John Chapter 12:35-49

Be concerned with what God thinks of your life, your actions and your decisions, what happens often as we look around what were concerned about the people around us and what they think we should be to a certain degree, you should be more concerned with what God sees because God sees everything.

You should be concerned with not just what people see of how you treat your spouse, your children while you're here at the church. What God sees when you're at home. What is, what if everyone in church knew the way you handle them and let them would you be okay if not something needs to change the seasons and end just thinking at whatever you just went oh about has got to change as God sees welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. My friends are you applying the word of God. Your life, what should we be sharing with the world and are you concerned with what God sees you doing let's listen as David McGee jumps in John chapter 12 with his teaching, shine forth, so John chapter 12 verse 35 says and Jesus said to them a little while longer. The light is with you. Walk while you have the light less darkness overtake you, he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going while you have the right believe in the light, that you may become sons of light these things Jesus spoke and departed and was hidden from them.

I mentions children of the light, who is the light now this is an interesting thing John chapter 9 verse five Jesus says, as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world. But when Jesus ascended to heaven we became his lights.

Matthew chapter 5 verse 14 says you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

It's important for us to be lights in the dark world to be sources of hope and love in a world it's dark and fearful and scary and hurting. We need to shine forth in this in this world talk about some because I hear people say that sometimes it was a well mine is a silent witness. I just prefer to let my light shine yet well and love only hurt your feelings or anything. The problem with that little strategy is your light is not that bright.

Okay I mean it's not like people are going to watch you in and get you know a look at the glow.

He's glowing. There's something about him. Why do you have that glow, you know, I think that doesn't happen. That doesn't happen, and I know there's truth in and I think it was was at Augustine nursing for somebody said you know it preach the gospel of necessary use words that's kinda cool, meaning live out the gospel and I like that saying and to some degree agree with that site. Problem is, you still have to communicate to somebody how they get saved you have to tell him you have to talk to so let your light shine.

One of things you can do this is a great weight it to open up a conversation when you talk so you know what might work for my score so you know you do know that I'm a believer yeah yeah yeah you go to church know things important to what is it that you think that I believe I'm just curious what your perception of what you think. I believe this and listen carefully to their answer is a couple things happen when you do this, number one, instead you talking it's them.

Talk your listening and so often were so busy trying to tell people about what we believe were not listening to what they're saying. We've got a monologue on what should be a dialogue and when you say okay what is it you think that I believe in, and they may think you believe weird stuff about legal snatch about their letters am I don't know what are you using then and and and and or that solitary Christian when only this is what we hear is what I believe in a sauce opportunity for you to share with them exactly what you believe but the lights and understand every body in here that knows Jesus, especially shared with other people and maybe Senegal and enter the church up straight and and and and and and not according to Ephesians 4 answers to equip you guys to do the work of the ministry do the work of the ministry, not in the ministry. Yes you are. Are you should be anyway masculine. Do you know Jesus, do you if you're in here and you know Jesus, guess what, you're in full-time ministry you are in, so I know we use that term for those who vocationally are doing something in the church or something, but you understand all of us are supposed to be in full-time ministry, always looking for an opportunity to share and if you're open.

It's amazing the opportunities that God will create for you if you're listening as you go through Alaska cashier, how you doing Hannah, it's a good life is kinda hard right now all great gutsy be listening say all you know what I should like that but now I have hope in Jesus is another opportunity to be a light to the world because the life lesson here is we are to be lights to our community into our world. This is God's plan. Jesus has given us a message of hope, of love, of encouragement of forgiveness offer the world. He's entrusted us with an understanding of the gospel, and we need to share that with a lost and dying world and be lights.

Verse 37, but although he had done so many signs before them. They did not believe in him that is a scary verse to me even though he did so much perform. They did not believe in an endless list also recognize he was speaking they heard his words and I didn't believe you have G Judas, whose The justice enigma were going to get in the lab next week, but Judas was with them for three years, heard all the words all the miracles and never really believed. That's kind of scary to me. And you know what, and it can be extremely frustrating to me if I allow it to seek what I do here is not teach the word of God because I can do that.

What I can't do here is make you believe it all loved ones.

I would've I could, you know some way I could just, you know, rub my Bible on your head to. You got it in your heart would be doing it at the front door, but it can't work like that. It doesn't work like that and you need to understand that in your life as well. You can't make anybody believe anything the Holy Spirit has to empower you and it has to be his words that you can speak up for God and be in his life, but you cannot make them believe in you people thinking they can has led to stuff like a lot of the weirdness you see people yelling at people and shout that people would stick in their foot in the door like their selling vacuums are some I mean, if you so vacuums out. I'm not slamming you that's that's a fine occupants probably should find another analogy for that but you can't make anybody believe in what I do here is present the truth. I teach the truth and there are people that come here that here it that don't get it. They don't get it and be honest.

