Jesus Unfiltered - Testify - For this I was Born..., Part 2

Did you ever wonder why do we do what we do. I mean there's days that I was bold as a lion. I'm courageous and I feel God's power and the other days like a coward and I shrink back and I'm embarrassed and I even realize I've been ashamed of the gospel. What goes on inside our minds and hearts to make the way we do want to find out that's today welcome to this Tuesday vision of living on the shipping of survival to Jerome's daily discipleship outreach today to continues a series is unfiltered by answering the question just asked why we do what we do go take a look at the motivation. Some of the key players in class. Make sure the little light on some of our more well this is a powerful message back to teaching to talk more about how saltworks overture to stay with us for about know if you have a Bible heavy open it now to John chapter 18 and let's join Chip for part two of his message. For this I was born pick up the story continues, the high priest begins to question Jesus. Verse 19.

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples about his teaching not notice Jesus focusing his response is going to go back to how openly he testified how openly he shared and taught and what he's going to call on them to do is do what bring witnesses in who heard my teaching. Let them testify about what's true and what I spoke. When Jesus said this, he said, I've always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple were all the Jews came together. I said nothing in secret why questioning me ask those who heard me. Surely they knew what I said when Jesus said this one of the officials nearby struck him in the face is that the way to answer the high priest. He demanded not notice the theme, the author keeps bringing about if I said something wrong.

Jesus replied testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth.

Why did you strike me than Anna sent them still to be bound to Caiaphas the high priest, are you catching the drift. You catching and realizing there's a series of people and the issue is how do they testify to the truth. Are they courageous or are they cowardly. Verse 25 of Simon Peter stood warming himself.

The he was asked surely you're not another, his disciples and he died denied it, saying I am not one of the high priest servants a relative of the man who is here Peter had cut off challenge him will did in ICU with him in the Olive Garden again. Peter denied and at that moment a rooster crowed is prophesied three times, and by the way the other gospel writers a little bit more graphic. Peter doesn't just say no it wasn't me. He says blank any blank blank.

I don't know the guy. He actually curses and completely disowns any relationship with Jesus and this is the same guy who was willing to die an hour or two or three before then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning to avoid the ceremonial uncleanness.

The Jews did not enter the palace they wanted to be able to take the Passover. So it's okay to have three ill legal trials. This is the irony of religion we have to all look in the mirror. The irony is that they want to make sure they're ceremonially clean. Today, the Passover, but they do three ill legal trials and are going to kill an innocent man because he claimed to be God and love people raise people from the dead. One of the charges you bring against this man pilot says while we were not a criminal.

They replied we would have had them over to you pilots had taken yourself and judging by your own laws. What we have no right to execute anyone. The Jews objected. This happens so that the words of Jesus that had been spoken, indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilot went back inside and summoned Jesus and asked him are you the king of the Jews is that your own idea. Jesus asked or did you talk to others about me you think I'm a Jew pilot pilot replied it was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me.

What is it that you have done testimony Jesus at my kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king then said pilot Jesus answered, testifying again, you are right in saying I'm a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me what is truth pilot asked and with this he went out again to the Jews and said notice it's an examination by government official hears his testimony. I find no basis for a charge against him but your custom for me to release you up one prisoner at this time of year the Passover you want to release you the king of the Jews, they shouted back. No, not him give us Barabbas. Now Barabbas had taken part in rebellion and actually had committed murder. So these guys that don't want to be ceremony unclean sitting take the Passover.

What a murderer should get off an innocent man to die. You see, cowards, courageous, and Jesus testifying to the truth and making this climactic statement about his entire life purpose, and by the way, that is our call to testify to the truth.

What's true about God. What's true about us, what's true about the world. What's true about the future. What a statement everyone on the side of the truth listens to me. I guess despite how great the world is become, at least according to Jesus, who died and rose from the dead, you either on the side of truth, or you're not what I want to do because I think the fact is, is that all of us are courageous at times and all of us are cowardice at times.

I like to dig a little bit to find out why what what what made these people do what they did because I want to know why I do what I do. I mean, I sort of want to know. Part of me doesn't want to know. But I'll never be courageous if I don't realize there certain things that are predictors of making you and me cowards in her life. You have to get your fingers ready and I'm can ask you to look up a couple passages because I don't want you to hear me say something I want you to open look and read and go oh lessons from John 18 lesson number one is a question what Judas and Annis from listening to the truth in Jesus and the answer is greed. Annis was making a fortune. Judas probably had a lot of mixed motives, but was for 30 pieces of silver, its thickets was the it's what you could buy a slave for you and ask you to open your Bibles to Luke chapter 16 because I want you to hear Jesus actual commentary greens a powerful thing is something we all wrestle and struggle with but Annis and Judas did not listen to the truth because of greed. Have you found it. Luke chapter 16 to begin at verse 14.

The Pharisees religious leaders, who were lovers of money, heard all these things Jesus was teaching, and they ridiculed him hears Jesus response and he said to them, you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your heart for that which is highly esteemed among men, money, power, position and stuff that comes with it. That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God question that I ask myself, and I ask you is your testimony hindered because it could have implications for your career.

