The Plot Thickens

You can watch the service and message here.

Last week, Pastor Mark told us that Jesus arrived in Bethany and was met by Martha. There was sorrow, grief, and weeping and when Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus lay, He wept too. There’s some talk about Jesus; second guessing. If He can open the eyes of a blind man, surely, He could have saved Lazarus. As Jesus stands in front of the stone closing the tomb where Lazarus was, He tells them to remove the stone. Martha protests by saying Lazarus would stink since it has been four days. When the stone is removed, Jesus commands Lazarus to come forth and he did. As one of Jesus’ greatest miracles ever unfolded before their very eyes, “Many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.” This morning, we’ll see the Pharisees formulate a plan to stop Jesus.

Grab your Bible and look at John 11:47-57.

Everyone knows you need to meet together to hatch out a plan. “Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.” The major players of the day get together to formulate a plan. The chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council. The members of this council make up what is known as the Sanhedrin. Although we have seen allusions to this body in John, this is the first time they are mentioned by name. These are the ruling leaders in Jerusalem and we’ve seen them before. In general, the Sanhedrin was made up of seventy leading priests of the day who were mostly Sadducees. Also in the group were the rabbinic scribes who were mostly Pharisees. The ruling high priest of the year made member 71. In general, this body exercised authority over the religious life of the Jews. They were under the jurisdiction of the Roman authorities and we’ll see that played out more as we move on. The Sanhedrin play a huge role in Acts. They had the decision-making power to affect change that should be for the good of the Jewish people.

A council is called together to discuss a matter of great importance. In the opening verse for today’s message, I am drawn to the phrase, “What are we doing?” It is better translated, “What should we do?” or “What are we to do?”  Your version may have it translated that way. We have a council meeting made up of the leading religious figures of the day and they get together to discuss this cataclysmic event that has everyone talking. You would think that having one of their people die and subsequently raised from the dead would be big news and bring great joy to the people. Verse 47 has the council already meeting together and this is the first thing that is said. “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.” Of the 71 members of the council, we know of only one man that seems open to hearing about the true Jesus. We saw him first back in Chapter 3 and his name is Nicodemus. Later we’ll be introduced to Joseph of Arimathea (Jo. 19:38) and Gamaliel (Acts 5) who also looked favorably on Jesus. Jesus is performing many signs. Back in Jo. 2:11 we saw the beginning of His many signs when He turned water into wine. You would think the Sanhedrin would be happy about this. People are turning to Jesus and following the way. This is the way of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the way spoken of in the Old Testament. These signs are pointing to the truth of who Jesus really is: the long-awaited Messiah which the Sanhedrin were supposed to be looking forward to.

The reason for their concern is found in the chilling reason they admit with their own mouths: “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” This is a power struggle. Jesus has arrived on the scene and has upset the status quo. He is doing things the Sanhedrin say He should not do. He is saying things the Sanhedrin say He cannot say. The Sanhedrin cannot counter what Jesus says so they do what people do when they have no regard for truth: they seek to censor. Back in the day, we learned how to handle disagreements. We could disagree and maintain a respectful and courteous demeanor. We knew how to listen. We were willing to hear differing viewpoints and come to a well thought out, educated conclusions based on fact. What we are experiencing today is an attack on the very fabric of God’s design for humanity. Whether it’s global warming, animal rights, green energy, abortion, or plastic straws, divisions have been created – either real or perceived – because of a position someone takes. Why do these divisions exist? It is the source of everything that is contrary to God and truth. It is the root of every single sin and that is pride. Pride says my way is better. My way is right. My truth is what matters.

The real reason the Sanhedrin are so concerned about Jesus is they don’t want to see people follow Him because it would mean less power for them. Remember, these are the religious experts of the day. The reason they are so strongly opposed to Jesus is He did not come as they expected the Messiah to come. Even though He spoke as One who is in intimate fellowship with God and even claimed to be God, they could not see past their own misguided view of truth. The Sanhedrin reasoned if they let Jesus continue on this path unchecked, they would lose everything they had: position, power, prestige, and authority. This council was not as much a religious authority as they were a political authority. You’ve seen this same thing in today’s political arena. Elected officials that are supposed to represent the will of the people often ignore those that elected them. They’re unwilling to go against others even if it’s the will of the people. What’s funny is that in our system, if elected officials don’t do the will of the people, they’re supposed to be voted out.