My heart sometimes wants to focus on those people and I can allow that to pray for.

I'm heartbroken over the but the reality is there's people that are getting and I can't make the people who don't get it get it because there's a thing as I speak these truths.

You have to hear the word and have to apply Jack, I can't make you apply what I'm teaching your own son. I can't do that again.

I wish I could. The life lesson here is you must make the decision and take the effort to apply the teaching of God's word to your life. I've got some paint buckets and stuff appear see this paint all it's pretty color and I like that car but you don't want as long as this paint is in the bucket is not to do anything you may have 57 bobbles on your shelf at home, but as long as her up on the shelf so I can do anything. Can you imagine having a bucket of paint at your house and going.

You know what I've had that bucket for what I've been looking at that bucket for three years in my house still does not look any better. You know that's what some people do with the word of God, and come in here for years and change it all while would confess that to loudly put restraint is you paint bucket because while this painting a bucket is not gonna look any second. Make anything look any better. This has to be applied to something before it makes that something look better. It has to be taken out has to be applied thoroughly and consistently because you ever seen a wall that somebody didn't apply paint to thoroughly and consistently.

I have done look so good that are like little roller little roller near eligible nurse consistently and thoroughly apply in the word of God to your life because some of us again of looked at it like paint well you know it's not doing me any good. Are you applying are you applying the word of God. Watch did you try for how long. For how long. See, this is such an important part of the word of God that we don't talk about that we don't do applying the word of God and it's a lot like pink. If you use it it will work, but if you don't use it, it won't work. Some of the ways that you can help to apply the word of God to your life.

The first one is take notes, take notes, some of you calling me take notes on taken.

That is, take notes in school. Yeah why because I was trying to learn some yeah I'm trying to teach you the word of God in you.

What happens don't I will get all into this but mentally when you tell your hand to write something and then you visually you see it you right, you learn much better. Another thing, and we've got commissioners before is listen to the teachings again to let me encourage you, and that we again that's why we have the CDs.

That's why we have the stuff on lot so you can make application of God's word. You have to make before this does any good before paint makes any difference. You have to apply it before God's word can make a difference in your life you have to apply. These things help us make application James chapter 1 verse 20 says and remember it is a message to obey not just to listen to. If you don't obey your only fooling yourself if you just listen and don't obey. It's like looking at your face in a mirror, but doing nothing to improve your appearance.

You see yourself walk away and forget what you look like, but if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law, the law set you free. And if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard.

Then God will bless you for doing it another versus to be a doer of the world and not a hair only will be right back with more from David McGee 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 McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which you spoke Lord, who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed he's quoting Isaiah, I was say a 53 you may want to read that in your quiet time. It's a messianic chapter mean and is talking about Jesus being the Messiah.

Verse 39 therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again. He has blinded their eyes and harden their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them. Verse 3041 these things.

Isaiah said when he saw his glory and spoke of him understand what this is a scary thing, scary thing for me as a pastor. Jesus is saying that they can get so blind they can't see anymore to understand that as you hear the gospel and if you feel that Togo in your heart and you don't respond to the gospel. Don't feel consolation and think what I've heard it one more time and saw a little bit closer know if you heard it one more time and you felt that talking you rejected it fringe or you're one step further away factor that keeps happening at some point you can sit and you can hear the gospel and you won't feel a tug at all. And that's a dangerous place to be dangerous place to be.

I want anybody to be in that place. You know, whenever as a believer you're convicted of your sins be thankful, be thankful, because that means the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. That's a gift from God.

That's a gift from God.

You don't want to be in this place were these people so hardhearted they couldn't hear from the Lord anymore.

And the thing, the thing that's merciful's.

We never know when a person is in this place years ago and travel around, spoke to the youth group by two young kids and someone came to the Lord. Two days later when the kids it was in the group 17 years old was out playing basketball fell over.massive aneurysm 17 years old. I don't know if he was one of the ones that receive the Lord that night or not. I sure hope so.

I sure hope so don't mess with that line stay away from that line if God tugs on your heart to come forward here one morning and responded that is the Lord tugs on your heart to ask him to forgive you respond to that if the Lord tugs on your heart to turn from something and turn from their and the fact that you're here in this this morning. You know what that means is good news.

That's good news because no matter what you've done. God's given you another chance. The fact that you can hear this means that there's hope. God's given you another chance is given you no chance use that chance take that opportunity to respond to him because you don't know how many chances you get all what we think we know how many chances people get away.

We think that we can actually look at some people go no hope in Jesus for him. He's gone too far, no hope in Jesus for you know always she's an exotic dancer. He's a rock star.

She's a prostitute he's a drug addict.

