The Shortsighted, Part 2

Katie Greer things you want are you going to do when he offends you? I know there are things you don't understand Jesus basically says lifelong reality filling her soul was in turmoil and in those times you are going to say I don't know all the answers, but I know you. You're the holy one of God you were God died for me euros again for me. I'm sticking with you around cited waiting in line is rising for that even if there waiting for something really cool and while it's easy to laugh at kids for being so impatient. The truth is we are the same way today on Summit life pastor JD Greer explained how shortsightedness can keep us from really getting our lives to Jesus as part of our series, can't believe you missed any of the previous messages you can hear them. JD Greer.com. Now here's castigating will be summarized Georgia-Pacific result with a problem. The problem is that the people that are listening to Jesus are hungry, not metaphorically hungry but actually physically hungry, she Jesus I want to say because you have a lot to say his sermon would often go on for a long time. In this case, Jesus started his sermon sometime after breakfast start straight through lunch all the way to dinner. It takes a little break after dinner and he turns to his disciples and he says for them when it looks like these people were getting hungry there start to get kinda cranky. What do you think I should do number six tells you that this was a test question because he already knew what he was going to do so. This is like a pop quiz. So the first disciple to respond.

This is out of the gospel will is Peter and respond to Mrs. what a dumb question. Jesus had about 20,000 people here Jesus.

That's not a real question without the capacity to feed 20,000 people. We can do it fail. Right second person to speak is Philip, you'll see that there were something seven thoughts as well 200 denarii I Jesus is not enough to buy food for these people, even for each of them to have just a little fail right.

Finally, one of the disciples. Andrew says well about a little boy whose mama packed him a lunch and he says that he's willing to share with you, Jesus. If you're hungry fail. So Jesus takes the little boys like the five loaves and two fish.

He prays over to start to distribute it well. As the disciples were distributed as it is in their hands, it begins to multiply and as it multiplies. They can get away fast enough and soever everybody is eating everything they can possibly eat. They take up what's left of this little boys five loaves and two fish. What I call before Hebrew happy male and they take the leftovers about Hebrew happy male and they collect well bushel baskets full to overflowing. Verse 14. So when the people saw the sign that he had done. They said this is indeed the prophet who is come into the world.

Verse 15 perceiving that they were about to come and take it by force to make him king stop there for a second very excited.

This guy just did they can imagine if this guy was the head of our nation.

But Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. He goes up on the mountain hides until nightfall and after nightfall. He takes an evening stroll on the sea.by the same mind you, but on the sea and he walks over to the other side will somebody are over there. Solomon tweeted about CM so the crowd number 25 finally find him on the other side of the sea is as Rabbi, how did you get over here is a truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me. Not because you saw the signs but because you ate your fillable loaves do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you to jump out of verse 34 so they said to him, sir. Give us this bread always verse 35 so they said to him, Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger whoever believes in me shall never thirst the bread that he is offering his reunion with God because that is what the human soul is missing. That is what it is craving, which shows you by the way, and those that little several set of verses. There are two things get this that distinguish the true gospel from every false gospel ever populated there two things that distinguish the true gospel from the false gospel to word you will remember this will help you whenever you're talking somebody even a percent a super Christian. These two words have to be the dominant things in the gospel number one God, the true gospel's primary focus is reconciliation with God. That means, by the way church with the monies politics and all these activist causes are secondary.

Hear me correctly on this. I'm not saying they're not important. The Bible commands us to love and bless and take care of our neighbors, but as important as all those political and secondary agendas are they can never displace the centrality of the gospel message in our mission you see our generation is I say our generation to college students. I know that I'm 19 years old and most of you 39 years old.

But you know what our generation. Our generation is a very because driven generation everybody companies rolling the given back that's all you tell the company's good. I didn't get back. I called the Bono factor. Everybody's got a cause and that's all well and good. It really is. Yeah, we want to alleviate suffering. Of course we do. That's a Christian's duty, but the most significant suffering of all his eternal suffering. The suffering of the soul that is starving from being separated from God. So yes, we want to put bread in their stomachs. We will always do that but more importantly, we want to point them to the bread that is given to them from having listen to me okay regardless of what side of the political fence you feel like you're on, ask yourself this question. What if we achieved every political agenda that your team had ever dreamed of. What if we really achieve peace in our time, the American dream became a reality for all people. What if there really was peace and justice for all. What if we became number one in education in the world what it was really slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet and then our generation died and went to hell did we do our job know I'm not saying those things are not important. Again we love our neighbor.