The Sanhedrin had the same fear today’s political leaders have: loss of position, power, prestige, and authority. What we fail to realize is the reason for this. It comes down to the responsibility of the church and those that make up the church. The church’s primary mission is found in Matt. 28:19-20 that commands us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This is a two-step process. Baptize: this refers to presenting the Gospel message to people we come in contact with. Once people make the decision to accept the free gift of salvation, you teach them all that Jesus has commanded. This is where we have dropped the ball and this is one of the reasons society is where it is. The church is supposed to shape society, not the other way around. But when the people who profess a relationship with God through the door that is Jesus Christ look, act, and think no differently than the world, we have a big problem. Church leadership has a role to play in that, but at best, we have you with us about 5.5 hours in the week if you participate in Sunday School, corporate worship, CG on Monday and CG on Wednesday. There are 168 hours in the week. That’s just over 3% of your time. To put this in perspective, American spends an average of five hours 16 minutes on leisure activities including watching TV, exercising, and shopping – 21 % of our time. Included in that as an average of 11 minutes per day reading.

If the church would function as the church should, we would see the world around us change. We must make Jesus the focus and not the building. We must challenge people with the truth of Jesus and allow Him to be the force for change. We must carefully and intentionally move people from a salvation experience to an intentional daily walk with Christ. We do this in every other facet of life. We start with simple concepts and build on those. You cannot master complex concepts or tasks until you’ve mastered the fundamentals. We want to know the mysteries of God, but haven’t taken the time to know who Jesus is. We want to have some platform where people listen to us, but aren’t willing to take the time to listen to what God is telling us. The church needs to lead the way in helping people grow into who Christ wants them to be. Sometimes we can be like the Sanhedrin. We get jealous. That church has more people than we do. That youth group is stealing our kids. We lose sight of the big picture. the Sanhedrin were jealous and threatened by Jesus. Remember, they did not recognize Jesus as Messiah, didn’t acknowledge His teaching as from God, and thought Him to be at best a magician leading people astray, or at worst, the devil incarnate. In their zeal to maintain their position, they missed the Messiah.

As the Sanhedrin discussed this matter, Caiaphas the high priest says, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Caiaphas served as high priest from A.D. 18-36. He reasoned that Jesus had to die if Israel was to remain in Rome’s favor. The Sanhedrin just concluded that if Jesus continued on and gained more favor, the Romans would take away their nation. How would that happen? How did the Roman Empire expand? By force. John provides some clarification by saying, “Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation.” Caiaphas was right, Jesus had to die for the nation and die for all. This is an example of God using what He will to accomplish His will. John is saying that Caiaphas’ words were not from him. He didn’t come up with them on his own, but had to be directed by the power of God to say what he said. What Caiaphas seems oblivious to is that his words foreshadow what is to come regarding Jesus. It is true that Jesus must die for an entire nation and to gather all the children of God. But not in the manner Caiaphas means. Caiaphas thinks Jesus has to die to maintain the status quo of power the Sanhedrin have and to preserve the nation in which they are ruling. John means something far more eternal in referencing Jesus’ death.

The last part of Caiaphas’s prophesy says, “and not the for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” Not all of God’s children are in Jerusalem. They’re all over the earth. Remember the other sheep that are not in the sheepfold that Jesus spoke of in Jo. 10:16. Ps. 106:47 says, “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise.” Is. 43:5-6 says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!” And to the south, “Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” Jer. 23:3 says, “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of al the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.” Jesus will gather His children together. “So from that day on they planned to kill Him.” We knew where this was going. How are they going to do this? What’s the plan? Matt. 26:4 says, “They plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.”

