John Chapter 7:1-12

I believe that Jesus was the Messiah and the Savior of the world. How does that affect your life. There's a lot of people in academia that believe that Jesus was the Christ.

But they're not following 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 were facing many decisions of the most important one is what we can we say we know Jesus but today what really are you going to do what Jesus is speaking to, and are you going to live by that decision. So let's jump right into David McGee teaching you must decide 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 the Jews feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

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, you gotta love brothers means Proverbs 1717 says brothers are born for adversity and 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 is, it is a younger brother and let me assure you my two older brothers were not Jesus, but they were hearing about these things that Jesus was doing, and no disguising the they're not supportive. They seek to undermine him with her words.

That's her first life lesson. Our words are important because her for what you say.

Our words are important because her full what you say I 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 in the it's a little more difficult to take the time to encourage somebody in in limine. You guys gotta make it a goal that every time you come here you encourage somebody look around find somebody. 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 find your way around. Can I help you unit were glad to hear 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, 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.

Be extremely careful and skeptical when taking advice for nonbelievers done and 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 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 EC 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 I 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 a 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 that sounds good warm sounds by the 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 just in an discipleship or counseling areas that you know that goes with attorneys that goes with accounts because if you listen to the wrong attorney or 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 incidentally get to the trial entry in John chapter 12 which ties back into a prophecy in Daniel that if you've never made the connection there.

It's a mind orbit. Jesus had a time that he was moving toward. That was his time, 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 and and get ready to make this step honey. Get ready to make a step towards God when you clean up your life backwards in 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 I testify that 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 guys don't be surprised by this only shot by this when you encounter hostility here are animosity and and I'm still some time 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 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 it was one guy that actually set up an email account. I hate Dave mcgee@yahoo.com.

That was a little weird but but you know it's kind of wine and you know God gave me, this vision than in and of getting to heaven. You know John the Baptist is there and and you know Isaiah's Darren Stevens there'll all sit in a group know got persecuted got persecuted for skill to get persecute well he stone me when I was still there by about Jesus. While it's very impressive. Isaiah what they did to you. Well, I actually salt me and 1/2 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 we live in.

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. Never notice what happens that they look at you and go on sorry and that amazing sine now there 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 and I've 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 lamps and your family already thinks you're weird enough probably put names that we gotta burn our 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 at 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 guy or that guy.

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. Maybe I've covered your life. The people earning darkness around you and they need you to be that lie they 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 for the Lord your 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 representing God's word to them here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simple 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 needs no 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.

Now 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.

You go up to this feast.

I am not yet going up to this face for my time is not yet fully cut that when he's using this time understand the Greek word used here is Caro's which means season or opportunity. It doesn't mean it's not crow knows which is the Greek word that refers to the hour of the day were we get chronology and in different words with that from that group work, but there's a specific time that he's coming to where he will.

It will be his time and again will see that in John 12, when he said these things to me remained in Galilee. But when his brothers and gone up. Then he also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Jesus never said he wouldn't go he just said he wouldn't go with them yet. He wouldn't go with his brothers in the Jesus the Jews saw him at the feast and said where is there was much complaining among the people concerning them. Some said he is good. Other said no, on the contrary, he deceives the people. That's interesting, verse 11, they were looking for them but they were looking at him. They were looking for a appellee for the wrong reasons to persecute them and then in verse 12 there was division. There, there was division and there's a well I think he's a good man, he deceives the people that we talked about this before. We talked about the CS Lewis thing that is CS Lewis said what he's either a liar or lunatic, or the Lord had a conversation last week with a guide of sushi place it because he believed that Jesus was a good man a good teacher and I was challenging gone, you can't say that because he went around saying that he was God that he was down for everybody's sentence and that's not something a good teacher or a good man does in less it's the truth. Trilemma three. That's the decision you have to make. You can't say what Jesus was a good man. Jesus was a good teacher. If you deny his deity. You can't say that.

See, because good men don't go around saying that there God when they're not.

And you can't say that Jesus was just a good teacher seat and leave those options really open to you so out of those three choices there's only one either.