We will be activist on their behalf, but I'm saying that he secondary got the bread can never equip the message of the bread from heaven that Jesus offered which is why our mission to the world is never just random acts of kindness is acts of kindness a company would bold ask a proclamation because we are yes we are healing the body, but we are also giving them the bread of life of the soul, which is not about something we can do for them what they could do for themselves something about Jesus did for them 2000 years ago to satisfy the deepest part of who they are and by the way church because politics or a secondary matter. The church get this, there could even be disagreement among Christians because of them in the same church as scholar point this out recently about a fascinating one of the disciples was Simon the zealot every time you mention is always the zealot, you're the zealot means it easy was a Jewish nationalist presented Roman rule. Roman taxes he wanted to throw off big government right the other one the other disciples every time he's identified as Matthew the tax collector to the guidance in the government rule.

He collects taxes for the government and there in the same river. The site you could not get to guys more opposite on the poor is of the political spectrum, but you got both of them right there in the same band of people, and Jesus has brought unity between them. It's not that they lost their opinions. I'm sure there were some spirited discussions. It's just that they were united by a larger agenda that made the secondary agendas not so important unity in the church does not come by agreement on everything it comes by uniting around something that outweighs everything that we disagree about the means that yeah I got my styles and my preferences I think is right about twice everybody's right okay some of you are right politically want to read me you are all politically MSA and their buddies right. I'm just saying that in a church, what you got is the bread of Jesus is so large that you take secondary matters by the public on that important but your first word care across gospel, God hears your site award grace grace the true gospel centers on what God has done for us, not on what we should do for him. Did you see the verse 47, which would be doing to receive the bread how to get it. Nothing is believed the Carson points out that three force of the Gospels three force of the Gospels are about one week of Jesus life is that's what the Gospels are there about Jesus life with about one week. The crucifixion week with a little preamble that leads up to that week.

Now that death that gospel leads to profound change, but change is always in response to what God has done. These are things that you begin to do because you have been reconciled to God, not in order to be reconciled to God that Jesus goes on in this chapter on taking the end of the living bread that came down from heaven. If anybody eats this bread will live forever in the bread that I will give him for the life of life. The world is my flesh, truly, truly, there it is again truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you and now I know that you are Christianize mercy about that that that that statement is not that shocking, you could you imagine what it was like to hear that for the first time these people look at Jesus and the like have you lost your mind. Verse 66, after many of after this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walk with him.

Now what church wasn't.

Now we know that what he meant by that was that this eating was metaphorical that when Jesus was crucified, his body would be broken like bread, his blood would be poured out like water, believing in him is like eating his flashlight drinking his blood, we get that now. But here's what I want you to see at that point they didn't get that yet, so they were offended and confused many of their heads in exasperation and said I like what you are teaching about that but here you have lost your mind you're crazy to follow you here Peter speaks up probably about the meaning of the disciple is an awkward moment you look at the river. See all like well when we get ready to Jesus, and will be honest with you, you know what you had a huge crowd a few minutes ago. 20,000 people there if you want to keep that crowd. You gotta cut out the hole in my flesh and bring my blood stop. You will not get a bill aground about a promise you that is not all well Jesus back over 67. Jesus says in the 12 you want to go away as well you you you notice was missing.

Number 67. One was missing. The silence is lower than the statement was missing his explanation. Jesus is a is left that out there in all its glorious awkwardness is our one St. offending you okay would you like to go away as well. And then Peter makes one the most profound declarations of faith anywhere in the Bible.

Simon Peter says that him but where would we go. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believe that we have come to know that you are the holy one of God is she one of the major themes of the gospel of John is a God's truth comes down from heaven, God's truth is not figured out from below, and because it comes down from heaven from God.

