John Chapter 18:15-19

God has placed us all in different positions. It's not how much stuff you have question is does your stuff. Have you every now and again I hear somebody make a statement like what I had had money I had more money out of order appears there were classic. If I won the lottery out of only met you do not exercise in faith and your nonexercise and discipline and responsibility towards what God has already blessed you. Why would you think I would bless you with you with more to be more responsible with what you're doing with what you have accountant again. Be very careful about looking at other people and assuming certain things if they have things they don't have things welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville Carolina. Today we have the studio with this one of David McGee's associate pastors.

This is DA Brown been on before. He's been a blessing welcome to the broadcast today Bob it's good to be here as followers of Christ. It's about how we use what we have accounts not what we don't have today passed, David explains the differences he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 18 David McGee starts his teaching.

The denial just a little recap of what we were talking about last week we were in the beginning part of John chapter 18 Jesus was in the garden and we see that the trail of Judas see the rest of Jesus, and we looked at dad and so we find ourselves in the final hours. If you will, of the earthly ministry of Jesus to pick it up in verse 15 Simon Peter follow Jesus and so did another disciple now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest that we believe with some assurance that that other disciple was John because John has details about what happens in John was the writer of the Gospel of John also the epistles first second third John, but he has details about this so we believe that he was the actual eyewitness John wrote this gospel in his lifetime he wrote it as an eyewitness of the things that occurred so this is a very trusted document were documented, it came hundreds of years later are very suspect. Verse 16 but Peter stood at the door outside and the other disciple, who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Understand, Peter could not get into the courtyard that the high priest and it was John and we believe that went out to the gate and got Peter in many of us know what's getting ready to transpire with Peter.

The denials she have to ask yourself should John have gotten Peter and I have to wonder now Jesus knew what was going to happen.

Jesus prophesied and foretold Peter's denial, but John brought a man into a place where evidently Peter was was probably not comfortable. Peter you get the picture from Scripture was kind of a rough-and-tumble fisherman from Galilee little different from John. John John came from a family that was well-to-do.

Now I'm explain because some there's been some horrible teachings in regards to this lot of people of said will all the disciples were very very wealthy. Well that's not true, but we do see that John came from a well-to-do family now if you remember once they gotten to ministry. It was kinda interesting because Jesus was talking to a woman they were asking these questions and you know and in they Jesus, it was anybody got a coin and they were all like going on in ministry, Jesus said, go get the coin out of the fish's mouth member that part so obviously I didn't have a lot of liquid assets. I can relate to that week here early on I was would start a church is at been working here for about a year and 1/2 before I took a Sally and then at one point we had like four people in salary and are on our own monthly payroll was like $4200 so you can do the math, but praise God. We've gotten past that the split.

The scene is we look sometimes, strangely at one another and this is make them explain Peter rough-and-tumble John from well-to-do think that women I keep saying that maybe are going way too much on what where you get that that's not the Bible you batch it is early day that now your sinner don't want chapter and verse. You should be what Jack verse you get that best Mark chapter 1 verse 19 says when he is gone a little farther from there, he saw James a son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets and immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went after him. So we see they have boats they have nets they have hired servants.

Now, at that time that didn't describe every family. In fact you were considered, well-to-do, if you had a boat much less than had a net then you had heart servants. Now here's where we get in trouble guys when we say and there's people to teach this, they say, well everybody that follows Jesus should have lots of things should be well-to-do you don't see that in the Bible you see it when we began to make absolutes in regards to places where the Bible doesn't make absolute we get measurable now, neither do I believe that everybody should take personal vows of poverty and never have anything but what happens is a lot of times we mistakenly think that people that have material possessions and goods are very carnal and then we think that people that you know that don't have things obviously walking in sin.

And there's something wrong. Wait a minute you don't get that from the Bible you don't get that from now let me say this because this is contradicts some of the thinking lot times we think will someone is blasting a nice house NASCAR.

Whatever we think well are obviously very materialistic know I probably met more people who are materialistic, they don't have those things than people who have those things are materialistic romance question is, telling question, but when you look at somebody who is blessed of the Lord is if we have good things. It's got the game just if you look at some I bless the Lord, do you look at a Ming, and Ingo all is just wrong. They should have those things then understand the problem comes out with them comes in your heart glad that some people are really blessed now. Neither should people who have things look at those who don't have things Ingo was obviously some spiritually wrong in your life usually are, and sometimes sooner you lack faith or something's gone horribly wrong. We have to reject that is what is it takes all kinds of people to minister to one is the obviously John was felt freedom going into the courtyard of the high priest which was the upper crust of society. Peter was a little uncomfortable.

There's people here. They are very comfortable black tie affair isn't going to mix and mingle and then then you know there's there's folks that that's not exactly there realm of influence. God has placed us all in different positions.

It's not how much stuff you have question is does your staff have you every now and again I hear somebody make a statement like what I had had money I had more money out of here's the ever classic.

