Going Public, Part 2

Today on Summit life with Jeannie Greer.

Jesus never said that when we came to him, he would handle the problems in our lives, and IV indicates a lot of times we come to him they intensify this promise is that in these problems. He will work to produce life in you and in others.

So here's the question. When you figure out that Jesus may not save you from all earthly pain or you keep following another day of God centered teaching on Senate life after Jeannie Greer. I'm your host Molly, but events noticed that people tend to be a lot more honest about their opinions.

When voicing them through an anonymous email or online profile. Look at social media these days and that would be the mantra for sure, lots of keyboard warriors when you say it's easy to be bold when there's nobody really holding us accountable for what we said specially when were talking with complete strangers, but today Pastor JD is challenging us to take a bold public stance for our faith.

He's calling us to step out of our comfort zone and to make our private faith known to the world.

It's time to stand up see what we believe and invite the world into a conversation, let's join Pastor JD for a message. He titled going to Bible verse 13 what walk to the store together with Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi.

You asked his disciples, people say the Son of Man is verse 14. They replied some say that your John the Baptist the Savior.

Elijah still others, so your Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Verse 15 but what about you yes do you say that I am Simon Peter answered you're the Messiah you're the son of the living God. Verse 17 Jesus replied. Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this is not revealed to you by flesh and blood real by my father in heaven. Verse 18 and I tell you that you are Peter in Greek. That's the word Petross you are Petross and on this Petra which Greek word for rock on this Petra. I'll build my church. When Jesus says upon this rock I will build my church.

The question is, is he referring to Peter or is he referring to the confession of faith that Peter just made the answer is this both the confessing.

Peter is the rock on which Jesus build his church listen, this is a prediction of prophecy that through the apostles Peter the chief among them Jesus would write the Bible, which is the record of their confession of faith, and on that Bible record of their confessions of faith in Jesus, God is going to build his church and the gates of Hades in the Greek word for hell will not overcome it and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

What that means is that they're going to be his representatives accurately recording the way that people can find salvation. It simply means that they are going to lay out as Jesus's representatives.

The boundaries of the faith and the way that they lay out the particulars of who goes to heaven will be an accurate reflection of what Jesus thinks he ordered his disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Messiah. Why would he do that to claim that you're keying in the world only asking Russian insecurity like Caesar was treason. Jesus is not ready to die yet so he didn't want them out there claiming that because what he means by Messiah is not what they mean. So verse 21 from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples what he meant by Messiah that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things in the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers a law that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Verse 22. Another great verse. At this point Peter takes him aside and begins to rebuke him, never Lord. He said never this will never happen to you, Jesus turned Peter and said get behind me Satan.

Jesus continues verse 23. You are a stumbling block to me you do not Peter have in mind the concerns of God you got them on really human concerns. Thinking about victory you think about vengeance against the Romans you think about prosperity on earth I'm thinking about something different. I'm thinking about something much greater and more eternal than any of those things. So verse 24. Jim then Jesus said to his disciples whatever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me by let's stop right there and let's look at what we can learn about the importance of public confession from this when I use the word confession. I'm referring to the public confession of what you believe. I'm not talking about confessing your sins. That's a different use of the word confession will use okay so publicly professing what we believe the importance of it go number one we see from this passage that confession of truth is the rock upon which Jesus build a church.

Did you see how Jesus ties all his power. All of it to the confession of faith. When Peter makes this confession. Verse 17 Jesus tells them many things are not real really about flesh and blood.

In this figure this out only the spirit of God to give you this kind of vision, only the spirit of God can give you spiritual site. Furthermore, verse 18 Jesus says upon this rock I'll build my church, Jesus takes the confession of faith any uses it as a conduit through which he unleashes his power in the church when you confess faithfully, you gain the power of God, the power of God, the power to give sight to the blind and heals the (makes the lame walk and raises the dead begins to flow in the church and in your life number two if we confess faithfully we are unstoppable, we confess faithfully were unstoppable to verse 18 on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell itself will not overcome it.

People usually treat this verse like it promises that Jesus will protect us from all of Satan's vicious attacks on us.

But this verse is about Satan's inability to keep us from plundering his kingdom. Let me ask you, are our dates and offense of weapon over the head. Again, no gates are a defense of weapon dates are designed to keep people out. Jesus is saying that when we confess faithfully. Not only will he preserve and protect our church. He will enable us to advance God's kingdom into Satan's most well fortified strongholds. Jesus did not promise that he would enable us to survive a slow retreat in our culture. He promised us that if we be faithful in our confession he would let us advance deeper and deeper in enemy territory. Jesus is not content to simply be Lord of the church. He died to be Lord of the whole earth. Parcel 6400 unreached people groups in our world will little to no access to the gospel. There parts of the triangle itself with no real credible witness to the gospel.

