John Chapter 18:1-14

We need to learn to sharpen our ability to hear from God. God wants to speak to us… We just about all these situations and in everyday occurrences.

He wants to lead us but you have to develop an attitude of the will of listening listening to the Lord. We talk about prayer being a two-way conversation. I don't mean you're going to hear audible voices with the Holy Spirit will speak to you and prompt you and remind you of verse before Peter could become a great leader is us a greatly Peter was already a leader ugly, but it was not a goodly while because you want to do his own thing and and you can't serve God and do your own thing and believe welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

I'm your host Bob Bennett and today we have in the studio GA Brown, one of these associate pastors Bob there's a lot of storms world.

We all need directions, you know that the Lord wants to give directions right now.

Each moment every day. The trick is yet that led him today.

Positive helps us understand how we can let God work in our life as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 18. Now, here's David McGee with part two of his teaching betrayal.

John chapter 18 verse one when Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden which he and his disciples entered and Judas who betrayed him also knew the place for Jesus often met there with this disciples see that tells us something else. Jesus often went to the garden of Gethsemane with his disciples to pray the garden of Gethsemane is still there. There is there's olive trees. They they say that one could be as old as 2000 years old. Trees live a long, long time.

I don't know about that, but it is very, very old, and to be honest you been among those olive trees for me was more impactful than going into the church there.

That is very ornate and has all this stuff and having this beautiful bit just looking at these olive trees considering what happened on that ground may have happened around the trees is incredible was read on. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon him went for, and said to them whom are you seeking they answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. That's who were seeking. Jesus said to them, I am he, Judas who betrayed him, also stood with them that when he said to them, I am he. They drew back and fell to the ground then asked them again who is seeking and they said, Jesus of Nazareth. I can't help but think they said a little shyer, the second coming. After they all fell backwards, and it is losing David. Don't knock us backwards again and you know but it shows something Jesus was going by choice.

Think about it coming. You know if you got everybody in front of you, not backwards in your wanting to run good time to run while everybody is knocked over backwards, but it just that there and they all get up again. That's a little comedic if you think then they all get up and he gets really looking for in this now there's a verse actually some 40 verse 14 lists, speaks of this is let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who seek to destroy my life. Let them be driven backward and brought dishonor to wish me some small picture.

Perhaps what was going on in the garden.

Verse eight Jesus answered that I told you that I am he. Therefore, if you seek me, let these go their way so so so awesome because at this point Jesus and thinking of himself. Jesus is thinking of others and can't look at the control is exercised there looking for me.

Let these guys got these talent want to do and they do it every thought about the fact that they didn't take the disciples in his statement is, here's the rabble-rousers that were hanging out with revolutionary Jesus when they take Malan for questioning or for witnesses or whatever, but they didn't.

While they were obeying what Jesus said Jesus at let go. They didn't.

Again, he's not fearful verse not that this thing might be fulfilled, which he spoke of those whom you gave me I've lost not again notice is incredibly think about Jesus is saying I'm the one you're looking for. Let these other guys got in the people that spread the good news of Jesus been hanging out with them that were disciples of Jesus juicing don't you take these guys in and ended these guys that know the Bible but Jesus if this was a fulfillment of prophecy that they weren't taken in and you know what over the next few chapters organizing a lot of people who didn't know prophecy. We didn't know the Bible that fulfilled prophecy and this is one of those things those whom you gave me. I was not verse 10 then Simon Peter having a sword drew it struck the high priest servant, and cut off his right ear servant's name was Malcolm's now the Galileans gallantly areas the northern part of the country.

It's kind of backwards, it is it in the in comparing it to America in in America. Note us who live in the South are, seen as more rural people up north is a little different. It's reverse their the people in the north are seen kind of as the country people. They were known to carry certain, Peter carried a sword obviously in an you you realize how we know it was Peter.

What were told here but what's interesting. Matthew didn't tell us it was Peter Mark didn't tell us it was Peter. Luke didn't tell us it was Peter.

Only John tells us it was Peter so we see the John and the Peter thing going on again will get more and that we and some of you are familiar with it. They had some healthy competition so John says is paid got his ear off. And anything he actually tells us that a name is Malcolm's top three server and understand this is, there was a little competition because an Indian. What's interesting to his John doesn't record the Jesus healed the guys here he leaves the guys here on the ground.

Luke tells us Luke 2250 says, and one of them struck the servant of the high priest, one of them noticed is not one of them servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. But Jesus answered and said permit even this and he touched his ear and healed one amazing thing that our Savior at that moment last act of healing was against an enemy of God. Point out a couple things that are interesting about John records it was his right ear. It was his right ear you've ever thought about this. Now if I got a sword. Most people right-handed right if I've got a sword and I cut off his ear what your mother on it. I will hit his left ear make sense of him right hand.

I'm going hit his left ear. Peter was probably heading for my I don't really understand how I got a mean object. Peter was a probably great fisherman. Evidently the sword thing was not his thing is he was going for the neck and he got an ear now either. Malcolm's good at this Bob and weave singer Peter was not real good with a sword and then I'm sorry.