There are many things about God's truth that when we encounter it. It is offensive to us and it blows our minds usually think of other kinds of truth is going upward, writing, science and philosophy. That's a hard metaphor. See meet with you write a doctoral dissertation in science you got discover a new thing to write about Uganda's write about old things you gotta add to the knowledge base. So it's slowly going upward. And that's good and that's exactly the way God intended that he made us creatures. It should study out his world. But God's truth will never be known that way. That's what Jesus is making clear here were too simple to know God. That way we were so simple that God had to reveal eternal truth from heaven to us because if we figured it out from below.

It would just make us proud if he did write me if we figured it out from below if you like on smart. That's why got God in pride is like the core of the human simple problem to God that I'm not going to reveal myself in a way that caters to your pride. I'm to send it down from heaven, so that a child can get it. You might think that Jesus is crazy. You might disagree with what he says but that ultimately is. The question is not is Jesus who he says he is. Is he the holy one of God and if he is the holy one of God that he's telling you the truth is the holy one of God that you believe what he says about things you can understand that because you agree with them but because of the nature of who he is again which is why Jesus said his trip was accessible, even unto children to share with you very quickly to verses that are absolutely key, absolutely key to my faith these things. On the day I recall the things mom I want to week. Deuteronomy 2929 the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. What that means. What this is that there are two categories of things. If you smart people tell at 1/4 to drive you crazy secret things secret things. There are things God says not understand their things about me, my purposes in my ways and I reveal their things got height of the sweet secret things reveal things. One secret things are never referring to things down here on earth, like health visit like science secret things refer to God and what God does is revealed things about himself. You can never have an accurate depiction of God and his ways from below. It's always gotta come down from above. I tell you I would love to figure got out. I love to be able explain you all the mysteries of the universe. God says you know what you want exhalation you get Revelation and understood tell you this is who I am and there's a time I give you some understanding. But if you're to be a criteria for you following me. You're never gonna follow Jesus will write back in my face when there's a perfectly valid place a face that you go away, walk away you put me on the document to say I don't save you so I'm outta here. You never follow me that way you'll never follow near secret things God has and he reveals them.

We believe in. Here's another one. Psalm 131. All of this will, my King David O Lord, my heart is not lifted up my eyes are not raised too high. By the way, this does not insult you, you are not reading it correctly. I do not you live by myself with things to grade your marvelous for me but I've called and quiet of my soul like a weaned child with his mother.

As you dudes connect to that analogy right area got me up when I want to be.

I want to be an infant nursing at my mother's breast premiums cannot be totally honest with you, O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore St. is in some ways, in relation to God. A much a child, please hear me. I'm not anti-intellectual.

You taught your listener. The guy got his PhD in theology. Mama taught biology a college I'm not anti-intellectual by any means.

I'm simply saying that when it comes to God and his truth.

There are some ways that in relation to him like a child I described you all things like this when you have children, parents sometimes you want to explain what you're telling them to do but can't like that, why can't we have a hairdryer in the bathtub with us because then we could hear them. We could water bodies and dryer.

Here the same time be so much more efficient that no one would explain to them what an alternating current does what it happens and alternating current is alive a lot but I just can't explain that the distal doing. Just trust your daddy on this now.

I've asked you this what you think is greater. The gap between my four-year-old saying of reality in my gut between my understanding of God's mother saving God's so yes I understand. Other times, God reveals things to me secret things and I just believe them and out see this. Some of the greatest blessings in my life of comfort knowing when and how to question and when the simply the rest of the trust. Listen to me. Deuteronomy 2929 and Psalm 131 are bred understand there's verses is what bred for the soul is because what it is is you were standing in front of glory, who is overwhelming you with intense intimacy. That's glory and that's bread that's a question.

Do you believe that Jesus is the holy one of God and do you believe that he has the words of eternal life. If so where else can go. I know there are things that offend you. Please, not offending you not listening. One thing you should do is that crazy thing where you appropriate part of Jesus and Michael knew Jesus a step for Jesus and Jesus don't exist to get out your fantasy world order is not 20 of things you want are you going to do when he offend you that's the question I know there are things you don't understand Jesus basically here says me a lifelong reality so that you can understand company for like your soul is in turmoil and in those times you are going to say I don't know all the answers. I know you. You're the holy one of God you were God you died for me euros again for me. I'm sticking with you. He is the bread of life.

