John Chapter 14:4-11

I know you're getting ready to drive off of a bridge. I would hope that he would want me to tell you that not just smile and hope you feel good as you crash into oblivion got pleasure seeking. I believe in being sensitive to the seeker and that we reveal to the seeker what he needs them. That's my version to be in seeker sensitive is not to live is not to water down the truth to its natural setting to say you know what your center you're stuck in your sons and there's no hope accept through Jesus Christ. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were blessed to have one of David McGee's associate pastors here with us, DA Brown got a question for you DA. What's the problem with words like that. Bob the Bible that we read is our ultimate guide to truth and it talks about these things if it talks about these things is important that we talk about this thing so we can have a right standing what God says today pastor Dave explains this truth as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 14 now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching choose to believe Jesus John chapter 14 verse three continues and says, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

She's prepare a place, and he's going to come again and receive us to himself. Now you thought about this but you know God. Jesus created all the earth and the heavens in six days, but apparently he's been working on heaven for about 2000 years Jesus continues in verse four nieces and where I go you know the way you know now watch as Thomas is getting ready, blow, beautiful moment here. Verse five Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know what you need for the moment, take off your religious glasses because we we grow up with these real misconceptions about the disciple. The disciples are very real people. They messed up sometimes they didn't get it. Sometimes, sometimes the Lord would have to explain in fuller detail with as you read the Scriptures understand that and appreciate do because you not even the first time is redo the gospel. You and Jesus would tell a story and even I would understand it. Yet the disciples, and usually after everybody else is left and they had Jesus alone that you know what you mean by be honest like it is. As a young believer. I kept waking and I kept thinking Jesus was, what weren't you listening I mean in a maybe this disciple things not going to work out for you.

Your levels of comprehension or what they should be. But that didn't do that. He always explained it. Any always okay let you know there's this over and there's the sea going too fast for you with this.

Okay so you would always go very carefully go back but see here Jesus is going let you know where I'm going. You know I'm going to make a place and you know how to get there and then Thomas goes around or were you going only when I get there. He's probably saying what the others were thinking verse six. But you know it's cool for intersect.

If you didn't have verse five, you would have verse six the verse that were getting ready to read it has come to mean so much to so many we wouldn't have if Thomas what was spoken up and said what's the deal where we going and how were going to get there. Verse six Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. What an awesome verse. Notice what he says was pay careful attention, he doesn't say I am one of the ways. One of the many truths and one of the lives somebody said he uses a singular expression. I am the way, the truth and the life seat understand exactly what he said nobody goes to the father except through Jesus know when now pastor David, are you saying are you insinuating that Jesus is the only way to know Jesus is saying that I'm just agreeing with that. I got some of what budgets are. That's what Jesus is saying. I'm simply agreeing what Jesus understand what this means that if I want to take the stance that there's many ways to heaven.

I am taking a direct direct stance against Jesus. I am in essence calling Jesus a liar. I want to do that. I'm not going to do that. It's not that you know and and I've used this analogy before. It's not. Imagine if you were dying of a dreaded disease and you went into the doctor and the doctor said while got great news there's a cure for what you have. Would you sit there and go was only one we have. There's only one cure well that's narrowminded that's very bigoted if you've just got one cure I don't think I'm going to take you wouldn't do that because there's a cure for sin and it is a disease is taken out more people than we can imagine there's a cure for. I don't care that there's only one cure I'm just grateful that there is a cure and Jesus with one statement wipes out any possibility of any other world religion leading to have. That's a statement of Jesus. That's not the statement of pastor David, if you've got a problem with that you got a problem with Jesus. There has never been a more simple and straightforward way to come to God all the other world religions.

If you looked at him and off. It gets so complicated and in 2000 years you know it's interesting. Nobody has been able to come up with a simpler way to get to heaven. Man has not been able to devise a more straightforward way of how you get to have that alone tells me it's God that God divides. So sent something so simple, so straightforward any of us can understand a six-year-old can go. Okay, Jesus only way is what they're learning all over the business mortgagees only way there. Okay is only way I understand it, that I want to go to heaven.

I go through Jesus. He's the truth. Jesus says I am like the way that Jesus is honest with us if you ever known somebody in your always, wondered where you stood with him because as they were talking to your like well what you really say what you you know what you thinking about me in, but you always know where you stand with Jesus. Jesus is like.

If you believe in, meaning following your hand if you're not, you're not.

He loves us enough to tell us the truth is that you know what you've got to repent of your sins.

You've got to ask forgiveness of your sins and you got a phone loves us enough to tell us the truth to tell us you know what your messed up in your scarred by sin and you need a Savior. You need a Messiah, and because he says that to us. We can know that it's true we can follow him mean imagine if he just looked at as a guy I think you're okay you be fun just hope for the best.

He wouldn't be the truth, but he is the truth. This is why I personally have some problems with the seeker friendly model that so many people present the seeker friendly model says no Atlas avoid words like sin and death. Words like hell let's avoid those so everybody feels good. There's a problem with that. If I know you're getting ready to drive off of a bridge. I would hope that you would want me to tell you that and not just smile and hope you feel good as you crash into oblivion.

God bless you see in I believe in being sensitive to the seeker and that we revealed to the seeker what he needs to know that's my version to be in seeker sensitive is not to lie is not to water down the truth till it's not truth anymore to say you know it yet.

Your center you're stuck in your sins and there's no hope for you except through Jesus Christ. See, because if we take away the message when we don't if we quit presenting that good news was just all go home and quit playing games plenty and there's plenty of churches that are just social clubs. We need to be presenting the truth as God's word presents and it says the life you know I love the depth of this in the simplicity of this but Jesus is on the life Jesus and say what I am the way the truth and the death he said I am the way, the truth and the life and so many people lately that when they think about Christianity, they think in terms of Diane while become a Christian.

That way when I dive got your like fire insurance all go to heaven. And that's why Christianity isn't just a way to dots a way to live as you follow Jesus.

If you wait to your death bed to grab a hold Jesus man you've been ripped off and you've missed so much I want to grab a hold of Jesus. Not because he is the way the truth and the life he came to give us life and that more abundantly. Do you realize you can't really have life outside of Jesus. You can live but you will have life. It's amazing our culture pictures it we say okay this is a living it up watch TV. This is a living it up. Boy, look at that in that soft they say look to drink and do drugs and have as much sex and that's living it up. But if anybody in here ever tried any of those lifestyles, you realize how empty it and then you come to Jesus and like every morning you're excited to get a praise God another day. This is awesome. Started Sunday on the church. That's awesome. See, now you got life in the real thing that some cheap fake substitute in another place in acts chapter 4 verse 12 it says nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Again, that's kind of a vague Scriptures and it was pretty pointed. There's no other name that Krishna not Buddha, not Allah, not Mohammed.

There's no other name is only one Jesus, praise God. There is a name Matthew chapter 26 verse 39 says he went a little further and fell on the face and pricing all my father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.

Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. If there was any other way to heaven. You got a real problem because Jesus prayed in the garden that if there was another way that he would have to do this. So either the father disregarded the prayer or didn't listen to it or Jesus was and is the only way I believe Jesus was and is the only way and I know some people think will its tolerance to say there's other ways the women appointment. If you're a believer that is not an option.

If you're following Jesus. It's not an option to look at somebody go well yeah there's other ways because it's real clear you're either on one side of this issue are you're on the other. Either you're saying yes I agree with Jesus on falling. He is the only way you're saying you know what, he's a liar and I'm not following up. And if you're doing that.

Please don't call yourself a Christian. This is true is not up for discussion. It's not relative. It's truth to +2 is four.

That's it. Somebody can come up you go think it's five Wayne think that doesn't matter so full you can discuss that all day long. You can think it's free. You can think it's five. It doesn't matter. 2+2 is for DEQ's account of there's many ways never use the bank next well I know 2+2 might be forty-year but that's kinda narrowminded and bigoted so I do know when I was balancing my checkbook out just the 2+2 is five because it helps me out what you think they're going to do probably call somebody quickly. It's truth, it's truth see the life lesson. Here's truth describes what is right and defines what is wrong.

Truth describes what is right and defines what is wrong and Jesus loves us enough to tell us. I'm so thankful for the logic itself tells you all the world religions can't be right. They can all be right. There's just no way 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 presenting God's virtual 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 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 want to take just a minute to pray for seven cities in our listening audience. South Portsmouth Westport, Kentucky, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs or Woodinville Heflin and Jennings, Louisiana, Lord, thank you for the cities. Thank you for those mayors. The police chiefs the government officials. The town councils will we pray that you give them wisdom and discernment. We pray that they would look to your word for advice on how to lead Lord help us to be praying for them consistently and be a place of encouragement, not division and their lives. Father anyone in the city's who hasn't yet put their trust in you. We pray that you would convince them and encourage them to recognize how much you love them so much that you died on the cross for them. Hello, we pray for revival.

The 20 cities in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse seven. If you've known me, you would've known my father also and from now on you know him and have seen them. Verse eight Philip said to him, Lord chose the father and it is sufficient for because you got these there Massenet and this isn't like the second string us. This is like the 18 these are the guys that have been with Jesus for three years and they are just totally Massenet their medicine are missing the boat.

Jesus is you yeah you know I'm going somewhere and you know where I'm gone.

