John Chapter 12:17-26

Worked with a lot of rock stars got to meet a lot of outsourcing. I was amazed at how unhappily they had all the stuff they had everything the world had to offer, but they weren't happy. Why because they haven't found the Lord there's a lot of hurting people that are living for themselves and there's a lot of very content blessed people who may not have much there living for the Lord that goes against everything the world tries to snatch what Jesus is saying here you know.

If you try to hold onto your life will lose it, but if you give it away to me to find that you'll discover what this life is really about. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Cartersville, North Carolina, DA Brown is industry are with us today. He's one of the associate pastors here. The bridge welcome DA hey Bob excited to be here excited for everyone is tuning in today.

They are going to be blessed.

It's important that we remember what we try and find peace and fulfillment in other things only following God will bring us lasting peace pastor Dave discusses why this is important as we continue teaching in the Gospel of John chapter 12 sounds good brother part two of this teaching.

God is a God of multiple patient John chapter 12 verse 17 therefore the people who were with him when he called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the debt or witness. For this reason, the people also met him because they had heard that he had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, you see that you are accomplishing nothing like the whole world is going after. I like that verse don't you let the whole world is going after. Praise God, I wish it was so. I wish it was so these guys are trying to wipe the followers of Jesus out there trying to wipe Jesus out is pretty humorous now and it is been like 2000 years and there's been a lot of people trying to wipe us out. There's been a lot of people have tried to kill off Christians.

There's been a lot of people trying to take the word of God away the discredited nobody ever has, but they've been trying to wipe us out as Christians as believers hasn't worked hasn't worked as a matter fact wherever they persecuted the church like right now there's still a lot of persecution in China. Others are perched persecution and any others out persecution a lot of different places, but in China and India. The church is nourishing its growing and so there's all these people come to the Lord during the time of persecution. But notice it says look the world is gone after him.

That was the problem I have notice I didn't say well you know they prayed a prayer and say that they said the world has gone after him there. Following him my point. While we use the term Christian we can throw it around only. I mean, you know, I hear people say Christian and I'm not sure what they mean, but sometimes you looking at surveys and assist you know this, you know, 69% of Christians don't believe the Bible is the word of God. I'm not sure how you define Christians. It's like 60 some percent of Christians don't believe in being born again. Wait a minute. How do you become a Christian, you gotta be born again so dirt using a loose definition. I was one time at a music store and I saw this guy and he was in his speech was peppered with profanity and he was buying stuff and then he mentioned that he was behind the stuffers church and you know some of you know me, I couldn't resist.

That sounds like are you a Christian and he looked at me really affinities. Of course I am.

I'm an American is one a few times in my life I was actually speechless seat. What we've done over the years is we watered down Christianity and we've made it into an effort to many people say this will is he a Christian while he prayed the prayer when Lanny prayed the prayer.

What's he doing now is he following Jesus seat.

You don't see in the Bible, a separation of praying a prayer and following Jesus. Nowhere in their nowhere did Jesus say, hey, look what you pray this prayer okay. I praise God asked me to forgive your sins. Awesome. Okay your good sealer. He didn't do that he would go up to follow me, when up to Matthew follow me as an interesting ever thought about the exchange between Jesus in Matthew what the other disciples were thinking. As you know Jesus Army blasted the Pharisees and scribes and reviewer disciple sitting there watching Jesus walk up to Matthew. I know what I do. Been thinking about is will be good Mr. debt collector. You don't hear about it now. Any and Jesus walks up to me goes, follow me.

He's asking him to join with us and you and Jesus keeps asking people like that. The following Donnie. But the real question is are you following Jesus. Are you following Jesus is Jesus leading you are have Buchanan said okay Jesus, I'm glad you saved me. I'm glad you forgiven me. But you know what I can take it from here.

