Emory Baptist Church

Seeing is Believing!

This morning, it is my pleasure for us to return to John’s gospel after six weeks in Nehemiah.  If you have your Bibles, please turn to John 9:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Seeing is Believing!”

 

The last time we were in John 8, the Feast of the Tabernacles was finished.  The giant menorahs were extinguished, and Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world.” 

 

This was Jesus’ second I Am statement following, “I am the bread of life,” and today, you will see the sixth of seven miraculous signs in John’s gospel that Jesus performed proving that He was the promised Messiah. 

 

Chapter nine is lengthy with 41 verses, and we will look at all of them today.  As we do, keep in your mind these three characters or groups of characters: a Seeing Sinner, a Gracious God, and Fallible Pharisees.

 

 

Exposition 9:1-12

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.  8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”  9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”  He said, “I am he.”  10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”  11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”  12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”  He said, “I do not know.”

 

In walking through Jerusalem, Jesus came across this man who was probably a beggar.  He was a probably a beggar because he was blind from birth, and he most likely didn’t have any other source of income.

 

Jesus disciples saw this man, and somehow, they seemed to be familiar with him and his situation.  They knew that he had been blind since birth, and their curiosity led them to ask why. 

 

It was a very common Jewish belief that either somehow this man sinned in the womb as a baby or his parents had sinned.  These were the two options for him having been born blind.  This mindset came from passages of Scripture like Exodus 34:6-7.

 

6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

 

However, Jesus denied both of these options.  Instead, He said that this situation was an opportunity for God to work in this man’s life.  Does that mean that God made Him blind?  It means that God allowed to be such.  However, it was not to punish him or his parents. 

 

Jesus went on to say how He and His disciples had much work to do for God.  They would not have forever but only a temporary period of time as Jesus is the Light of the world in order to light the world.

 

Brothers and sisters, that is true for us as well.  Because we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, we need to demonstrate some urgency in doing what God wants for us to do today!

 

In 9:6, He then spat on the ground or into the dust and made clay and put it on the blind man’s eyes.  Next, He told the man to go and wash the clay off in the pool of Siloam, and he went and did it, and could see.  It was a miracle.  He was blind, but now he could see.  This man was now a Seeing Sinner.

 

 

Once this man had been healed, the masses of people who knew him couldn’t believe it.  They thought their eyes were deceiving them so they asked him how it all happened, and he told them.

 

 

Exposition 9:13-34

13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”  16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”  Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.  17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”  He said, “He is a prophet.”  18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”  20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”  24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”  25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”  26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”  27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”  28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”  30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”  34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

 

When the Pharisees heard about all that went on, they were upset with Jesus but reprimanded the man who was healed.  Jesus had broken their understanding of the Sabbath and what was allowed by kneading the clay and applying it to man’s eyes.  Therefore, they denied the claims that He was from God and God.

 

However, the people said otherwise.  They knew not just anyone could perform miracles, and that is exactly what took place.

 

The Pharisees went so far as to verify what happened with the man’s parents.  They affirmed the truth, but otherwise, didn’t want to get involved. 

 

When this man was questioned for the second time in 9:24, he simply told again what Jesus had done for him.  He shared his testimony.

 

Brothers and sisters, can we not do the same?  When God gives us those opportunities, and He does every day, can we simply tell what God has done for us?  We can. 

 

Before the Pharisees kicked this man out of the synagogue, he did his best to convince them that Jesus was from God.  No one had ever been healed from congenital blindness until Jesus.  He must be God, and I would say that He was a Gracious God for doing for this man what he couldn’t do for himself.

 

 

Exposition 9:35-41

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”  36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”  37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”  38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.  39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”  40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”  41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.

 

Afterwards, Jesus went to find him.  Once He found him, He began probing his spiritual condition.  Jesus asked him about the Son of God to which he replied that he didn’t know him.  Jesus then confessed to being Him, and the man instantly believed and began to worship Jesus on the spot.

 

Jesus then had some commentary for the Pharisees that were there as well.  Keep in mind that Jesus’ words in 9:39 should not be understood to mean that Jesus’ purpose was judgment, but it was a result.  He came to bring light to the blind, and consequently, those who could see were choosing blindness by their rejection of Him. 

 

In verse 40, the Pharisees then asked if they were blind too.  Remember we are talking about spiritual blindness. 

 

Jesus told them if they were blind, they would have no sin.  In other words, if they had no knowledge of the truth, they couldn’t be held accountable.  However, since they claimed to have knowledge of all truth and were spiritual enlightened, their sin remained.