Are you less than bold at work. Are you less than upfront. Are you less than verbal.

Are you unwilling to be unashamed to be a follower of Christ. Because if you are, that might really hurt your chances for promotion or you might be viewed differently at work or the fact the matter is, is is your life so busy working that really you don't have much of a testimony, your life really and very different factors. You have a lot of debt you have a untamed schedule.

Your life is dictated by demands and and you would never call yourself greedy, but the unconscious pursuit of what you think it's required has by that pattern dismissed you as being a person who is identified loving, holy, caring, different in the best sense of the word follower of Jesus was true of them.

It can be true of us all.

I want to say is greed will make you and me a coward. We will run from the opportunity will be afraid of what people think courage is stepping out and being bold, even when it feels dangerous or you receive criticism or be viewed as anti-intellectual or a Bible thumper or one of those even prejudiced people.

The second reason or lesson from John 18 is what kept the religious leaders from listening to the truth in Jesus and the answer is pride power and position pride power and position alike, if you will to open to John chapter 12 just moved back from John 18, John chapter 12. Again, I want you to hear the actual gospel writers want you to look at it for yourself because in my heart I don't want to believe that pride or position number that would make me a coward, but according to Scripture, it does verse 42 says. Nevertheless, many of the authorities as these are Jewish leaders, Jewish religious leaders believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees.

They did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Anybody concerned about your social standing. Anybody concerned about how your viewed.

Are you sophisticated are you intellectual anyone really not want to come under some sort of labeled Europe Bible believing unashamed follower of Jesus. I've met people in the business world where some of the what I know people who really really walk with God. I've had people say I had no idea it was a Christian. I had no idea she was a Christian, but on I knew they were high integrity person and I knew they worked hard.

There's a lot of people that have high integrity work hard, but they they mortgaged their test. There is no testimony, no testimony, the only way there to here is you and me and the pride of what people think, or the sense of loss of power position. My question for you and me are is your testimony hindered because of social pressure and how your afraid people will look at you sworn those take it to God. Honest questions.

The third lesson is what kept Peter and Pilate from listening to the truth. Jesus well takes a little historical research with pilot and all I will tell you is that he made a handful of bad decisions, and the Emperor at the time was dealing with some other things and he went on sort of a long vacation and he put one of his commanders in charge of Rome in this commander after a season decided that he was going to try and marry into the royal family, and that made the Emperor think. I think he's after my job.

So he came back had him executed and then anybody that he appointed as an official he starts going through and had them executed, will Pilate was one of the guys was appointed by the Scott and so when the Jews say they anybody who is this King of the Jews is note no friend of Caesar's pie was gone you know what this is easy I I can't handle 11 bad PR here because all they have to say is this fear, Peter was afraid, weird and he wasn't afraid, when there's 200 soldiers and a stand next to Jesus, but a servant girl to sit next if he's afraid moment of truth. Are you one of his followers.

Do you follow him.

Your head comes off know you can go. It's happened historically, this is a hypothetical stuff. No, he ran. He was a coward. You know the root word you will get a word coward from the Latin word for tail. It's a picture when an animal puts its tail between its legs and runs away from a predator of more power and heat, he was overwhelmed with grief. Final lesson is what empowered Peter to listen to the truth in Jesus. Initially I about you, but those Latin greed, power, position, fear. I get all those the fear of man is a snare. Proverbs 29, 25 says, but alas it is he who trusts in the Lord at the end of the day is in the faith. Do I trust God for my position. Do I trust God with my money do I trust God with what people think of me see what we will testify unless were people of faith and I'm not saying it's easy but courage is not is choosing to do or say what we know is right when we are frightened and concerned about what could happen, but this is a positive lesson.

What what empowered Peter to listen to the truth. Initially, the answer is Jesus presence and power right.

I mean there's 200 soldiers but there's Jesus there's 200 soldiers, but he speaks they all fall down.

There's 200 soldiers but my browser here bring us together, there's 10 of us here.

Not that the tenor to win the isn't it amazing that just with a few people around you that our faith and rubs up against one another and just doing life in community in a way we take steps together and as I care about what you do and what she does it. It empowers me to step out and I'm sure you guys think of you chip you know that you you never have a problem with this is your pastor and you're so passionate up here in the I was doing the funeral for Teresa's dad and there's this little funeral home and there's this big open area a little alcove and there's a coffin and there's lids up and there's this red you know, not much of them you know you got really lost all this weight but just so for four hours. Different people coming in and there's a dead body. There and I don't know I haven't seen I don't know Teresa's family and were going to go to the graveside and her two sisters and their family. And then some other relatives in other people and so for four hours.

I'm kind of building relationship and realizing I mean I felt like a missionary trying to figure out all my gosh I don't know how life works here and little by little by little I felt like God was give me favor and I was kinda connecting and and then it's time to go to the graveside and and Teresa and her sister said please make sure in her whole family situation. There's a lot of people that don't know the Lord is a lot of people that are not on their way to heaven.