She's a lesbian.

He's a homosexual there's no hope for Jesus and them friend. There's no hope for Jesus, for those folks, there's not for us because either Jesus can forgive every sin, yes. Not that you sin either. Jesus can forgive every sin or he can't either.

He can save to the uttermost. I can't save it all. He saves to the uttermost. There's nothing anybody can do. The Lord can't forget half including you whenever you've done the Lord can forgive you and he wants to do that. If you are asking that there are lines in here. This is a scary place.

Second Corinthians 6264, says in an acceptable time I've heard you, and in the day of salvation. I've helped you hold. Now is the accepted time. Hope now is the day of salvation. Again, if you're here this morning. Don't harden your heart go okay. Why do this next week or two weeks from our months.

Don't do that and today can be the day it got stolen on your heart to repent. Maybe you've been wandering today can be the day to resist the talking resist that talking verse 42. Nevertheless, even among the rulers. Many believed in him, but because the Pharisees they did not confess them, lest they should be put out a synagogue that we get in our minds that none of Jewish leaders believe in Jesus. This verse plainly says that they did many among the rulers. Many believed in him. Many of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus. Verse 43 points are probably for they love the praise of men more than the praise of God.

They love the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Proverbs 29, 25, says the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be saved. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be saved. The life lesson here.

Be concerned with what God thinks of your life, your actions and your decisions, what happens often as we look around the world were concerned about the people around us and what they think and we should be to a certain degree, but you should be more concerned with what God sees because God sees everything. You should be concerned with not just what people see of how you treat your spouse, your children while you're here at the church for what God sees when you're at home. What is, what if everyone in church new the way you handle them and let them would you be okay if not something needs to change.

What if everyone in the church knew how you handled your finances and what you gave would you be okay with that, see it, it indicates that were much more concerned with what other people think that what God thinks. His friend got sees at all. He sees those things and and just the unit. Whatever you just went all about is gotta change because God sees it. Forget everybody else in forget we put it on the screen overnight and do that but forget if we put it on the screen what that moment would be like for you know that that moments come in with the Lord and make those changes. Verse 44 then Jesus cried out and said he who believes in me believes, not me. But in him who sent me, and he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness, your attention please understand the darkness is scary and also understand that you know what when you're in the dark to light can be a little bit scary but it's much preferable to be on the why and see God doesn't.

You know it's like if you walk up and maybe your addict or your garage or wherever your storage places and you turn on the light in your first reactions, who you know God, like got this hopping flashlight. He points at one area or sent makers okay I will you get rid know you grow in that area may point to the sawmills that's issue now and he does that in a merciful way. So were not overwhelmed and it's a beautiful thing. So I understand, but we need to be walking in the light even as he is in the light. Jesus continues in verse 47 and if anyone hears my words and does not believe. I do not judge them for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

Others balance that Scripture sorcery don't, he who rejects me, and does not receive my words has that which judges him so it's not that they escape judgment.

Instead, Jesus is not judging them.

In this instance the word that outspoken will judge him in the last day for I have not spoken hormone authority, but the father who sent me gave me a command that what I should say in what I should speak what is you were dying of a deadly disease and you sat in front. Your doctor and your doctor said you know at one time we did not have a cure for what you have now there is a cure.

Now there is a cure for the disease that is killing you what you respond by going or is it just one. I think on their mind to Dr. Cincotta bigoted that there's only one cure know you would be grateful that there's a cure at all.

See, there's a disease that's killing people in this world is called sin friend.

There's not a lot of cures. In fact there's only one real cure and that cures Jesus what he did for us and I'm not thinking that's narrowminded. I'm not thinking that's bigoted. I'm just believing what Jesus told us, and I am grateful that there is that one cure is I am desperate for that cure is.

I say these things as I say there's no other way. I'm just repeating what Jesus said, we'll get into that in a couple chapters.

That's what he said I am the way, the truth life.

No one comes to the father except by me. I'm offering you the way to heaven.

The way to be forgiven and whether you found yourself wandering and you know this or you've never prayed this prayer before you need to print this morning and perhaps during this message. Sometime you've felt the tugging of the Lord on your heart that's God that's not that's not something I'm doing that's what the Holy Spirit is tugging and you know what, if you sit there and you resist it. One day it'll go away.

That'll be a very sad day, but of this morning you're convicted of your sins you're convinced of your sins or this morning, you realize that you've never prayed that short simple prayers in Jesus, please forgive me because I've done wrong.

I have send and I want to follow you and you need to pray the prayer friend. The prayer that will set you free.

That's the way the truth of salvation can be applied to your life as an individual.

It's not enough just to know this but the application has to be made and you need to make a personal 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 can have a new life not done wrong things I have send 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 for 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.

So much of the eye 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