I've got a weird sense of looking at this thing can you imagine you mad, you know the ears off the got cut off, and then the guys you know where Sears man who's got some I got a torture lantern is. It is this.

That's not it all here. It is, and then Jesus takes the ear and smacked it on like Mr. potato head or so.

Here's all better now please them or you think you spend too much time studying. You should be thinking things like that. Look what Jesus says in verse 11. So Jesus said to Peter, put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which my father has given what you notice some of the things that Jesus didn't say in case you wonder why. In case you wonder why Peter did. I think Peter was mad. I think when he saw the Romans uniting with the Jewish people come against Jesus.

I think it was Matt but also remember one other thing is, were told us in Scripture. Peter didn't sleep in the garden were Tony had been asleep and so he wakes up all these people are here. He wakes up and starts swinging a sword.

That's probably a word for some of if you wake up ornery or irritable.

Don't don't talk to anybody for little while because you know you wake up ornery, irritable start swinging a sword and then you wonder 30 minutes later why am I so manage it. If you tend towards that some people are not morning persons understand that if you tend torture anything for little get your cuppa coffee, sit down with your Bible, have your devotion and then and then interact with people you don't think you have that problem you may want to touch base with your spouse and say is that a problem in our house if they go yes you know they're sharing the truth in love, but notice also what Jesus didn't say to Peter. He didn't say Peter sword bad back sword.

He didn't say that because the sword he had told him before to carry a sword in Luke 2236 then he said to them, but now he has a money back.

Let them take it. Mike was a knapsack and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment by one say to you that that which is written must be accomplished in many was numbered with the transgressors. For the things concerning me have an end. Verse 38 so they said, look, Lord, here are two swords and he said to them, it is enough. He wasn't sent to swords enough to win the battle. He was it was more like enough already. You know I this is kind of an analogy and be ready for persecution and stuff but I think Peter kinda got a little confused about the direction here.

You start trying to hurt people. I know that in my life of doneness brought out the sword of hurt people, and I shouldn't have, because we tend, like Peter, we tend to fight when we should and we don't fight we should we see Peter actually standing in opposition. It looks good it looks noble but what's he doing at this point he is standing in the way getting in between Jesus and the cross even as he told himself. Not so, Lord must not do this cross thing. I don't want you to die but Peter, in his actions wasn't doing what God told him to do. And like Peter, we need to learn to sharpen our ability to hear from God sharpen our ability to hear from God.

God wants to speak to us. He was to speak to us about all these situations and in everyday occurrences and he wants to lead us but you have to develop an attitude if you will, of listening listening to the Lord. We talk about prayer being a two-way conversation.

I don't mean you're going to hear audible voices put the Holy Spirit will speak to you and prompt you and remind you of verses and before Peter could become a great leader is us a greatly Peter was already leader ugly but he was not a good leader while because you want to do his own thing and and you can't serve God and do your own thing and be a leader will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a minute to pray for a few cities in our listening audience in Montana, Gallatin, Glendive, Great Falls Hamilton, Helena Kalispell and Ms. Sula, Lord, we thank you for everyone listening right now.

We thank you for the work that you're doing in their lives. Lord I pray that you would fill them with the faith that they need to say yes to you, God. We pray that if anyone in the cities does not yet know you if they've not put their trust in you that today they would lower pray for the church is an area that you give the pastors wisdom.

Lord I pray that people get plugged into these churches and grow in lower pray for the city leaders. The mayor, the police chief fire Department the town Council everybody leadership Lord that you give them wisdom and discernment. We pray for unity amongst the government. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse before it can be a great leader. Peter had to understand wasn't what he wanted.

But what Jesus wanted. Hebrews chapter 5 verse 12 through 14 says this given Christians a long time now he ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures you are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food.

The person is living on milk is a very far along in the Christian life and doesn't know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature who train themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. She this is the development of character is the development of the skill that God wants to give us, but that needs to be developed, and what happens a lot of times we don't walk in the development of this character, but then we get the situation immediately.

We want to know what's what's right and we have to have somebody else why because we don't know why because we've not been sharpening this attitude of listening the life lesson years. The Lord wants to direct us in our daily situations. I believe God wants to direct you as far as your job as far as your family. As far as your friends. As far as household. He wants to lead you, but in order to be led. You have to listen and you have to develop that attitude out. Notice what else he didn't say you know he didn't say it somebody else swing the sword. Another time he insane Peter chopped off an ear when God had much bigger plans for one or figure set back the I got near Jesus like it's much more than that one year is nothing Peter a few weeks will be 3000 people each with two ears that not only will you cut their ear you will cut their heart that they will hear the truth. I had bigger plans but Peter was caught up in the passion of understand. Listen to the Lord God has big plans for you has big plans for this church. Let's not get caught up in the in the terrestrial that the left side tangent. The cop understand the scope that Jesus was drinking was our sense your sin everything you've ever done wrong. Everybody in this room all their sins. Everybody in North Carolina all their sins that they've ever committed the sins of the world the sins of every one that has ever lived was the cup he was going to drink for us you can drink the couple your send yourself and if you reject Jesus. That is your decision. Do you really want to drink that comes here's Jesus that loves you so much anything you want, I'll drink the cup for you and some people say no, I'd rather drink it myself again. Jesus went willingly. Hebrews 12 to tells us looking under Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

For the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the doing of God's is for the joy that was set before him.

You enjoy, that was was at the joy in the process he was thinking of you and he knew there was no other way. There was no other way that people who were lost could be redeemed. There was no other way that people who were out of relationship with God could be placed into relationship with God except he lay down his life is no other way to heaven for us.

Not narrowminded us the truth.

If you think there's other ways to heaven. You got a real problem about the character and the nature of God, because Jesus and the guards at father. If there's any other way. Take this cup from me either. The father didn't hear his prayer, he disregarded it once more, it would have been very calloused for God to allow his son to die to provide yet another way to heaven is the only way Jesus all the deal saw us and he said you know when you need something I'll be right back to get it for verse 12 in the detachment of troops in the captain and officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him, and they led him away to Annas. First, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who is high priest that year that was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that was expedient that one man should die for the people understand that by this time the religious institution in Jerusalem had become fairly corrupt. Annas was high priest from 680 to 1580 but he stayed in power. There actually had five sons who were high priest and his son-in-law, Caiaphas was high priest. This is interesting because what happened is to be high priest, you would bid to get the job from Rome. Rome decided who would become high priest got really twisted and understand that at that time you could go on the street and you could buy like a doll for sacrifice $0.15 but what happened is you would take that dove into the temple to go all in the hat had been inspected the priest a goal. Your dove you that the speckled we can't sacrifice it (I don't see any seem to color your you don't have a trained but that there's not going to work, but we have some birds over here $15 that bird speckled at speckled to your untrained, but this is a pure wiper flexible blood they were abusing the system, they were abusing the people. The shackle was the only clean money for the temple so you in order to give you had to exchange her money within the introduced all these high exchange rates, and the people who are actually seeking after God who wanted to be real were being turned off to the money change in what they saw going on with the dogs start dresses a lot about that and it seemed same thing going on today see people getting confused thinking that money is the primary thing that the church is about God doesn't want your money desires your obedience. He wants you to give away your selfishness and your materialism will pass play. We got boxes and I think people should give but I don't want that to get in the way of semi hearing that Jesus loves them and cares about you understand this is going on the world today the world comes the church for answers and then they see the hypocrisy they see the religiousness they see the traditionally go you don't have any answers going somewhere else. The analogy is ever put money into a soda machine. Push the button to get the soda out and it didn't come out I can row you that's what the world is doing to certain degree, with church they invest their time, the comments okay you guys got the answers give me some answers to hit the button and nothing comes out to go.

What's up with this. That's why after 9/11 church attendance by fellows. People are looking for answers. Awesome opportunity for us, but they didn't find the answers.

The life lesson here, religion and hypocrisy get in the way of people knowing God, religion, and hypocrisy get in the way of people knowing God. James tells us in 122 says, but be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Romans 213 says for that, not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. You have to make that transition from here and doing I want to encourage you. That's part want talk about sermon, I want you go from hearing to doing well because if you don't, you become a hypocrite when I teach not just looking for you to agree with me all yeah that's good point. That's great. Yeah, I agree with you on that. I want you to begin to do these things because CV just sit and listen for long enough, you can become jaded and calloused and think that you don't need to do any of this stuff so I Jesus died for you. We should be doers because of her not doers will wind up like Annas and Caiaphas you know they probably didn't plan on being where they were later in life, but that's where they wound up why because a Parent and not doing here and and not doing here in and not doing the phrase that it speaks of here, Caiaphas, John 1149 Susan one of them.

Caiaphas being high priest that year said to them, you know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish now.

This he did not say on his own authority, but be in high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, not for the nation only, but also that he would gather together in one the children of God, who were scattered abroad is why Jesus came.

Jesus came to die for you and for me to give us life to give us the abundant life that we might be able to be forgiven that we could do these things because as disciples were chosen by rabbis. The rabbis were communicating to them. You can do this. You can follow me. They made the decision you are able to follow me. So when Jesus looks at us and says follow me understand what he saying you can do these things.

I've given you the power to do these things, not just to hear these things but to do these things to love people to reach out to the lost, to get involved in relationships with one another that are very productive, for the kingdom of God and not be a mere spectator because spectators lead to hypocrites. Just like I don't want anybody here to suffer from hypocrisy. I want to see you going through life as a spectator in your Christian journey. Jesus died for us.

He died for you he died for me that we can be forgiven of our sons not that we can be good enough for long enough not to. If we get a membership for long enough and do the right things that God will approve us know that in an instant.

This morning you can come the gods and God please forgive me. I don't deserve to be forgiven but you made it possible see your death on the cross, Jesus, forgive me of the things I've done because of been like Peter and I wanted to do what I wanted to do.

Jesus only do that anymore. Following the Lord's outstretched in his hand this morning so you come to me, friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A 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 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. 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.

So 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 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 he 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 through cross the bridge.

Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners they can wake up with encouragement Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart.

David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God