We need you to really win similarly really share the gospel and I comfort I went out to the car and you never get ready because you know the put in the body and the thing and were going to go to the graveside. And when a member just sitting in the car and thinking. I've met these people. This is so awkward. I just had this overwhelming sense of fear and it was like I mean it's ideological like what they can think of me and you know it's really small actually of the larger the group the easier it is to be bold you give me thousands of people in the 15 or 17 like you know me, there's and I would've been a coward and I sat in the car alone.

Just reviewing my little message to San God.

It will not matter what any of these people think of me.

This may be the only time ever hear the gospel clearly and so I need to share it and then I need to let them know exactly how to trust Christ and then I need to give them the opportunity.

This is what you need to do today.

If you never have. I don't think I don't think courage is being amazing person. I think courage is stepping out regardless of your fear and here's here's what I would remind you the power of your testimony. Revelation chapter 1211 and it's talking about overcoming Satan, and spiritual strongholds NSS and they overcame him in the context of Satan. How was it said they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

I want you to know you telling your story you openly. God is working all over and he's going to use regular people like us to testify courageously and not be cowards and is powerful just coming back with but if you're just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram's message today is from testify. Volume 4 of a series Jesus unfiltered of the very last thing Jesus did was to task us with a mission a mission to testify for each of us that takes on a different look at the common denominator is to speak the name of Jesus and tell others what is love is done just listening to this once. Probably won't give you the confidence of the boldness to take the next step toward fulfilling that mission.

So let me encourage you to get the free chip Ingram up and go through the series again.

Let the Holy Spirit build your confidence so you can testify in a confident winsome way for discounted resources of the series. You'll find testify on our website LivingontheEdge.org.

I'll be right back in just a minute to talk about today's teaching but as we study the apostle John's teaching here to the gospel. I can in the back my mind hear some of you saying you know chip.

This all sounds really wonderful but you don't know me you don't know what I've done, you don't know what I've been boy if you ever understood that terrible things in other words, Jesus could never associate with someone like me he could never really love me. Never forgive me and I want you to know. Listen carefully. That is alive from the pit of hell.

The fact of the matter is, as no one is beyond the reach of Jesus love but but if you believe that lot you to keep you stock if you believe that lie. You'll never come to receive his grace or as a follower. If you believe that lie you'll think you're a second-class citizen. The rest of your life and never experiences joy in his power be used by him. Here's what I want you to know the only way to break lies is with truth and so what we develop is what we call truth cards for every chapter in the book of John we have the light outlined and then we have the truth of that chapter to help you break free.

Let me give you an example for those who feel like you don't measure up your unworthy. The lie in chapter 4. Is this God could never accept me or use my life. After all the terrible things I've done. It says right on the card and right below the cart is a little stop sign, stop, and then you turn over the card and the cards as Jesus wants to accept and use me, he for gave a woman who had five husbands and was currently living with a man so he could communicate his love through her to a whole city. Actually, that passage goes on to say he is seeking or pursuing those who would worship him in spirit and in truth. If you want to be free of your past, trying hard doesn't work.

The truth does let me encourage you get a copy of these truth cards will give you all the information back get two or three copies. They're very inexpensive and go through it with some friends or family, and here's what you experience you experience the truth and the truth will set you free will. The Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available now while supplies last. When you go to your website. LivingontheEdge.org each of these 21 cards is a common lie or spiritual battle we all face and on the flipside, it has a passage from the Gospel of John to help you renew your mind with the truth whether there for you or someone else. Order your set of Jesus unfiltered truth cards and get free shipping by calling us at 1-888-333-6003 or order online at http://livingontheedge.org will now here's chip with his application.

As we close today's program you and may have learned a lot of very specific reasons why people fail to testify and I have mine and you have yours and unfortunately I can identify with a lot of the ones that we learned about but I shared a story where at the very end. This sense it was so despite my fears.

I just had to testify just had to share because I realized those people may never hear.

If I didn't, and so as we wrap up today's program. I want to ask you who needs to hear about Jesus in your world who in your relational network what family member. What in law what what neighbor what what person that you keep bumping into at the gym in the coffee shop or whose someone at work that you just know God keeps bringing them to your heart. They need to hear about Jesus. If you got that person in mind a second.

What's the best way to communicate that for where your relationship is me, what, what's the next step is. I'm can ask you to take it today. Is it a face-to-face conversation.

Is it a text that says hey I'm thinking of you and I'd love to talk is that taking them out to lunch. Is it writing a note and putting some things in writing that you don't think you could say face-to-face right now it is it a book or a portion of something that you honestly think would help on that today you can adjust a note and say this really spoke to me and really encouraged me and I thought of you. I just thought you might enjoy it. Love to grab coffee and hear what you think. In other words, what's the best time. Who's the person and what are you going to do today to testify you be so glad you did.

And God will lead you do it today if Living on the Edges making a difference in your life you like others to receive the same blessing we love to have you partner with us, whether it's in prayer or sending a gift you can begin making a difference in the lives of others today and thanks to the generosity of a small group of financial partners.

Every gift we received between now and July 7 will be matched dollar for dollar to send the gift call us at 1-888-333-6003 or visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org. Thank you in advance for your support tomorrow.

Chip continues a series Jesus unfiltered sure to join us that all of us here, this is Dave saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge