John Chapter 9:13-22

We do as Christians often we get together and argue you meet somebody and maybe they got our Christian T-shirt that hey man, I know great right right where you go to church on go to so-and-so all so you believe selections sapping unbelievers are set up the cycle how you guys are on the same thing.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Verse by verse John chapter 9 today's teaching is a believer should be with an interesting title like that. Here's DA Brown. One of these associate pastors help us out. Bob is Christian to know what we believe, but we shouldn't major in the minds and minor on the world, but sometimes we over emphasize smaller parts of our faith because confusion someone may not even get the bigger picture of just following Jesus.

Now here's David McGee with his teaching, a believer should be the John chapter 9 verse 13 says they brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now notice and we talked about this a little bit last week.

Verse 12 he says the man who got healed know who it, yielding when they asked me says I don't know.

I don't know who you so it's safe to say that this man was not yet a believer in Jesus. That's important because when you get in the realm of healing and sickness and stuff. There's a lot of mystery in the sense to that and and so here we see a man that's an unbeliever who gets healed, then we see in this chapter gets drawn to Jesus and ultimately knows Jesus as a Savior. Interesting stuff.

Verse 14 there was a Sabbath. When Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes, so you have to wonder know did Jesus know it was a Sabbath. You think. Yeah, I'm thinking it did. And, and what it he do, he held back the healing because it was the Sabbath right now. See once again guys we see that Jesus didn't have a lot of respect for man-made traditions hold the bottle.

He had tremendous respect for man-made traditions, he had not only did he not have any respect for those things. But when you go through when you read the Bible you know what you see you see more healings on the Sabbath than any other day of the week. Why fasten your seatbelt.

The only logical answer is because he figured out it really upset their man-made traditions and he said all this makes you mad.

This disturbed your man-made traditions were all okay. And then if you remember one in one synagogue.

He asked the managers come up here in front so everybody can see it and wanting to miss that he was healing somebody on the Sabbath course you know man-made traditions really have no present-day applications or will move on from see Jesus names he needs to. Well, if you allow me the lingo he needs the rock art boat rock our world and if your relationship with Jesus it and rock in your were a little bit something might be wrong because Jesus, Jesus, shakes it up now. It's awesome that notice, Jesus is. I am the light of the world. But not only did he just say I am the light of work.

He says I am the light of the world any heel somebody that's blind wasn't important because words and deeds to Jesus would say something and it would back it up.

It's one thing for somebody coming. I am the light of the work, but for some initially I am the light of the world and in the heel somebody that's born blind that's amazing see his words and his deeds are going hand-in-hand, that's our first life lesson be a believer in word and deed be a believer in word and deed.

There are so many stories about Christians who don't do this and and what happens is they drive people away from the experience with Jesus, they drive people away from the cross. That's heartbreaking senior perfect or imperfect. We make mistakes but you know what when we make mistakes. What an awesome opportunity to give testimony to the grace of God would suffice as handsomely in a blowup of that gun. Raise your voice and and lose it a little bit there but was justified yellow duck man so it was just me. God told me to go billet that led see, we handle it like that instead of going you know what I did lose it, and thank you for pointing that out. You know what I'm going to go do. I'm going to go ask him to forgive me and that's the cool thing about being a Christian because he I can have forgiveness by asking for it in the go while what would he mean you mean being a Christian is about the imperfect copy and help that is good is as you possibly can be. And God respects that such an opportunity and it opens the door for you to witness the somebody, but we do need to be careful of our witness because God's people are watching that's reality people are watching the watch and see what we do and how we handle situations and and the old saying you know if if you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you with there be enough evidence to convict you. Could somebody look at your schedule and figure out that you are word and deed. A believer could semi-look at your checkbook and see that word and deed your believer could somebody look at your home, your family life and see word and deed that you're a believer well saying the talk is cheap because it's a true one.

It's a true one and look at Jesus.

Luke 2419 so so they said to him, the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people and in Colossians chapter 3 verse 17 encourages licenses and what ever you do in word and deed to all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him. First John chapter 318 says my little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. See has Jesus disturbed your world is your life different since you've met Jesus. It should be. It should be.

We talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus in Matthew question when does it get personal.

When does Jesus start to interrupt your life and change it now a few things that a believer needs to be aware of and and keep in mind this is not because your earning salvation, it's because you've been given salvation that it should begin to change your actions TV. If you change your actions to earn God's favor.

If you are so you can be good enough and you get to be perfect at what point do you arrive at perfection never but if you understand that God has forgiven you because you've approached him and said, Lord, I believe in you. I confess something wrong, please forgive me. You have a clean slate and a fresh start and in thanksgiving for that use and begin to do certain things. What others think.

Life lesson two a believer should be praying should be reading the Bible should be giving should be serving should be sharing their faith and their love.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, you could put in there should be in church and a couple other things, but these are some main points. Check yourself in these am I doing this about doing this my doing this if if any of these don't line up, let Jesus disturb your world and make some changes because this is what we should be doing as individuals and as a church and we just talk about it. Talks G.

R. Actions need to begin the lineup with her words verse 15 then the Pharisees also asked him again how he received the site and he said to them, he put clay on my and I washed, and I see the sky. Interesting. This this man didn't have the full story duty PA didn't realize there is something in that clay.

Jesus actually met mixed spit in the clay different in the mall. This man's testimony is very simple. He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see anything you need to you need to have a simple testimony because it will be a very rare opportunity that you ever get to share with somebody for 30 minutes where you've come from and where you're going and what God has done in your life but you know what the day is filled with opportunities for you to give one second testimonies filled with if you ever noticed the how you doing thing you know you going somewhere semi-good how you doing how you doing and you know you asked them and go ahead as a believer. Take the first step go, how you doing in herastheysayterribleorbad.Follow-upwillmetaltocelebratebreakouteverdonethatwecansometimesbemorelisteningtowhatyousayhowyoudoingterriblewellgreatWaterloo.Maybetheydidn'thearwhatyousaid.Butthenwhentheyturnyouandsayhowareyoudoingsoon.31secondtestimonyondoinggoodtodaybutyouknowinthepastIwasn'tdoingsowellisfilledwithbitternessandunforgiveness.AndJesusisjustmadesuchaawesomedifferenceinmylife.Yousharethegospel.There'sonethatandit'snotthatbittercopywrittenyoucanuseit.There'swhatIdoallthetime.Theywillgohowyoudoing,Igivehimasinnersavedbygrace,anditjustdoesn'tgetanybetternowthatI'vegottensomeweirdlooks.That'sokaybutfirstIgotweirdlookandsomebodywillgoout.Amen.That'sawesome,youknowmybrotherorsisterintheLordandsomepeoplegowhenhemeansavedbygraceBoonethereaskingmeforwhatIwanttotellScotttosetupsomehowthatonesecondtestimonyreadytosharewithpeoplesohereJesusisupsetandtheseguysandtheybroughttheblindmanandthenandyouknowandinandinasadthatthemiraclesbeendoneandthereligiousestablishmentisallfreakedoutandallupsetabout.That'sheartbreakingbutyouknowyouyouyouyouseethatintheworldtodayseeGoddoingmiraclesandthereligiousestablishmentfilledwithunforgivenessandbitternessandallthisotherstuffdoesn'tgetitdoneintheseguys.Thefirstunittheyshouldbebreakingoutthehallelujahchorusblockinganyofthat.Thinkbutthey'renot.Imeanthisisyouknowwhatyou'veheardthesayinghimmanyarecalled,fewarechosen.Ithinkthisisacaseofmanyarecoldandsomeofthesearefrozen.I'mthinkingthey'rejustnotrejoicingwiththisguythatnowisbeengivenasighwillberightbackwithmorefromDavidMcGeeoncrossthebridgerightnow.Here'sawordfromassociatepastorDABrownheyBobwereexcitedaboutGod'sword,goingforthwithPastorDavidandwanttoprayforsomepeopleinthecitieswerebroadcastingtoday.Beaufort,Gainesville,Macon,Milledgevillesavanna,SnellvilleandThomasville,GeorgiaGod,wethankyouforthepeoplelisteningtodayintheseareas.Wepraythattheywillbeencouragedinyourword,theywouldrealizethatyouwanttoblessthem.Lord,youhaveagoodplanforthemGod.Weprayforthosewhoaresickintheareathatyouwouldpleasehealthemandweprayforthepastorsandthechurchesthattheywouldbeignitedandallthegoodplansyouhaveforthemandsharingyourwordthroughouttheircity.InJesusname,amen,amen.ThankyoubrotherandnowgetbacktoDavidMcGeeashecontinuesteachingversebyverse,verse16.Therefore,someofthePhariseessaidthismanisnotfromGodbecausehedoesnotkeeptheSabbathandothercivilhowcanamanwhoisasinnerdosuchthings,andtherewasdivisionamongthem,they'llunderstandthedisputehereandwetalkedaboutthisbefore,isthere'stwotypesofSabbathlawsorrulesorregulations.There'swhat'scalledLeviticalcomesfromLevitesLeviticusandthatistheSabbathrulesaboutthatthatcomefromthewordofGod.Thenthere'stherabbinicallawsconcerningtheSabbath,whichwerehugehugevolumesaboutwhatyoucouldandcouldnotwantJesusrespectedtheLeviticallawsofSabbath.ThewordofGodagain.Hedidnotrespecttherabbinicallawsandthat'sthat'swhatistearingaparthereandandyouknowwhatasadthingthisguyhasgottenhealed.He'sreceivedthesiteandintheirarguingwiththeandyouknowwhat,andweneedtobecareful,weneedtobecarefulasbelieversthatwedon'tfallintothiscategory.They'llunderstandwhatI'msayinganditneedsbalance.Therearesomethingswortharguingabout.Therearesomethingsthatyoutakeastandandyoudon'tdeviatefromthatstance,butyouknowwhatthere'ssomethingsthatIthinkwecanagreetodisagreeallifsomebodyknowsJesusastheirSaviorandit'sthroughfaithalonethattheyaresavedandyouknowwhatwecandisagreeonsomeoftheotherthingsbecausethatisthemainthingyouknowwedoasChristiansoftenwegettogetherandarguewegettogetherandargueyoumeetsomebodyandmaybetheygotaChristianT-shirtandthatheymanhowyoudoinggreatgreatgreatwhereyougotochurchIgotosoandso,so,youbelievesuchandsuchwestartanargumentandyouknowwhatthesadthingisthatunbelieversaresentofftoSaigonwillhappen.Youguysareonthesameteam.Whatelsestartedyellingout.Getupofftheflooryourwrestlinginthemiddle.TheflorettesiswrongorinWalmartsoccerbecausethere'satimetosayhellocrazyI'msogladyouknowJesusagain.Thereisatimetotakeastand,butthelifelessonhereisasChristiansdon'tmajorontheminorsandminoronthemajorssomainthinkJesusmainthingisbeingbornagainyoucangointoanyserviceintheTriadandandbegintopickitapart.Youcancomeinhereanddothesamethingcan'tbelievetheguitarplayersbestwretchedrole,youknowherorwhateveryouknowthescreensorthechairsortheylikecoffeeinthesanctuary.That'sjustisnotrighteitherfeelreallystronglyforthatone,orgetsomeofyourlikeyoupraiseGodismyhomechurch,butyouknowififI'msittingathomeandI'mreadingtheBibleandI'mstudyingtheBible.Iprobablyhaveacouplecoffeesitwithme,soitjustmakessensethatyouguyswouldholdcoffeewithyoutobutdon'tfitlittlebittythingstodisagreewithinthegetanargumentoververse17theysaidtotheblindmanagain.Whatyousayabouthimbecauseheopenedyoureyes.Hesaidheisaprophet.He'sgettingcloser.Justafewversesago.Hesaidhedidn'tknow.Sothere'sacouplethingsmissing.ObviouslyafewversesthatIdon'tknow,andoutgoing.Ithinkisaprophetnowunderstandhe'sputinthisJesusinwithanelitegroupwithMosesandElijah'sprofit.Sohe'sgettingcloser.Verse18.ButtheJewsdidnotbelieveconcerninghimthathehadbeenblindandreceivedthesiteuntiltheycalledtheparentsofhimwhohadreceivedthesignoutyourattentionplease,don'tmakedon'tdon'tmissthis.What'sJesusoutdoinghe'southealingtheseoutteachinghe'soutsharingthetruth.He'soutbeinthelightoftheworld.OneoftheseguysdoingsitinaroomarguingtrytofigureouthowwrongJesusis,mayweneverjointhatgroupofpeopleofthechurch.Mayweneverbelongtothatpeoplejustgonnasitaroundandtalkabouthowwrongthisisn'twrongthatisandhowlongthisis,butlet'sdosomethingtheresittingaroundinaroomacademically,coldlytalkingaboutthisstuffaboutwhat'swrongwithJesusandletmesharesomeifyou'rewonderingifPastorDavidisacenterifheeverdoesanythingwrong.Goaheadandsharewithyou.YesIamason.Istilldothingswrongsavingnoteswrong.Isaythewrongthingatthewrongtime.I'mnotperfectsothere'snoneedtoreallydiscusswhetherIoranybodyinleadershiporstaffisperfectbecauseIjustdealtwiththat.They'renotperfect.Wedon'thaveanybyperfectonStandidn'trungoodfunnybitewasperfect.Itwould'vefoundsomebodyputamountsthatyourperfectdaybegreatnoperfectteamleadersandnomoney.Andhere'sperfect.Canwegoaheadandrealizethatwegoaheadandagreethatnoneofusinhereareperfectbecauseacouplethingshappenwhenpeoplestarttoactlikethey'reperfectcoupleofthingsthataregoodyoucomeintothechurchandinNCevenifyouwereperfectandthisisnottheperfectchurchifitwasaperfectchurch.Youcouldn'tcomeherebecauseyou.perfect,butisnotaperfectchurchtoeverybody'swelcome.Butwhathappensaswestartoutwell.I'mprettycloseyesterday.Rudyisobviouslynotperfectbutmediumparticle.ThenwebegantositaroundinaroomtalkingabouthowwrongeverybodyelseiswhetherDianeandtheirlostandthenwhenyoupaintapictureallperfectandIgotoperfectchurch.Canyouinvitethatpersontothechurchinnowayisawill,goalknowdon'tyougotothatperfectchurchweloseourabilitytomakeaconnectionwiththem,butifyousayyouknowwhat,nobodyisthereisperfectourpasttreatmenthestoodupandsaidhewasasinner.DoyourealizeIdolessafteroursharethisandthismightincludeyouinandyouknowwhatifitdoesI'llprayforyou,butI'vehadpeoplecomeupmeafterserviceagoyouknowI'mnotcomfortablewiththepastorSandinistacenterandelectedamessageyouknowwhatthisisprobablynotthechurchforyouthenseebecauseoftentimespastorsandwegotthisgift.Wedothisthingandwecannotleaveitintheteachingdon'tknowifyou'veeverheardanybodydothis.Itrytoavoid.Iprobablydoitsometimes,butyouknowtheysaythoseprayinglastnightanditwasaboutthefourthhour.IwasprayingIwasprayingforyouguyswhoweresolostandconfusedanditwasaboutthefourthhourthatIwasinprayerisabout6AMandseeyousittingthereinyourthinkingallmyheat.Hegotupat2AMandprayedforfourhours.Ican'tdothis.Ican'tdothatthisthisthingisbeyondwhatI'mcapableofdoing.ButifIstandupandgoingon,I'masinner,butGodischangingme.I'mintheprocessofbeingchangedthingsIusedtodo.Idon'tdoanymoreandtoyoursmellofthingsIdonowwillbedoinganymorethenyoucanhearthatgo.PraiseGodpraiseGodthere'shopeforme.IcanchangeifGodchangedhimtochangemeandthatcanencouragenotonlyyoubutthepeoplearoundyou.Amen.Verse19andtheyaskedhim,saying,isthisyoursonwhoyousaywasbornblindheldanddoeshenowseehisparentsansweredthemandsaidweknowthatthisisoursonandthathewasbornblindnowthisisinterestingtomebecausenowthey'repullingtheparentsandandandwhatthey'retryingtodoistryingtogettotheplacewheretheydiscreditthemiraclethat'sinteresting.They'renotarguingaboutthefactthatthisblindmanwashealedthird-largestarguingaboutthedetailsandandyouknowwhatJesussaidIamthelightoftheworldtounderstandwhathemeantbythat.Hedidn'tevensayIamthelightofalltheChristianshesaidIamthelightoftheworld.DoyouunderstandthepeoplearoundyouareDianewithoutknowingJesuspeoplearoundyouarelostandwantingtoknowwhatyoumayknowthismorningalreadyandwethinkofdarknessandtheskywasblind.Hecouldn'tsee.Canyouimagineinthecoursetheydo.ThesethingswereinhersmileputablindfoldinNomeforadayoranhoursomething.Imaginethat.Butcanyouimagineitbeingcompletelydark.Thisisthewaymostoftheworldlivesbutcan'tseethereasonorstumblingaroundistheydon'thavethelight,andtheydon'tknowanybetter.Peopledon'twanttobeinthedarknesstheywanttoexperiencethelightandguesswhatyouareacarrierofthelifeyoucansharewiththemthelightandtheloveoftheLordandbringthemoutofdarknessintothelight.Whatanawesomeopportunitywehavetodothat.Verse21,butbywhatmeanshenowseeswedonotknoworwhoopenedhiseyes,wedonotknow.Heisofage,askhim,hewillspeakforhimselfnotunderstandthereligiousleadershipispullingtheseparentsupinfrontofthemandandgrandmainthesereligiousleadershavetheauthoritytosayyouknowwhatyou'reexcommunicated.Youcan'tcometothetempleanymore.Nowthere'satrap.There'sadangerhere,butyouknowwhattherealdangeristherealdangerisnottherecananswerthequestionhonestly.Therealdangersthattheymightmissanopportunity,GartnerJesus,that'sarealdangerhere.Verse22explainsmoreaboutthis.HisparentssaidthesethingsbecausetheyfearedtheJewsfortheJewsitalreadyagreedalreadythatifanyoneconfessedthathewasChrist.HewouldbeputoutofthesynagoguethereisaconceptinMatthew18laysitout.Ofbeingdisfellowshippedorbeingremovedfromachurch.It'sascripturalthinginandnowadaysitifsomebodygetsdisfellowshippedfromonechurchgotduesgorightdowntheroad.There'sanotherchurchtheycangotothatchurch.Thatwasnotthecasehere.TherewasonlyonetempleinJerusalemwhenyougotthisfellowship,youweredonetheyhadtotouchthedisfellowshippedonewas30daysandonewasyour.andatthatpointallyoursocialinteractionwasoverallthemarketswerenearthetempleandoncepeoplesawyouwasunclean.Youdidhaveanopportunitytogainthatbyandsonotonlydiditaffectyourworship,butitaffectedyourentiresociallifeandprobablyyourbusinesslikeit'saprettyseriousthing.Butagain,therealdangerhereisthatthey'regoingtomissanopportunitytogettoknowJesusfriendyouknowforsurethatyoursinshavebeenforgiven.YoucanknowrightnowonlyLegionashortsimpleprayersimplytellingGodyou'resorryandaskinghimtohelpyoutoliveforhim.Godwantsyoutopraythisprayersomuchthathediedtogiveyoutheopportunityandtheabilitytoaskhimtoforgiveyou.Pleasepraythisprayerwithmeoutloudrightnow.DearJesus,IbelieveyoudiedformethatIcouldbeforgivenandIbelieveyouwereraisedfromthedeadthatIcouldhaveanewlifenowdonewrongthingsIhavesentandI'msorry.Pleaseforgivemeofallthosethings.Pleasegivemethepowertoliveforyou.AllofmydaysinJesusandaamenfriendofyouprayedthatprayeraccordingtotheBibleyou'vebeenforgivenyou'vebeenbornagain.Jesussaidhewouldnotturnanybodyawaywhocomestohimandhecameforthosepeoplewhoknewtheyneededforgiveness.Thosewhoweresick,nottherighteoustocongratulationsbringyoujustmadethegreatestsessionthatyouwillevermake.Godblessyou,ifyoupraythatprayerwithDavidforthefirsttimewe'dlovetohearfromyou.Youcanvisitcrossthebridge.comtoreceiveourfirststepspackagewithhelpfulresourcestohelpyoubeginyourwalkwithChrist.OryoucanwritetocrossthebridgeatPOBox12,515Winston-Salem,NC27117andsharehowGodisworkingyourlifewillDAbeforewego.Whataresomewaysthatwecanblessourlistenerseachday.YoucanwakeupwithencouragementfromPastorDavidtothewordofGodwithhisemaildevotionallifelessonstoconsideradailyreadingplanandathoughttomeditateonthroughoutyourday.FromtheheartofDavidMcGee.ThatsoundsgoodPastordayandagain.It'sbeengreattohaveyouwithusontheprogramtodaybuttelluswhatelsecanalistersfindoncrossthebridge.com.Ifyou'renotabletomakeittoyourhomechurchthisSunday.Whynotjoinusforourlife.10AMEasterntimeonThursdaynightat7PMthisvisitcrossedthebridge.comandclickonalotextremelythereyouwillexperiencealiveservicefromDavid'shomechurch.ThebridgeNorthCarolinaagain.Thatwebsiteiscrossthebridge.com.Thanksagainforlisteningandjoinusnexttime.AsDavidMcGeecontinuesteachingversebyverseintheGospelofJohn