Now what? The loose plan has been established. Secretly seize Jesus and then kill Him. The Sanhedrin’s power would be maintained, Caiaphas would continue on as high priest, and all would be as it had been with Jesus out of the picture. While the Sanhedrin work out the details of the plan, Jesus makes a decision. “Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.” Ephraim is about 12 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Jesus retreats to Ephraim, out of the reach of the Sanhedrin, at least for a time. While Jesus and His disciples spend quiet time in Ephraim, “Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves.”  Things are getting busy in Jerusalem as people from all over the countryside will make the journey prior to Passover.

As Passover approached, John gives us a peek into the one tracked mind of the Pharisees and says, “So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” Will Passover give them an opportunity to seize Jesus? Will He come at all? Not leaving anything to chance, “Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.” This reminds me of what was happening at the height of the pandemic. Hotlines were set up in some areas that people could call an 800 number and report illegal gatherings. They get the word out to report any sightings of Jesus so they could continue with their diabolical plot to kill Jesus.

Concerned over the rising popularity of Jesus and the message He carried, the Sanhedrin convened a special meeting to deal with what they viewed as a huge problem. If Jesus is not shut down, the Sanhedrin could lose all their power, something that causes them great concern. Unable to contain the growing popularity of Jesus, they decide the only thing to do is kill Him. As Chapter 11 comes to a close, we look forward to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the chronological pace of this gospel picks up. There is still a long way to go and it keeps getting better and better.

Missions Emphasis

You can watch the video of this message here.

Last week, Pastor Zane provided us an introduction and a broad look at missions. He went to Revelation and we found out that there is just one person worthy to open the book. When the Lamb of God opened the book, we heard the angels sing a new song that cried out, “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev. 5:12) This morning, we continue to rewind Acts 1:8 by looking at the, “remotest parts of the earth.”

In Matt. 28:19-20, Jesus commanded His disciples to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In our recent past, people have labored and strategized about missions. In our American church, we have reduced missions to something other people do. Jesus’ command to His followers seems to be an unachievable goal.

The way I see it, in the Great Commission, Jesus gave one “what” command and two “how” commands. In these two verses, you find the mission and discipleship strategy endorsed by God. This is the prescriptive method, not descriptive. Jesus said, “make disciples of all nations.” The process is the same no matter where you are or where you go. Please understand that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit play the ultimate role in converting the lost into found, condemned to redeemed, and sinner into saint, but you and I get to play a part in that process. In Rom. 10, Paul talks about his heart’s desire to see the salvation of Israel and her needing to hear the truth. He writes, “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Rom. 10:15) Paul quotes from Is. 52:7, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” The process or system of true salvation is the same throughout recorded history and centers around the essential doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We share the good news of Jesus Christ: His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. This is the good news of the Gospel. No one can be saved apart from the Gospel. This is the Way we studied about in Acts and has been used from the time humanity began that we just saw in Genesis. We share the truth about sin – a truth that has remain unchanged. Right is right; wrong is wrong. Sin is falling short or missing the mark of God’s expectation of us. This should be nothing new to the church of God.

What is your role in missions? When we look at Acts 1:8, there is often something missing from the way we preach it. As a reminder, Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” There is an expectation here that I think we largely ignore. We often talk about ability, desire, or calling and when you look at the passage, I don’t think Jesus is looking at it like that. Let me remind you of what has just happened when Jesus said those words. Jesus has been crucified, He was laid dead in the tomb, and then was resurrected by the power of God.

Luke 24 tells us what happened after the resurrection. It’s a really incredible section of Scripture and I encourage you to read it for yourself. After the stone was rolled away and all the hoopla from that was passed on to the apostles, the story shifts to two men walking to Emmaus. The two men were talking about all the events that had happened and, “Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” (Lu. 24:15-16) Let me paraphrase: Jesus asks them, “What are you talking about?” Cleopas asked him, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what’s going on?” Jesus responds by saying, “What things?” Cleopas tells Him about Jesus the Nazarene and how the chief priests delivered Him and crucified Him. He went on to talk about their hope that Jesus was the redeemer and that His tomb had been found empty, and that some women he knew went to the tomb and found it empty and they were all just so confused about all this. The conclusion to this very insightful passage is found in Lu. 24:27, “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Jesus takes a meal with them, their eyes are opened to the truth, and He disappears. Cleopas and his friends return to Jerusalem and relate their story to the 11 and then Jesus appears right in the middle of that meeting. Jesus asks them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Lu. 24:38) Apparently be raised from the dead takes it out of you because Jesus asks for some food. After a snack, He says, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Lu. 24:46-47) Jesus tells them to stay in Jerusalem until they are, “clothed with power from on high.” (Lu. 24:49)

Back in Acts 1, the disciples asked Jesus if He was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel. Jesus tells them “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” When we consider the Gospel and the enormous responsibility, we often think, “I can’t do that.” It’s all about perspective. God never expects us to do anything we cannot do. Left to ourselves, there is little we can actually do. Without God, we would never have been conceived so we can’t even die without His hand first allowing us to be conceived. God knows that we must go in His power. That’s the problem with many spiritual things in our lives. We try to do things apart from God and it just doesn’t work that way. Jesus told His followers that they would receive the power needed to be witnesses. Without the power of God, we have no ability to do what He has called all of us to do.

We are to be His witnesses. What do witnesses do? They are called to testify in legal proceedings. Witnesses can corroborate accusations made against someone. For criminal proceedings, the prosecutor will call witnesses to bolster the state’s case. The defense attorney will call witnesses to introduce reasonable doubt for the accused – innocence is presumed. We are called to be witnesses of God’s power, His promises, and His plan. The evidence is our lives. The best way to affirm God’s power is to demonstrate that power in your life: a life that is devoted to God.

So again I ask, what’s your role in missions? Do you have a role? Go, pray, support, all of the above? In the early days of my faith, there seemed to be two schools of thought, at least that I remember, regarding missions. One side of it was that it seemed missionaries were a special lot, called and set apart for God to go to some remote part of the earth where they would live in humble service to the Lord toiling in poverty to teach people about God. Then there’s the romanticized version that has husband and wife out in the field. The man has his foot on a stump and a Bible in his hand. He is sharing the truth of God’s Word with the men of the village. His wife is sitting in a meadow surrounded by school aged children sitting criss-cross applesauce with their elbows on their knees while the long grass gently blows in the breeze.

Here in the U.S., I think we have lost sight of the importance of mission work. The reality is that in the modern American church, we have so much competing for our attention, time, and resources. Sometimes mission work is hard, lonely, tiring, and seemingly fruitless. I’m reminded of two Old Testament characters that provide some insight to us. Noah preached for 120 years with no one outside of his family making professions of faith. When Jonah submitted to the call to preach to Nineveh, he told the people they had 40 days before Nineveh would be overthrown and everyone repented. By modern standards, Noah would be considered a failure: eight people survived and the rest of humanity was wiped out because of wickedness. For Jonah, we focus on his disobedience and largely ignore the fact that all of Nineveh repented. The common factor in both of these stories is God. Our job is to be obedient: the results are left to God.

In his journal, one missionary wrote, “God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like Yours, Lord Jesus.” He also wrote, “When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.” In other words, you don’t want to be standing in front of Jesus with unaccomplished business. You don’t want to die with a life of regrets. Jim Elliot served in Ecuador for several years ministering to the Quichuas Indians in preparation to go to the Auca Indians. Nate Saint, a missionary supply pilot, came up with a way to lower a bucket filled with supplies to people on the ground while flying above them. He thought this would be a perfect way to win the trust of the Aucas without putting anyone in danger. They began dropping gifts to the Aucas. They also used an amplifier to speak out friendly Auca phrases. After many months, the Aucas even sent a gift back up in the bucket to the plane. Jim and the other missionaries felt the time had come to meet the Aucas face-to-face. They had been in Auca territory for six days before all five were killed on that beach in 1956. The most famous of Jim’s quotes is, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Raymond Lull lived a life of self-indulgence on the Spanish island of Majorca in the Mediterranean until his conversion at age 32. Burdened for the Muslims that controlled the island, he established a missionary school on Majorca and traveled across Europe meeting with popes and cardinals to persuade them to establish similar schools. He learned Arabic and took his first trip to North Africa at age 55. He continued making trips to Africa into his 80s. You’ve never heard of him? He was martyred in 1314, but paved the way for reaching Muslims for Christ.

In 1786, during a scheduled meeting of a rather small English Baptist ministerial association, the chairman asked one of its newest members who was a part-time preacher, cobbler, and schoolteacher if he would like to propose a subject for discussion. Without hesitation, this new member suggested they discuss whether the command given to the apostles to make disciples in Matt. 28 was binding on all succeeding ministers to the end of the world. The chairman, not expecting such a radical idea, replied with a harsh rebuke: “Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to converse with heathen, He’ll do it without consulting you or me.” The idea that new member had proposed was considered, even by his close friends, as a “wild, impractical scheme” but it continued to occupy his mind and heart and felt it was a burden from the Lord. Seven years later in 1793, William Carey would embark with his wife and children for India never to return, and initiate one of the most recognized missionary careers in the history of the Church.

History is filled with people who walked in obedience and took to heart the mandate to make disciples. But this is 2019. Things have changed since Matt. 28 was written. He provides the plan and we want to revise it, make our own model, tell people this is the way it must be done. Then we write books and create conferences and seminars to share our ultra-cool ideas with the “with it” crowd to show everyone how it’s supposed to work. In the end we’re left discouraged and disillusioned because the latest gimmick is just that.

During his four decades in Burma, Adoniram Judson led around twenty-five Burmese to the Lord. Perhaps only ten of these displayed a real, living faith in Christ. Over this time period, he also buried two wives, six children, and eleven co-workers. Yet at a celebration to honor the 150th anniversary of Judson’s translation of the Burmese Bible, when one of the pastors hosting the celebration was asked what he knew of Judson, he responded:

Whenever someone mentions Judson’s name, tears come to my eyes, because we know what he and his family suffered…Today there are six million Christians in Myanmar, and every one of us traces our spiritual heritage to one man—the Reverend Adoniram Judson.

Are we as committed to our mission as he was dedicated to his? What sacrifices are we willing to make now to see the Gospel spread? Are we willing to toil day after day – often with limited results – so that God can raise up millions of believers years or centuries after we pass away? Are we willing to imagine what God is capable of doing? “The evangelization of the world waits not on the readiness of God but on the obedience of Christians.” (Bill M. Sullivan)

God’s Response to Rebellion

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Last week we started our study into the life and mission of the prophet Jonah. We saw that Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was a very wicked city ruled by wicked and evil leaders. We learned that God is involved in the world, that He cares enough about people to send His messengers to tell them about His love and grace. Jonah had the clear message to deliver and he refused. We left him on a ship waiting to get underway.

Jonah 1:4-6 says, “The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

It’s not always this fast. Somewhere between v. 3 and v. 4, the ship got underway and out into the Mediterranean Sea. God demonstrates some of His awesomeness in v. 4. Wouldn’t it be cool if God worked this fast in our lives? As soon as someone does you wrong, wouldn’t it be just awesome if God handled it? If someone tells a lie about you, they’d be stricken with a nose that grows longer with each lie. Wouldn’t it be great if a thief would mysteriously lose a hand. What if someone that was covetous would go blind. What if an adulterer would lose . . . well you can use your imagination. But wait, we’d fall into these same judgments. God responds to Jonah’s disobedience in a big way. It’s not so unusual for there to be storms at sea. But this storm was one for the record books. God sends what the writer describes as, “great.” A great wind and a great storm. This was big time. This was not your average sea squall. The storm was so violent that, “the ship was about to breakup.” This was a Phoenician ship. These people were experts in sailing. They knew how to build ships to withstand whatever the Mediterranean could throw at them. It wasn’t the Med doing the throwing, it was the Lord. This storm had purpose. As a side note, this verse confirms that God controls nature and the elements, not Mother Nature and we’re going to see that played out very clearly in the rest of this book. Ps. 24:1-2 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the  seas and established it upon the rivers.” Because Jonah did not respond as God directed him, there were consequences for those around him. What you do; your actions often affects those around you. There is something very striking here that is lost in English. Look at v. 4 again.  About” in this verse means to consider, to determine, or to plan when it applies to a person. In English we call this personification. Better translated, “The ship was determined to break apart.” The ship knew what was going on here.

What happens next is even more thought provoking given the expertise of the crew of this ship. Look at the first half of v. 5. Remember, these are experienced sailors. They had been around ships and on ships their whole lives. Yet they, “. . . became afraid.” Maybe it was the suddenness of the great wind that God threw at them. Maybe this was a storm unlike any other they had ever seen. Have you ever heard the phrase, there are no atheists in foxholes? It seems that in times of crisis, people turn to a higher power. There is a sudden recollection that communication with that higher power is possible. The problem here though is that, “Every man cried to his own god.” This is a common problem here in America. We get afraid and then we cry out. For many people, their god cannot hear them. Their god is not the God of the Bible. That’s why their prayers are not answered, that’s why there is no relief, there is no comfort, there is no hope. These sailors cried out to gods that could not hear. When their prayers did not work, they had to do something that might save their lives.“They threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it.” This normally is an effective method to gain a maneuverability advantage. Doing this comes with a cost too. This was a merchant ship. That means they were throwing money over the side. If you don’t deliver the goods, you don’t get paid. Considering the alternative, the sailors decided that not making as much money was better than death.

Pray like everything depends upon prayer, and work like everything depends upon work. They prayed and they worked. Even though these sailors did not know the God that answers prayers, they prayed. As Christians, we know the God that answers prayers, yet we are often like these sailors – we wait until there’s a crisis. Too often, prayer is a last resort. Are you thinking, well I would pray more if God would answer my prayers more. What you’re really saying is that, you’d pray more if God would answer your prayers like you want Him to. That brings up a question, is there ever a time when God doesn’t answer your prayers?Is. 59:2 tells us, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” We like to blame God for not listening, but it’s quite possible, that the reason He’s not hearing us is because of us. Ja. 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” There are definitely things that can cause God to not hear us, but it’s not because He can’t or doesn’t want to help us. It has to do with our heart, not His. We ask God with evil or selfish motives and get upset when He doesn’t respond the way we want Him to. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29-30) Peter told us to cast, “All your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”  (1 Pet. 5:7) God definitely wants to hear from us, but don’t think you can run to Him, get what you want to make the crisis pass and then throw Him away.

There is a striking contrast here. The sailors are freaking out do all they can to stay alive. Everyone is involved. All hands on deck. Batten down the hatches. Do this, do that – you can hear the captain barking out orders to save his ship. People going this way and that all in an effort to save themselves from what looks like certain death in this, the worst storm they had ever been in. Not everyone is helping though. “But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.” The word sleep here is the same word used in Gen. 2:21 to describe the kind of sleep Adam was in when God took one of his ribs. Jonah was dead to the world. The wind is howling, the waves are crashing, the ship is rocking and pitching and Jonah is so sound asleep that none of this affects him. Maybe Jonah was exhausted from walking from Gath-Hepher to Joppa. It’s about 60 miles, maybe a three day walk. Jonah was probably walking as fast as he could to get away, so it probably took less time. Jonah is down below asleep. Some experts suggest that a storm of this magnitude, a storm that terrifies a sailor can actually cause a landlubber to lose consciousness. Others suggest that the rebellion Jonah is engaged in can cause emotional exhaustion and depression. These are not the kind of waves that provide a gentle rocking allowing someone to peacefully drift off to sleep. Notice the captain gets directly involved. He leaves the deck and goes below. The captain finds Jonah and says, “How is it that you are sleeping?” He says, “Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us that so that we should not perish.” At this point there is no indication that the captain knew that Jonah was a prophet. I can see Jonah slinking on the ship and getting away from everyone else as quickly as he could. Out of sight out of mind. I’m sure the captain says something like, “Everyone else is on deck and I know you’re not a sailor, but at least you can pray!” The captain was desperate. I’m certain the captain had no idea that Jonah’s God was actually able to hear and answer his prayers. Jonah has a direct line to Yahweh, but doesn’t want to make the connection. I wonder if Jonah was thinking it was God that got him into this situation anyway. Maybe Jonah was thinking he was better off dead.

“Get up” the captain screams. This is not the first time in recent days that Jonah has heard this command. Get up is the same verb as “arise” in v. 2. God told Jonah to arise, now the captain is telling him the same thing. By all accounts, this captain most assuredly is what we would call lost. In an incredible case of irony, isn’t it interesting that a lost person has to wake up a prophet and tell him to pray? Who are the lost people in your life telling you to wake up and pray? This unbelieving captain understands the gravity of the situation, but the prophet was apparently oblivious until shaken into consciousness.

What wake-up call are you waiting for? The sailors prayed to a dead god. The captain begged Jonah to pray to the living God, to intercede on their behalf so they would not die. Can you hear the lost crying out for prayer? They’re screaming, “Wake up!” Maybe you’re thinking, I’ve never been asked about Jesus, but if anyone ever does, I’ll tell them. Maybe you’re not asked because you’re no different than anyone else. No one sees anything they want or need in you. Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.” Eph. 5:8 says, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” That’s what your family and friends need to see.

The Building of the Church

You can listen to this message here.

There is confusion in the world about what the church is. There is confusion in the world about who Jesus is. People hold to the traditions of the church rather than what Jesus intended the church to do.

Take a look at Matthew 16:13-20.

Jesus asks the question of the ages. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” John the Baptist. Elijah. Jeremiah. One of the prophets. Here’s what some men today are saying about Jesus; Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jesus was created, that He was never God. Seventh day Adventists teach that Christ only paid for past sins, that you must keep the Law as evidence of salvation. Mormons deny the virgin birth of Jesus. The New Age Movement denies that God is a person and is not the Creator. Islam denies that Jesus was crucified. If you ask a person on the street, you’ll get a number of answers. “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered for the group. The Christ – the Messiah, the anointed One. The Son of the living God. Living to distinguish the true God from the dead idols of Peter’s day. The disciples were convinced of Jesus’ deity. They believed that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. Jesus responds by blessing Peter. Why? The truth of Jesus’ deity was not revealed by looking at Him. It was not Jesus’ outward appearance that drew people to Him. Isaiah 53:2 says, “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” Jesus was average to look at; nothing about the way He looked would draw people to Him. He did not stand out in the crowd. Nothing about His appearance would cause anyone to desire Him. Jesus was not what you might think the incarnate God would look like.

Verse 17 says, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” The disciples were convinced of Jesus’ Messiahship not because of His glorious appearance, but because it was revealed by God the Father. 1 Cor. 2:10 says, “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” Jesus gives some interesting insight in John 16:7-11 when He says, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” Convict here comes from the word that means bring to light. One job of the Holy Spirit is to guide the lost to Jesus. Jesus blessed Peter because he believed by faith and not by sight.

Jesus’ declaration in v. 18 says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” There are several important truths we need to look at here and there’s a lot of speculation on this verse. Notice that Jesus uses Simon Barjona in v. 17 and Peter in v. 18. Both refer to the same person. Simon was his given name, Peter was his nickname. This is probably the most difficult verse in Matthew’s entire gospel. Is Jesus saying that Peter is the foundation of the church? Peter comes from the Greek petros, masculine – a stone or piece of rock. The rock on which the church will be built which is the Greek word petra, feminine – a massive rock or cliff. Some argue that Jesus is using a play on words, but that play on words only works in English. Jesus wasn’t speaking English so what’s He saying? Jesus is not saying that the church will be built upon Peter. Peter was not the first pope as some claim. Peter may have been the disciple that spoke first, but that doesn’t mean he was in charge of the other disciples. Taken in context, this passage doesn’t talk about who Peter is or his position in the church. It talks about who Jesus is and what His position is. The passage does not exalt Peter; it exalts Jesus. Jesus does not confess Peter; Peter confesses Jesus. Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Upon the rock of Peter’s confession; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That’s the rock. That’s the foundation; the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.  That’s the rock upon which the church will be built. 1 Peter 2:4-7 seems to support that thought when Peter says, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone.” Peter declared that Jesus is the cornerstone, essential for keeping the building together. Peter never mentions himself.  Christ is the foundation. Paul said, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11)  Jesus promises that He will build the church.  The church will be built on the foundation of the Gospel. “The gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Gates are defensive measures (think fence); they are designed to keep things out. The gates of hell cannot hold back the church that Jesus builds. The gates of hell are not superior in strength to the church. The gates of hell will never overcome the church. There is no stopping the church that is built upon the foundation of Christ.