We got a new generation of college students that comes in here every four years.

From all around the world it needs to be raised with where we were with who Jesus is. We got communities of refugees displaced around the globe. Many right here in Raleigh-Durham that needed gospel witness populations of prisoners, foster kids to be taken care off to hear me say it very clearly Summit church.

I confess I hope you would confess with me that Jesus is the Lord of the whole earth is the King of Kings and Lord of lords, not Caesar, not a Democrat, not a Republican salvation didn't come in on the Republican platform the Democrat platform and come and ride on Air Force One comes in as the Messiah, which is Jesus the Christ the son of the living God. I confess it, just like he said he the way the truth and the life. He is the one way of salvation for all people. The one name under heaven given among men, the only name every given moment whereby we must be saved and that whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved because of no different. Like Paul says, that you would agree to black-and-white original poor, the Republican of the Democrat same Lord is Lord over all and richly bestows his blessings on all who call upon him only one race of human center is only one salvation is found in Jesus, he is not willing that any should perish, but he wants all to come to repentance. And I confess this because the Bible to Jesus authorized teaches it, and I believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and that whether this confession is unpopular or not. I know that it comes with the power of God, which is the last thing that I ever want to lose Summit because of Jesus promised that he puts on this confession.

Here were never to be satisfied when there is such lawlessness in our community and our world because the whole country as his territory. Jesus died to be Lord of the whole earth people so wooden summit big enough already. When you got stuck some growing my cancer is when Jesus comes back to the last person in Raleigh-Durham get saved held unrest and certainly the way third truth about confession number three we see from this passage of Satan tries to get us to reshape Jesus. According to our liking the strongest rebuke ever given by Jesus recorded in Scripture was the one he gave to Peter here and it was instigated by Peter trying to force Jesus into the mold of what he assumed the Messiah should be verse 22 Jesus begins to explain what the Messiah is going to do that Peter be of the phenomena that's not what the Messiah.this is what the Messiah this is still Satan's greatest temptation to us to reshape Jesus. According to our expectations. Now we don't do it in exactly the same ways of Peter in his generation, did it as most of us will grow up dreaming of war with Rome right as you play all kinds of video games and but the Mets is weird. Okay, we grow up in our society and me focused culture that swimming in consumerism and so we reshape Jesus into an Americanized Jesus who is one part Jeannie one part fan club. One part financial advisor one part American patriot, and the rest therapists we like to think of Jesus as the great comforter, who is progressive and morally permissive like we are approving of all the things that we approve of big cosmic blanket you curl up in this find yourself in that is satanic distortion. You gotta let Jesus be who he is. Which means that sometimes he contradicts you. Sometimes he confuses you, sometimes he makes you mad and you don't rebuke him or the guy who's telling you what Jesus said to schedule like it told you before watch morning talk shows and into people in the talkshow were debating some moralist and one person to me too dark to his credit was trying to explain what the Bible said any other person who was more shall we sag us freethinking W back and saying what I'm religious to and not Jesus.

Whenever my Jesus and there did not you and I'm in the limiting study. You don't get your own personal Jesus, there's like a real Jesus and then there's a fake one that you made up. I got a Burger King Jesus were you have it your way or build a bear Jesus when you assemble the deity that you like the best.

There's a real Jesus and then the fake ones that you make out that are really just a deified reflection of you see how your notice how weird the concoctions people put together like a Golden corral buffet line what you come back from the timberline with a come back and you got like a younger parfait spareribs waffle for cookies and a light on. That's not a meal right, no, no chef would ever put that together and said this is a good meal. It's just whatever struck you the moment when you were going to the line.

See, I looked for people to pastor not talk to them like this is what they don't. Jesus get this obnoxious concoction of Jesus. They did pull together from various things quite like that. What like that. I'm leaving on a put Ms. there and it's as obnoxious as a meal that you put together a golden grout because there is a real Jesus and then there's the Jesus that you and I make up when you've either got except him for who he is with me.