If I won the lottery out of claimant if you nonexercise in space and your nonexercise and discipline and responsibility towards what God has already blessed you with. Why would you think I would bless you with you with more to be more responsible with the seat. It's what you're doing with what you have, the accountant can't be very careful about looking at other people and assuming certain things if they have things they don't have things now. Again, make sure your possessions don't have you. So it just got interesting seeing looking at the life of John the disciple for 17 then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, you are not also one of this man's disciples, are you missing I am not now your Peter goes down the slippery slope.

I think all of us can identify with Peter in this. I think everyone of us has felt that paralyzing grip of fear, the fear of man in some situation, perhaps a supervisor work ask you to do something that you knew wasn't quite right. But there was fear there. So you did maybe you took part in a conversation or listen to a joke that you probably should said something especially know because the guy the girl said their believer.

Then they tell these question will things and you're going really should say some, but your grip by that fear. So you don't say anything because understand something that we all struggle with this. We all have a problem and I'm including myself in this. I struggle with her so that that paralyzing fear of men now. I'll be honest with you. Sometimes I go out to restaurant a good and I don't I don't go into every restaurant going. I'm going to find something here to tell about Jesus going to restaurant and I'm open if the Lord lays on my heart to share with somebody and sometimes he dies and sometimes it doesn't let me share with you may be honest in those moments, there is a fear it is, where katsu has made me into what I am today in the Bible teach ramp Michelina before I come out here and start sure I'm I'm not anxious I just I just do what I do him I might be stupidity.

I don't know just come out here and I share it in front of a bunch of people, but that one on one thing. There's that moment of apprehension that all of us remember me when I'm in a difficult situation. Sometimes I actually maybe this will encourage you know I actually got you got no interest is here this person I'm trying to work up an art and I do something ago to measure and share culture. 321 hey do you know about Jesus talked me into it or something and you can use if you want, but we all have met. But the question is how do we respond in that moment, do we not do anything I do. We step. You see, have encourage is acting in spite of your feelings is not an absence of fear, it's acting in spine of that fear me and there preferences. This Proverbs 29, 25 is a fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. New living translation says it like this, fearing people is a dangerous trap at the trust the Lord means safety. It can be a trap is not to say we shouldn't consider people, we should consider people, but we should consider the Lord first and foremost he should be the one that were the most concerned about the life lesson. Here's consider the Lord first and all you do consider the Lord first and all you do. Yes, somebody might not like it if you say this or you say that, but is the Lord laying on your heart to say that all means, brother, sisters, say on will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there'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. Listen 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, verse 18 fellow servants and officers who had made a Khabarovsk holster therefore was cold and they warm themselves, and Peter stood with them and warned himself. This is interesting since it was cold there were gathered on the farm and you know what I remember there were told not John but the other gospels that when Jesus was in the garden against him and he was sweating drops of blood. It was because the heat it was because of the immense pressure of what Jesus was getting ready to do that. He was sweating those drops of blood in the midst of it being cold here says Peter stood with them.

We talked last week. Be careful who you stand with the careful who you fellowship with you. Listen to and receive counsel from. Sometimes I can get you in a lot of trouble. So be careful, Peter. Here's how there's a time when, when, in the interest of ministry you're hanging out with somebody that isn't right getting it and let me encourage you and that there's times when you shouldn't do that and seek the Lord and I think again that we need to be balanced because some people say well let's all go live on a commune and then that way we won't be minute. I am mingling with the world is, the concept behind old Salem. The radiant no set themselves apart, you actually had to have permission from the elders to have transactions to buy or sell outside of the area. I don't think we need to do that but at the same time we need to understand that there is in with in our relationships within our fellowships. There's an encouragement there were like-minded.

We look at situations through hopefully a biblical perception perspective so keep that in mind.

Keep that in mind now it's interesting that we have 12 disciples, but in this time were given very close glimpses to them. No, the enemy is already pretty much gotten Judas to stumble and he's in the midst of heaven, Peter stumble. I think both of them were to be honest that they think both of more prideful. I think both of them had a lot of confidence in their ability to follow the Lord. Some of you may think that's a good thing but it's not a good thing. See if you're trusting in your ability to follow the Lord your trust in the wrong thing you should be trusting in God's ability to lead you in your ability to follow him because as you follow him and you sometimes struggle and sometimes fall you can be really bummed out. If you're not trusting in God, if you're trusting in your own strength, your Christian walk is going to be one that may even turn bitter and disillusioning because you trusted in your village. But if you trust in the Lord's ability to lead you, friend.

Are you struggling me a fall.

God's always good to be a focus now. Proverbs 2416 says for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity righteous man may fall seven times.

No MSU question is that not rock your boat of what a righteous man is as a righteous man falls seven times the wicked will fall. So what's the difference righteous man rises again. He gets up, see that's part of the way you can tell the difference between barnyard animals if you will. You know you have you have sheep and you have pig snout. She and they get messy when they get nasty. In another, like cats or something on me.