You were created not for something you were created for someone your soul craves his glory.

If what you were made for what you hunger for glory is what takes your breath away and everything you see in our world.

The beauty of the sunset blows your mind the majesty of the universe. If what you marvel at the complexity be Adam of the human cell is that hunger you can't really describe what makes you long to be united with something that you can see in those things. John Piper says we look around, we see the evidences of God's glory all around us. Psalm 19 tells the heavens declare they preach the glory of God. Piper says he shouts with the clouds he shouts with the blue expanse the shelf with gold on the horizon, he shall for galaxies and stars is always shouting and glorious. Open your eyes you see it you love it you were made for this. This is why we exist to see that everything is pointing to that all the glory that I thought was so attractive in the world was ultimately pointing their empty world is all hot snatches without him. He is the bread that your soul craves to know that infinitely wise creator and call him father to know infinite glory and majesty combined with infinite tenderness and intimacy that that alone is the bread that your soul craves. That is eternal life itself. John, 73, the alternative is to have a starving soul to enter into an eternal existence held your soul still famished and starving hell, a place of nothingness and fire the worst of all, a place with all traces of the glorious love of God removed just like Ciesla said God threatens terrible things for those who refuse to be insanely happy in him will you choose lesser breads you choose a greater breadth. This stories about people who could believe they didn't understand the nature of eternal bread and so they were so fixated on marriages and kids in cars and world peace, but the nest eternal bread. Have you eaten that bread have you received your soul searching for my invitation to use the common feast on Jesus. Maybe for you this will be the first time you've ever feasted upon him, maybe for the first time you get the gospel you receive. Maybe you're already a Christian. Maybe what you need to just read feast upon him. This is a daily practice for me is to re-embrace the bread of Jesus every morning every morning when I get out of bed I will talk to anybody I go to another room. I shut the door and I got the Bible and I got on my knees and I feast upon heavily bread. I read his word. A prayer for the gospel over my life, you need to start that habit and do it every day because that is the way that your soul states will build with the glory of Jesus reminding yourself of the gospel is why were in small groups together. By the way, because like many other people preaching the gospel's, we them apply the Gospels were marriages and winter wonder painting is not the gospel is that you need on your why we do what we do as a church to the imitation. If you never see the British to receive it now you have received feast upon it again and again and again, even as your heart start you are ready to experience Jesus for the very first time you be sure to visit Jeannie Greer.com to find resources and learn more about what it means to be a follower of Christ. You can also give us a call at 866-335-5220 so we can pray with you. You're listening to Senate life. The Bible teaching ministry of Jeannie Greer. Our mission is to help people die deeper into the gospel every day and this week we introduced a new resource to help you focus on exactly what that means. It's an interactive 20 day devotional book called what is the gospel to Pastor Katie what are your hopes for the readers as they read your latest devotional yet. Here's what I'm hoping will happen. I'd like for this to be a dedicated one month.

Christian living really simplifies for for you will remove a whole bunch of add-ons and really made it labored and complicated religion keeps telling us that we need extra things to do extra layers, extra business, but what I want you to see is that the Christian life begins at rest begins his rest in the knowledge of who Jesus is what he's promised to you and how he feels about you come to me says all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Yes, there are things we begin to do out of love for Jesus and out of love for others in obedience to his command that it begins with founded and sustained by grass that we have in him we produce this resource, a devotional that will just for about the space of a mom take you more deeply into the beauty of that rest the beauty of the gospel, we want to give you one if you go to JV Greer.com you can get a copy for a small additional gift.

You can get the book of John Scripture notebook that we want to provide that will will be a tool for you as you work through reading the gospel along with a series of going to I think it will help you get more out of that your study of the book of John, so you get both of those, JD Greer.com would love that gospel with us in the ministry of seeing the gospel that a lot of people heard that it never really experience dictation to see it made accessible to people everywhere you sign up for monthly giving is a gospel partner for you make a generous one time the nation's new features and short devotional space to write a devotional partner and Molly style itself