracy theory. That's the reality of if you're living for the Lord. People will exhibit hatred though exhibit bitterness toward you because you're living for the Lord Jesus tells that in chapter 15 verse 19 of John. He says if you were the world, the world would love its own yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world. Therefore the world hates you constantly surprised by this only shot by this when you encounter hostility here are animosity and and I'm still sometimes shot but I shouldn't be at this point but I still am when I get an email or a phone call. Let me say this, I get much more positive emails and negative emails you know and in I don't mean I hope of never giving the appearance of whining about getting emails you because I sure before that, you know, I guess I was gonna wind it is probably year ago or so miles wide and about emails that some of her, it was one guy that actually set up an email account.

I hate David mcgee@yahoo.com. That was a little weird but you know it's kind of wine and you know God did me come of this vision and and and of getting to heaven. You know John the Baptist is there and and you know Isaiah's Darren Stevens there and while sit in a group know got persecuted got persecuted screw how to get persecute well he stone me when I was still nearby about Jesus. While it's very impressive.

Isaiah what they did to you. Well, I actually sold me in half because of my witness for Jesus.

What about you, young man. They sent me emails that were just Ride all for Jesus, but I get I get a lot of encouraging emails and I think you guys for those encouraging words with you know what were going to get some animosity from people and that's that's because were living for the Lord, and if if you're not there may be a problem you may have been in a group of people knew that you were a believer and and somebody said something they use the profane word or something.

Ever notice what happens. They look at you and go on sorry and that amazing sine. Now they're being convicted by your presence. I usually say we're apologizing to Robert, especially if it's been a blasphemy, profane thing using the Lord's name but seatwork convicting them and that's part of what were called to do and that doesn't give us the entitlement to be hateful or or judge mental or or obtuse in the name of the Lord. Too many of us have done that for far too long not been guilty of the truth with love. It's important. You gotta speak the truth, but you speak the truth in love now John chapter 3 verse 19 Jesus said, and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because her deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to light that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God talk about the light again in chapter 8, but less than a couple minutes on this because again in Matthew chapter 5 Jesus says you are the light of the world. The city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus is don't put your light under basket, weird thing to do.

I don't have you ever thought about this but you get a high watt bulb to give you more light and then you cover it. Now I don't have like neck and lightbulb sit in my house or anything and I'm not telling you to go home and take all the lampshades offer your Lampson your family already thinks you're weird enough probably put names that we gotta burn dollar lampshades praise God know Pastor David did not say that okay change accounting interesting things. See, this is the thing called the light of the world is your light burning is your light illuminating is your light burning bright art through blowing your witness and not live in for the Lord and acting inappropriately and speaking inappropriately and laughing inappropriate jokes or visiting inappropriate websites or whatever you put in the shade on your life and your lamp because guys if you do everybody else gets left in the dark and they can't see in the darkness is an uncomfortable thing in the Lord tells us why because it's filled with iniquity and sin were supposed to be the light of the world without any shade or anything that covers our light so that we can all be able to see and you know what we get comfortable with the darkness. Sometimes only because we compare ourselves everything else. It's dark in the world would go well you know I'm doing okay. When I compare myself to this car that but what about when you compare yourself to Jesus. See there's times that we do cover our life and we should perhaps even in this you thought about times were you in the past week have covered your life. The people learn darkness around and they need you to be that I need to see that line because that may be the very thing that brings them to Jesus.

The life lesson here is let your light shine. Let your light shine burn bright friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a 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 now 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 to 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 life. 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on a 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