You know and and there's really freaked out till I get up pics don't care. You can clean up a big and as soon as you know as soon as he sees another McDonald's boy, he's back to the mud puddle one. That's what Dick dies before she was to wallow around in the mud will fall in the mud will get 30, sometimes what we need to get up and need to get on with our lives and so were given this really close look at Peter and Judas. We need to look at them in and can compare the two. If you will see because these things these tragedies, these mistakes chances are we will all make her own mistakes.

Paul says this in second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 890 says we are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit were hunted down. But God never abandons us. We get knocked down but we get up again and keep going like that, not down, but not not you remember the Rocky movies all like 16 of when he sitting there and you know he's on the mat and admit it's going to like it gets backed up and you're like gas can't get up get up yelling at your televisions at Brown. You understand that it's what we should be filmlike with one another. But how often we look at one another look at you laying down, knocked down, you know what caused that. Don't you. I am pretty sure it was the cyst that was hitting my face but that's the way we look at just a come on menu year down but you not knocked out you can get back some of you at this point. Maybe, maybe even feeling uncomfortable yesterday when you try to teach us how to fall where you probably know how to do that on your own. What I'm trying to share with you is it you should get up yesterday that's that's fairly negative know I think thinking you'll never fall is obstinate, prideful and unrealistic.

What if you are a boxer and you're being trained and you said okay, now what do I do when I got hits me all the other picture you're too good your training is not going to be complete because you're going to get smacked will locate so they teach you how to take a punch. They teach you, teach you how to fall and how to get up when you fall why so in order for your training to be complete as believers.

You can get smacked around sometimes you're going to fail, you're going to fall sometime but you need to learn as the righteous man. It says in Proverbs get back up again to get back up again and you need to understand in that way in out you won't be totally shop when it happens when you get smacked down the you you won't be on the campus, gosh what happen.

I never thought this would happen.

This was never such that was never supposed to fall or anything and yet here I am and you'll be it'll catch you by surprise. What would happen. Perhaps you won't get back up because you didn't see it, but you understand what the Apple says about this you'll see it coming and you'll know when you fall that the thing to do is to get back up again and Peter for Peter is such a wonderful example of this is real. In verse 19, the high priest and asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctor sees he's asking about his doctrine in Jesus. Obviously have doctrine while you say that will because I think sometimes we emphasize the miracles of Jesus when we deemphasize one of the main ministries he had and that was a teaching ministry.

The ministry of Jesus, the earthly ministry. Most of the time was spent on teaching. Obviously he was here, they came to die for our sins. Outside of that, his interaction in relationships with people were primarily teaching relationships and I think that's a model for the church today.

Now it's interesting that this man ask him his doctrine and understand something.

We need you need to know why you believe what you believe. I read a statistic. I can't remember if it was like 84, 86% of born-again Christians can explain what born-again was makes me wonder if they've been born again is not real complicated, you should be able to explain it is my fax sometime today. Let me challenge it was something you should be able to in 30 seconds.

Explain the gospel to somebody and I would maybe jot down a note for 30 seconds gospel in sometime today to your spouse to your friend safe, I want to do this.

I wanted to do this 32nd thing I want you to tell me what you what you think of anyone I think you said you probably should do is have 1/32 testimony is it will be rare where some I give you like 30 minutes you know it's rare :-) walks up to give you tell me her life story. I came to find meaning in life. That's rare that some I ask you, but you might have little 30 seconds opportunities all the time that if you had a kind of boiled down so 32nd test make the recent gospel we need to be able to explain at first Peter 315 says. Instead, we must worship Christ as Lord of your life and if you are asked about your Christian hope always be ready to explain it always be ready to explain now.

Maybe your scenario will you know everybody pretty much knows what Christianity is about doing. I don't think they do think there's a huge misconception in this country about what Christianity is about. Ask your friends as family as coworkers and say what you think. Christianity is about and listen to their answers.

You'll get some interest is basically about not doing bad things and doing good things.

That's most people's definition for Christian is an accurate definition of Christianity. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. There picture of the Christian is not accurately single unit Christian :-) you know that doesn't smoke dope that doesn't drink the never does anything wrong that now women to make clear from lesson Christians are smart don't drink go with me for just a moment okay but sometimes what happens if somebody will find the Lord and they still are entrapped by some of the sand. What we got to check people at the door when I met you look a little funny this morning know the reality is there's people living help you out here. There's people in here right now.

This morning they did something they shall not last, but this is the place for them to be as they discover the truth that will ultimately set them free, but see the world's perception is that we get it all figured out before we ever visit a church. How twisted is that asking what they think a Christian is and then use that opportunity to explain to them what it is now understand this question, the high priest asked him was a legal question in this is why, because you were not allowed to testify in regards to your child you were allowed to testify in your defense, or to incriminate yourself. You weren't allowed to testify at all.

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. 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 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. So congratulations free, 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