Oh friend hope that doesn't describe you because that is a tragedy to the first question is do you know Jesus as you ask him to forgive you of your sins, but the next question is are you following Jesus. Are you following Jesus because Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life and if you think the beginning and the end of it was praying a prayer that's not it. Friends pray in the prayer is the getting is not the end is the beginning.

See because our life begins to change when asked the Lord to forgive us of our sense, our life begins to change. Fruit comes from fruit trees and fruit should also come from Christians as they follow Jesus. That's what should happen and so the question is not just have you prayed the prayer. The question, have you prayed the prayer and are you following Jesus.

Now, because often times when I'm talking to people in the street or in restaurants or whatever. You know they they try to scoot out with prayed a prayer every dipper wins last on we been a fellowship old city is been about eight years eight years since you been to church only a euro is this book says to forsake not the assembly.

All yeah but I pray the prayer but are you following Jesus. Now in short, maybe not really, that that's the question and keep in mind when I talk about fruits we have fruit trees where we live in, and also not take my prayer walk around property in an you know that I've never observed as of what pastors fruit trees I've never walked by the apple tree in her dapple tree going.

It never does that.

It makes apples I'll be okay I promise. It makes us. It makes apples because it's an apple tree. That's what it does.

It doesn't have to strain and get in this life trying to produce fruit. It makes apples because it's an apple tree. We should have spiritual fruits because we have a relationship with Jesus. That's what Jesus was talking about when he talked about. He was the vine and were the branches so don't let fruits scare you this. It happens as you follow Jesus, there's fruit in your life and the beautiful thing and let me mention this.

The beautiful thing about being a believer and I understand even if such that this following Jesus.

Some of you it tried to follow Jesus. I have tried in a in a mess up sometimes welcome to the human race were falling. It's a fallen nature. We still struggle with our fallen nature. Now, I'm not trying to say be okay with your sin, don't read this the wrong way, but I am reminding you of what Paul said positing of the things I want to do. I don't end up doing on the things I don't want to do I not doing those things. That's the struggle part of our fleshly nature pulses in the book of Romans is at war with God. Strong words, but see the beautiful thing is, even though sometimes were prideful sometimes were arrogant. Sometimes we get ourselves in situations where were at addicted. It's not our failures that define us as Christians but it's our relationship with Jesus Christ. Somehow this is the ministry somehow. If you've asked the Lord to forgive your sins and your your following the Lord, the Lord looks down this morning upon you, and he didn't see a center anymore. He sees St. St. yet he sees you as sinless receipt Jesus.

The blood of Jesus was enough to cover your sins to forgive you of your sins. What an amazing thing. See if God could see our sin still even after we've asked the Lord to forgive us of our sins.

That would mean the blood of Jesus wasn't complete that it didn't do completely what it was supposed to do, but it does do when the Lord looks at you this morning because you've asked him to. He sees you forgiven.

What an amazing thing.

What an amazing thing first 20 now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast and they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus that's good stuff that's good stuff at the King James says Sir we would see Jesus. I like that and and while I don't have a pulpit anymore. We took it out, but back when I had a pulpit, there was on index card written Sir, we would see Jesus, and you know why because it reminded me that that's what I want to assure you guys.

It reminded me that that's why you were here you were here to see Jesus and I needed to show I'm as accurately as scripturally as I could and not get in the way of a month doing that I'm not doing my role and let me say something else.

If I'm encouraging you to be dependent upon me.

I'm doing you a spiritual disservice because at some point I will disappoint you. I need to put your hand in the hand of Jesus. Just like these people.

Sir, we would see Jesus want to see Jesus. I love Andrew and I love Philip Andrew was always bring in somebody to Jesus else, Andrews thing, see it, you don't see a lot of Andrew in Scripture, but you don't usually over and over is bringing people to Jesus in John chapter 1 verse 40 it's is one of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew when the first summons Peter brother. He first found his own brother Simon or Peter Simon Peter and sent him. We have finally found the Messiah, which is translated, the Christos in the Greek, the Christ, and he brought them to Jesus.

So Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and a few chapters later, John six verse eight not one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter again said him there's a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish.

But what are they among so many he's the guy that brought the little boy to Jesus again.

Do you realize that's the normal thing. Somehow we've twisted that as well.

We think will will they have the gift of evangelism and granite. There's some people that are very good at evangelism that God has supernaturally gifted but you know what were all supposed to be bringing people to Jesus.

Every one of us.

And if you're sitting there gold. Pastor David isn't that kind of your job know it's not my job.

Ephesians 412, 13, 14 says I am to equip you guys to do the work of the ministry. See what happens this coming week you'll be eating with people that I don't know you be working with people that I don't know you have a relationship with them where you can invite them to this place and be assured I'm going invite them to Jesus.

And so what were doing is were partnering together to reach those people with the gospel.

That's what's supposed to be happening.

Maybe you're sitting there thinking well just I don't want them to think I'm what you know Jesus ask a question Scripture seems to indicate that we may be able to see the people who are suffering. Do you want to see the people that you see on a regular basis, family, friends, coworkers, suffering because it was too much trouble for you to invite them think when you think in terms of eternity becomes obvious what what you should do and we try to very consciously. Now we are not what's termed the seeker sensitive church for me say were not a seeker sensitive church and that we water everything down so it's just this homogenous blend that offends nobody but Jesus were not were not that and and and remember in the book of Revelation when Jesus is knocking on that door that letters to a church and he standing outside trying to get in. But what we do want to do is be aware that people come in, not knowing Jesus. And so whenever I use terms that are called Christian knees. You know that we Christians all understand you have you grew up in the church call you. That's what sinks cash know what that you and others I try to stay away from this terms are of a user's terms, to fully explain will be right back with more from David Magee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob were excited about all the people were tuning in today and we want to take a minute to pray for the listening audience is in the cities, Hamburg, Indiana, Cherokee, Iowa, Creston, Des Moines, Marshalltown, also in Kansas, Emporia and Hutchinson guy. We thank you for everyone tuning in today though we pray that they would be ready for you to speak to them. Lord is summer sick. We pray that you please heal them and golly pray for the pastors and churches in this area. The churches will be reignited in their faith, Lord, that they would turn to you with all her heart, soul and strength to love their community and Lord that these passes would be reminded.

You have called them you are going to bless the work that you've called them to do and that they would not grow weary in doing good in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 23.

But Jesus answered them, saying, the hours come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it does, it produces much grain. Jesus knew the time and come in. This is, strain it and you're thinking Philip came and said hey there's some in Philip and Andrew brought the guys and they say there's some people that want to see you and Jesus as the hours come that the Son of Man should be glorified, but he's answering your question they want to see Jesus and Jesus is saying you know what for them to seek me clearly without the stain of sin between them and me are some I gotta go do something that must be done so the Greeks and the Jews and you and me can have a relationship with the Lord there something he had to do and there was no other way and Jesus rather than leave us lost in our sins, went and died for us and he gives us his picture now. It's also interesting he uses nature here because the Greeks were into nature and they taught about nature and they talked about nature and uses that picture to talk to and he uses these words about planting and dying. There's an interesting thing in here to do. You understand that you planting involves multiplication planting involves multiplication what you mean by that pastor David we have a garden we garden so you know we go through we tilt the ground. We had you know the horseman you are and all this other stuff to the ground. We tilt up and we put a seed one seat in each hole. Now I would be fairly disappointed if one seat came up in the sense that you know after the plant grew. There was just one seat is not what I'm looking for I'm looking for fruits and plants that multiply when I plant one zucchini squash seat. I know when I'm expecting like 50 zucchini squash to come out of that plant one. Because that's just multiplication. That's what God does life listen here, God is a God of multiplication.