Jesus gives us a promise in v. 19: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Keys are a symbol of power, of authority, a symbol of general care and administration. What do keys do? They unlock things. The disciples had the power to unlock the kingdom of heaven. They also were bestowed the power to bind and loose things. Remember, the Jews fell under a system of do’s and don’ts. Peter and the disciples were allowed to permit or forbid things. Some would use this verse as giving Peter the power to forgive sin in an attempt to confirm that Peter was the first pope. Jesus clears this up if we look at the text. Jesus told them, “Whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” So what Jesus is saying is not that Peter’s actions will cause someone’s sins to be bound or loosed in heaven. What He is saying is that the person’s sins have already been either bound or loosed in heaven. Peter is not the granter of the forgiveness of sin. He simply is to declare to the person that based on their faith or lack thereof that their sins have been forgiven or not forgiven. It is a deceleration of what has already happened because “shall have been loosed in heaven” is in the perfect tense. The perfect tense indicates an action having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated. Jesus’ blood paid it all. That is the power of the Gospel; that is the key that unlocks heaven. That is the key that unlocks the power of the church. That is the key that enables the church to be on the offensive such that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

What has the church become today? In this passage in Matthew, there are allusions to the church. Is the church today what Jesus intended it to be? Today’s church serves many purposes. There are men’s ministries and motorcycle ministries. Bookstores and libraries. Radio and TV stations. Clothes closets and food pantries. Churches offer coupon, quilting,  and fitness classes. Is this the purpose of the church? These things are not bad in themselves, but what is the primary purpose of the church? In Matt. 28:19-20 Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” For years we emphasized the go part by encouraging people to enter into mission work and that work was always overseas in some obscure, primitive country. That is definitely a component of the all nations part, but there is much more. The principle command is to make disciples. The mandate is given to all members of the church, not just those in professional ministry, not just those who are “called.” Disciples are made by baptizing and by teaching obedience to God’s commands. Baptism represents the initial decision to be a Christ follower. It is a once and for all decision that affects everything in your life that follows. Make disciples means to duplicate yourself. It is a lifelong process.

We’ve lost sight of the primary focus of the church and we have become, at least in America, an organization that bends to the will of the people rather than the will of God. People are leaving the church because we care more about ourselves than we do others. We might not admit that or like that but it is revealed in our actions. The fundamentals of our faith have been replaced with the demands of the day. There is something wrong when people don’t have time for Bible study, for prayer, for fellowship, for the things of God – for God. If we really read and get a hold of Matt. 28:19-20, really get a hold of the Scriptures, we would think differently than the American church. We wouldn’t do church where we emphasize the gathering, emphasize the togetherness for the sake of togetherness. If we really take to heart making disciples, to teaching people to obey God’s commands, we’re going to seek people out who are on the same mission. We’re going to need one another to help us stay on that mission because the pressures around us will derail us, distract us, and discourage us. That’s why a lot of people aren’t into fellowship because who needs people all up in their business? That’s not why we gather. Frances Chan said, “We don’t need fellowship to do American church.” He said that because the American church has lost focus on the mission. The fellowship is not just to talk, it’s not just to eat, it’s to stay focused on the mission. As we stay on mission, as we make disciples, we’ll hang with people doing the same thing.

The church is to be on the offensive, to move forward carrying the Gospel message of Christ. That’s the primary purpose of the church. The church is not there to serve you, but a place to find encouragement, to be equipped to serve Christ by serving others. A relationship with Christ must be intentional. It just doesn’t happen on its own. God created us or fellowship; for community, for togetherness. How will you break through the gates of hell?