He was who he said he was in you receive in and you accept that in your life changes accordingly. Ari was none of those things and you reject, but this other stuff not really open to he didn't leave it open to you. He didn't mean to leave those decisions open to brings us to the next life's life lesson, you must decide who Jesus is and live by that decision and and guys I am not talking about just an academic decision all yes I believe that Jesus was the Messiah and the Savior of the world.

How does that affect your life will obviously it's affected your Sunday morning because you're here but what about Monday through Saturday. Is it affecting your life, there it should.

If you really believe it is nothing you never make a mistake, but I mean there's not only a belief in the head. But there's a belief in the heart for the heart man believes unto righteousness and Spurgeon said you know the difference between believing in God in your head and believe in your heart while it's only 18 inches is the difference between heaven and hell, there's a lot of people in academia that believe that Jesus was the Christ. But they're not following I believe Jesus was and is the son of God.

I believe that he is and was the only Savior this world can never know.

I believe the Bible so it's not open to me to think that there's other ways to salvation are other ways heaven because Jesus that there's not and I believe in Jesus I worship Jesus. I'm not ashamed to say that I worship Jesus and I love Jesus and not just for couple hours each week, but with my life. I hope you do as well because guys times are changing the world is changing, but you know what, as is, these things happen as these dark times come upon us, it's a great opportunity to let your light shine because people want answers they want real answers. I don't want fake answers and mask Hyden they want real things they want the reality of God in their life they once mighty to show them that it is real and you guys can show what the world needs now is heroes.

Jesus is my hero.

You may think that's trite that it's not trite to me. Here's Jesus who stood up in the face of great opposition great religious persecution, and he walked in strength and that stirs my soul and my heart. Jesus is worthy to be followed and what Jesus wants us to do is to declare our weakness to him and say you know what Lord I'm week without.

I know that with you I can do nothing, but with you I can do all things and in my weakness, Lord, make me strong. As you know what the world needs heroes it needs lights it needs as men. Your wives need you to be a hero to them to stand in the strength of the Lord your kids, your sons and your daughters desperately need you to be a hero somebody to look up to and you ladies, you can be hero some of your single mothers and and and there's nothing more heroic than a single mother raising her kids in a godly fashion takes a lot of strength.

Whatever happens in the future were going to need his strength were going to need the strength of the Lord really need to be walking closely with the Lord because he wants to give you strength because you'll need it and it's okay to say you know what Jesus I am weak, I do need your help to thinking the you don't admit that you think that strength that's not strength that's week and it's a weakness that leads to further weakness, not a weakness that Lisa strength but to say you know what Jesus I need you I need your help to live out this Christian life.

I need your strengths to be a light. I need your help to be a hero. You can't make a stronger statement than that and let me assure you everybody in here needs that. So where does it start where's the fight began. All your attention please. The fight begins by giving up that's not a contradiction, but what you have to do is give yourself to the Lord and died of what you want to do data who you want to be and asked the Lord, Lord, what you want me to do what you want me to be. You have to die to trying to be righteous by your own works and say Jesus I can't do it. I can't be declared righteous in my works.

I need your righteousness. The amazing thing he stands here this morning ready to make that exchange with you whether you walked with the Lord. 10 years or you've never prayed this prayer we need to come back often to the Lord saying get born again. Again, don't confuse my words but we need to come back to the Lord often while because we drift on a daily basis. Maybe you thought that was just you.

That's not just you.

We forget to quickly second Corinthians chapter 6, verse two says in an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you hold. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation to those of you listening right now to my voice now's the time. If the Lord is tugging on your heart. It's not me I'm not tugging on your heart. I don't I don't do the emotional manipulation thing at the end of the service.

I don't believe in that.

I believe the spirit of God is much more powerful. He doesn't need that. But if you're filling a tug on your heart. You need to respond to that because if you reject that if you turn away from that you not turn away from me. Your turn away from God. Hebrews chapter 4 verse seven says to Dave you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts respond to the Lord, respond first by giving up and recognizing that your righteousness is not good enough to walk with your strengths is not strong enough and it's okay to admit that it's okay to admit this morning that you need something outside of yourself.

You need someone outside of yourself today. You don't harden your heart, you can be strengthened for whatever happens because God reality is we don't know what the future holds, but we can know who holds the future 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 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 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