Sometimes he contradicts you makes you mad for you least gotta own it and reject him and say I don't believe anything he says he is not a resilience number four Satan's biggest distortion is a Jesus who keeps us from suffering in this life we see in this passage, probably Satan's biggest distortion is a Jesus who keeps us from suffering this life specifically rejects the concept of the Messiah suffers no you know in a different time and place that still the substance of his biggest distortion today Peter expresses what I would call the heart of Christian immaturity met is the belief that Jesus Christ came so that I wouldn't suffer Jesus is no Peter I'm not going to save you from suffering him to save you through suffering. I'm going to save the world by going to a cross and I will work out my salvation in you and through you to others by means of a cross to try my gotta stop your pain. I'm gonna redeem your pain, give your pain, meaning, and I went to work through that pain, use it to bring life to yourself and to the world and by the way, Jesus tells Peter verse 23 that until he understands this. He should stop speaking for Jesus, get behind me Satan means Peter shut your mouth until you understand this, you see a lot of immature Christians today and a lot of them have radio shows and TV ministries who teach that Jesus is somehow the ultimate good luck charm and you walk with him the right way. He's obligated to remove any bad things that whatever happened to you. Financial hardship health problems, challenges with your kids promises to make all your foul shots go in and make your stock soar. So what happens when people believe this when they go through bad things they think that God is somehow not keeping up his end of the deal.

Jesus never said that when we came to him, he would handle the problems in our lives and ID indicates a lot of time to make on the him they intensify. That's what Karen across means, then at the problem. This promise is that in these problems. He will work to produce life in you and in others, so here's a question. When you figure that out when you figure out the Jesus may not save you from all earthly pain or you can keep following him when he disappoints you in some area are you going to keep following the peters credit go away. We respect. Gotta get called Satan by Jesus and says I'm not going anywhere for this year, but there was another time when Jesus made statements like this one, and a bunch of of the followers of Jesus like what like we're rolling to you when you tell him what he will even bring allies together and restore the missing piece and given a solid families of filling romance, but all the suffering for me. Stop.

That's not what we signed up for an eloquent biologist. Jesus turns the disciples and Peter. He says you guys can go away. Also, Peter's response is not inspiring. Peters like where else would you I got nothing else to do I Susan got nothing else to do your the only one with the words of eternal life in Jesus. I like what you're saying and it's making me mad and I will agree with it but you obviously have the words of eternal life, and so I'd rather be here with you even when you met me at me mad that I would be anywhere without you. Ultimately, Peter passed his test for you to. Here's what I see new show on TLC because you know how does he know you asked on that Internet question: I need a fiancé and it's totally unoriginal. It's not a get it because I wouldn't recommend it to you by the means, but may suggest is this on page all these applications and a late match you up with what is an ideal fiancé and then you got 90 days that you guys are together is 90 days. You gotta decide if you want to be with the person that you thought you wanted to be with because you know what happens is that a lot of things that when you deal with a real person. Don't match up with the resume and all the sudden you like without another that not another think that you know what that you know is he got 90 days.

I see that premise of that show and I like that's what I thought I watch sometimes the pastor people do a Jesus. They come in with this idea of who he is supposed to be and then inevitably that happens and he disappoints you even work something out the way that you think you supposed to work it out for. He says something in the Bible not well had no idea that was in there now to know about that. And now you're in that point where you're in the middle of a test. The question is even walk away are you in a past your 90 day test so to speak for you to let Jesus be who we used or you going to force him to be who you want them to be. Which leads me to number five. Jesus six committed followers, not anonymous consumers. Jesus seeks committed followers, not anonymous consumers. He ends this whole discussion for 24 by say whoever was to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me explain you before that in those days they would not have regarded the cross is a piece of sentimental jewelry or cool tattoo you put on your ankle and a friend who collected ornamental crosses from around the world and she displayed them on her living room wall. Not that's cool.

There's nothing wrong with that but nobody in those days would've done that when a cross around your neck will be awkward and inequitable electric chairs dangling from it or like heaven is the lock screen on your phone the picture.

A picture of a beheading or somebody and Hong are being shot maybe the idea of the cross is kind of an ornamental cinnamon warning that wouldn't come for hundreds of years later, in the church for them. It was a horrific evocative symbol of death and shame Jesus was telling them that if we really gonna follow him. Sometimes our obedience to him is not going to feel like abundant life. Sometimes our obedience to him is gonna feel like death.

That's what Karen across means write this down.