God is a God of multiplication. So when he saved you to understand the concept he desires to use you to reach a whole bunch of others. In verse 25 he continues, he who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. See now this is one of those things that seems to be an enigma into your really stop and consider it what he saying Spurgeon said this and I like this quote. Men have helped to live by remembering that they must men have been helped to live by remembering that they must in some ways, what I'm getting ready to say is to be astounding in some ways, you get to pick where Utah yesterday when you talk about knowing used to pick where they.all in a spiritual sense they do. You see, you can dive to your self and your carnal nature while you're on earth. And that's really as close to spiritual death and shall be, or you can choose not to do that and there's a definite coming in your future. See, Jesus said you know what if you try to hold on to your life. It's going to fall to your fingers like so much shifting sand and some of you have experienced that have experienced that you look at Hollywood and you see that you see people and their famous they got money, but do they really have what they're looking for. I don't think so. They can't seem to stay married for very long. There, in and out of drug rehab.

So just don't strike me as very happy.

And yet, in human wisdom, we've decided to hold them up as this is the people we should imitate his people that we want to be like how sad, sad. I worked with the Lotta rock stars and got to meet a lot of rockstar same thing.

I was amazed at how unhappy they were. They had all the stuff they had everything the world had to offer, but they weren't happy.

Why because they hadn't found the Lord there's a lot of hurt and people that are living for themselves and there's a lot of very content blessed people who may not have much their living for the Lord that goes against everything the world tries to teach us and that's what Jesus is saying here you know. If you try to hold onto your life, you'll lose it, but if you give it away to me, you find it, you'll discover what this life is really about the life lesson. There is only following God will bring you lasting and true peace and joy.

You make it temporary peace. You may put some chemicals in your body that for a little while you feel like you're at peace, but the only way to have true and lasting peace is to follow God to ask him to forgive you of your sin. Start there and then began to follow the Lord. He continues in verse 26 if anyone serves me, let him follow me and where I am there, my servant will be also.

If anyone serves me, him, my father will honor simply saying almost the same thing again. If anybody serves him, let him follow him again. We should not make the disconnect that has happened in the church today of okay you get saved and then you do nothing you pray the prayer and then that's it. No no no, as I look around the landscape of humanity. All the heroes all the different people in history. You know what, there's only one person that I really really want to be like this.

Jesus now to be like Jesus. You know what I need to do I need to following how to learn how to follow it. He left us a whole book to dig into to discover the deep deep pleasures. We can discover in this book, how to following and you know what on that day and again that day is coming on that day when he returns home to be found faithful. I want to be following him so that I hear those words. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

And from this day. Until then, I want to be following Jesus because he is worthy to follow and also he's given us the ability to follow him see even your failures. They don't keep you from following him. See if your failures condemned you none of us could follow and we just give up and say well you know I blew it I blew it yesterday, I blew it last week, I blew it.

You know Yuriko, I just blown it so I can't follow Jesus is not asked me to forgive you of those things. I'll forgive the others things and you can get back on the path, not to the right not to the left to the path to follow Jesus are you following Jesus this morning.

Can you look at me with a clear conjugate yet on following Jesus met my whole heart passionately on following Jesus number one priority in my life or has something happen friend were that disconnect happened and you begin to think we prayed the prayer think I'm good.

Think I'll get in. Lord has a better plan for your life would be a tragedy to consider the satin. Her challenge to follow Jesus this morning and didn't decide to do just that. Perhaps this morning as I've been talking about Jesus and and your view of Christianity as you do the best you can and you hope your good outweighs your bad that's not Christianity. That's not biblical Christianity, biblical Christianity. Is this your bad will always outweigh your you can't fix yourself you can't forgive yourself and you're not even the one that needs to be seeking forgiveness from you need to seek that from the Lord.

That's the tough news.

That's the bad news.

The good news is Jesus was to do it this morning in your life. He's waiting for you to simply ask to be forgiven. 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. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I 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. 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 is a 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 you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out also.

Thank you so much DA before we go. What are some ways bless our listeners days you can wake up with her is Casa David with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God