And you know the way in Thomas good will know were going together just around the way true to life and to be singly using father and themselves away never seen father and see now you know talking about them being yeshiva school dropouts is come in the mean more and more to your liking something and begin understand why they were chosen by some of the rabbis understand and I am just I'm stuck in the book I'm reading the book I'm looking at it for what it says I don't mean any disrespect for the disciples, but I want to see this book as truth. And when you look at this truth, you begin to see some things that you're like 11 they know and what I think you understand one of their big ministry, the disciples, one of their big ministry strategies to understand what that ministry strategy. What is kind of an interesting one.

One of their big ministry strategies will send them away. They need some send a boy Mark chapter 6 verse 36 people out in the middle of the desert their hungry and Jesus is what should we do in the disciples that sent him away their hungry route here in the middle of nowhere, got nothing, send my that they may go on the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread for they have nothing. A number of years and are going okay with a messed up once wants. Remember what happened when the woman was on the side of the road calling for Jesus to please help her in Matthew chapter 15 verse 22 and this is behold a woman of Canaan came from that region crowd out terms and have mercy on on me oh Lord, son of David, my daughter severely. Demon possessed, but he answered her not a word in his disciples came in urgent and center way she cried after she father knows Jesus, center, way, way these people ministry thing be great if it wasn't for all people.

They bother us, send them away you go.

Okay will two times a mess of two times I'll cover just one more Matthew chapter 19 verse 13 then were the there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray and disciples rebuked them.

Get those kids out here were too busy doing ministry and the people keep get in the way.

Take those kids away. It's amazing when you stop and consider what when you really look at the disciples and their interaction with Jesus and and and why do I mention this because because as I read to the Gospels and I see the reality of these guys and their exchanges with the Lord in the missing it and them trying to send people away when they needed ministry and rebuking people when Jesus wanted to pray form understand something. As I read the book of acts. Something happened to these guys between what we read in the Gospels and what you read in the book of acts when Peter who denied the Lord three times stands up and goes to leadership.

You know I don't care which is I'm to be obedient to God not demand when I see the fact that 11 of the 12 disciples 10 out 11 disciples.martyrs death some very painful – I realize something happened to what happened. They been with Jesus and they been filled with the spirit and everything changed and so look at my own life and my struggles and my shortcomings and my failures and I realize in what sometimes a minimus God. Sometimes I'm not going to know what he saying and I can understand but the more I'm with him. The more I do understand the more I walk with him, the more I'm able to minister to others, to the point that I'm on the personal journey, if you will. From the way the disciples act acted in in the Gospels to the way they acted in the book of acts among the personal journey to the point that I want to look around one day and say you know I don't care what man thinks need to be obedient to God. And that's attorney every one of us can be on as we follow him as we follow the Lord. That's encouraging why when leafs Philip Ng and Solis reverse not Jesus said to him, have been with you so long and yet you have not known me for he who has seen me has seen the father. So how can you say show us the father do not believe that I am in the father and the father in me and the words that I speak to you. I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does the works. Believe me that I am in the father and the father in me or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.

When Jesus says believe me, we would probably define it a little closer keep believing in me. Don't stop believing in me. Don't stop believing me when you're persecuted.

Don't stop believing in me when you're corrected. Don't stop believing in me when you have a bad day or a bad week for a bad year or a bad life. Don't stop believing that should change the way you live. If you really believe in Jesus, if you really believe that he is the way the truth of life, then you can look around with open eyes and realize some people don't know it. Some people don't realize it it if you think that I've exaggerated this morning. Then do me a favor. Ask your friends who go to church how you get to heaven, and is that the only way and listen to the replies that you get and have mentally John 14 six ready so you know what, but Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. Because guys are political correctness, tolerance is allowing people to slip off the edge of eternity without Jesus is to have a price to pay to get along. We can't do that.

The people and maybe you're here this morning and you you know historically who Jesus is.

You know, historically, SCE Dodd for the sins of the world, but to understand. He died for your sins to understand that you need forgiveness. It's not enough just to know about Jesus in your head, Charles Spurgeon said the difference between knowing about Jesus in your head and knowing Jesus in your heart while it's only 18 inches is the difference between heaven and hell. You can know who Jesus was and not know Jesus I know who the president has but I don't knowing and for many years I knew about Jesus, but I did knowing and then came one day when I said I want to know him more deeply. I got the bad news first. No amount of right living could undo what I've done before, but the good news is when I realize that hope walked into my life in the form of Jesus Christ to when I knew there was no other way. I was desperate for that one way and that way is Jesus, not your good work through any of the other ways the world religion present Jesus and the good news is, this morning, Jesus want you to know you want to receive the forgiveness of your sins to a short simple prayer. Turning from your ways to his face turning from your sins to his glory 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. 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 if 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 you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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