Salvation is free. It cost us nothing but following Jesus will eventually cost you something, maybe everything. Salvation is free. It's a gift that he gives them cost you anything but following him will eventually cost you something. You see, there are all kinds of things a Jesus provides for you and you following the gives you the assurance of having put stability in your family gives you the promise of his work in all things for your good. But at some point faithfulness to him is gonna feel like death means your desire to go one way and easier to tell you to go the other. For example, he is irritating in the relationship that you want in this imitator of richer life and build up one of our church plants even though a one party or 10 year plan is irritating to make a financial sacrifice that's totally and alter your lifestyle is imitator forgive somebody that you don't want to forgive is to tell you to deny your desires and submit to his vision of sexuality is imitator take a stand on something to be much easier for Eunice to be silent about is imitator take somebody into your home that you don't really want to tell you to speak the gospel to somebody that you're intimidated by for some of you it simply the call to be baptized. Put all the save. You can get wet for Jesus. Are you really ready to carry the cross at some point obedience to Jesus is gonna take you in a direction hundred and 80° opposite of where you want to go, and when that happens, you're gonna have to answer the question why are you following Jesus. Are you following him because of something you think that he can do for you or you following him because you want him more than anything and you be willing to give up anything and everything just to have him you see a consumer is somebody who follows Jesus to get something from him. A follower is somebody you would leave anything else just to have him what Jesus says to Peter. He says to us. I'm not going to tell you Peter that if you follow me, you'll avoid pain. In fact, it might intensify what I want to promise you is that always be with you in that pain that I'll never leave you or forsake you in that pain that I will be using and redeeming all that pain for my good purposes. Is that enough is not enough is enough. Are you a consumer looking for something from Jesus, or are you a follower is content with Jesus about to get up on your business here this morning. We got his middle list of a few indications that you're a consumer not follow my not your judge, my judgment, these are indications that you're probably consumer, not a follower.

You have areas of your life or you know that you are not in alignment with what God wants.

Maybe the small areas, but it is not convenient for you right now as you will gotta be a part of my life unassailable to be apart from him, but I'm not ready to bring this part of my life in alignment with him. Psalms can postpone obedience right there your consumer not a follower, you never offered your career or your future to God and I got news for you. God wants more than Sunday morning.

He wants the other 6 1/2 days.

Also never offered your full career your future to God you never offered your possessions, that him to ask what he wants to do with them. You don't spend time with God daily.

Your attendance at church is sporadic and when you call and you sit on the sidelines don't volunteer you're not involved in ministry. Kids are not involved in student ministry were not involved in a small group you're a consumer not really a follower about this one yet to act on Jesus's first command to be baptized as a public confession of your faith.

Eli was just inconvenient. Jesus, I didn't say is a convenient said follow me which reason you begin to obey and not postpone the more I what I tell you to do today see Jesus asked is likely to be here for an invention to be anonymous. Once you own it publicly declared on others that you not ashamed of me that you're willing to boldly confess well for others who I am ready or willing to go away with me once you cursor owning their faith publicly and eating right that the result can also be rewarding in the kingdom will benefit greatly. This is been a challenging message called going public here on Senate life with JD Greer. We love equipping you to make your faith your own and to help you grow in your knowledge of who God is.

So we picked out a great resource to go along with the series. Can you tell us a little bit about it, JD, so full disclosure, Molly, and you have to agree that you sit there silently events and less awkward. I think of all this message series I've ever done some church and I think this whole story was my personal favorite, because just something about seeing the mark of Scripture and seeing how from start to finish. There's one story that's been told, and that every single page of your Bible points to Jesus this resource that we are providing a custom Bible in partnership with with a great Christian publisher called Crossway is going to help you as you read the Bible to see that are not. We didn't like that of the words of Scripture. This is not the GDP that you know this is just a yes version of the Bible which I've used for that for many years so you can pick up where we are in the series at that race about the Bible gets in the context around it. You can give it to somebody that you think might need encouragement and reading the Bible you for me say this, Molly.

But one of my favorite ways of seeing what I do is helping people read the Bible better.

It's not what you get for me when you're listening.

It's what you get when you're sitting there in your favor and share with your light on.

That's why filling man if I can help somebody in arrival got one on one, that would be a success. My book had a blue leather cover.

Make 11 Molly got great curb appeal feels good and you get a picture of it on our website@jdgreer.com and so were excited about.

We will also include an insert at the front of this new Bible to give you one of our custom Senate like reading plan for 52 week Bible reading, we'd like to get you a copy of the Senate life Bible today.

It comes with our thanks when you donate Senate on the radio and online by listeners like you. So when you tended to think you can extend that to someone else. By doing your part gift today and remember letter five 863-3520 when you think any Bible online.

I Molly motivates you to join us again next time we turn our attention to Jesus final prayer for his disciples for going to the cross next Friday on my team