 

Contrary to their own opinions, they were fallible Pharisees.  That means they were capable of error and were in error.

 

 

Conclusions

Make no mistake about it.  This story has one point, anyone that is spiritually blind can see when Jesus touches your life. 

 

This man was healed after Jesus touched him and he believed and acted.  In other words, he trusted and obeyed. 

 

The text says in verse 7 that he came back seeing after he went and washed.  Today, you can be saved if you will trust and obey.  Seeing is believing, but first, you have to admit that you can’t see and need Jesus to heal you.

 

RISE UP! And Make the Commitment!

• Today is our last Sunday of the 6-week intensive period of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign.
• Next Sunday, October 30, we will return to the Minor Prophets in our Sunday School Small Groups…Hosea I believe and John 9 in our Morning Worship.
• Thank you for your faithfulness and support during these past six weeks.
• Also, I just want to remind you that we will be announcing our total dollar commitments next Sunday, October 30.
• Finally, please plan to give as much of your commitment as possible for our First Fruits Offering on Sunday, November 6. Whatever you give on that Sunday will of course count toward your total commitment, and God bless you for those commitments.

 

This morning, I am going to finish Nehemiah, and I understand this is not ideal, and we may come back to it at another time.  However, I want to get back to John

 

In chapters 7-13, I am going to show you what happened in Jerusalem after Nehemiah and the remnant rebuilt the walls and gates.  However, as I show you what they did and what EBC will be doing, I want you to know that this is what we will be doing with or without a FLC. 

 

1. We will be committed to proclaiming God’s Word, Nehemiah 8:1-8.
   1. Ezra read from the Law on a wooden podium while the people were standing
   2. Their response to the Law was their worship.
   3. The priests then helped them understand the Law and its application to their lives.

 

At EBC, we will be committed to the study and application of God’s Word in all that we do with everyone who attends our church.

 

 

2. We will be committed to remembering God’s Faithfulness, Nehemiah 9:1-38.

 

God was faithful again and again, and the people made a covenant with God and wrote it down.

 

I know some have pushed back against signing commitment cards.  This is what is happening here.  They are putting their commitment in writing, and we do that today for cars and houses and boats and land.  Why not for the Lord?

 

 

3. We will be committed to living according to God’s Will, Nehemiah 10:28-31.
   1. May this be true for us individually-10:28-29
   2. May this be true for us in our families-10:30
   3. May this even be true in our businesses-10:31

 

 

4. We will be committed to giving to God’s Work, Nehemiah 10:32-39.
   1. For us, God’s work is the local church-10:32
   2. That means our offerings-10:33-34
   3. That means our tithes-10:35-39

 

 

5. We will be committed to celebrating God’s Worth, Nehemiah 12:27-43.
   1. By singing
   2. Young and old
   3. To God about God

 

 

Conclusion

I hope and pray that you individually and EBC collectively are committing on this day to do the financial work for the FLC.  Regardless, we are going to be committed at EBC to proclaiming God’s Word, remembering God’s faithfulness, living according to God’s Will, giving to God’s Work, and celebrating God’s Worth.

 

 

RISE UP! And Do the Work!

Today is Week 5 and the next to last week of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign.  Thank you for being committed to this process and faithful through these weeks as we have temporarily departed from the Minor Prophets in our Sunday School Small Groups and John’s Gospel in our Sunday Morning Worship Service.

 

In Week 1, we remembered God’s faithfulness.  In Week 2, we were reminded of the importance of kneeling down in prayer and calling on God to be involved.  In Week 3, we saw God’s vision for Nehemiah to rebuild the city and heard our vision of making disciples and how a Family Life Center can assist in that.  In Week 4, we assessed the reality of opposition and were challenged to replace our fear with faith.

 

Today, our challenge is to RISE UP! And Do the Work.  However, even though we will see Israel do the actual manual labor for Jerusalem, our work will be of a different type. 

 

Our work will be financial.  Allow me to explain the Commitment Cards in detail.

 

Commitment cards or pledge cards are normal when it comes to churches doing capital campaigns.  I have used them now in four churches. 

 

They are also very helpful when we go to a lending institution and ask to borrow money.  Even though they aren’t guaranteed, they are beneficial from a bank’s perspective. 

 

I am asking you to pray and ask God how much you can commit to give above your tithe for the next three years.  Again, when churches do capital campaigns, three years is the industry standard. 

 

When you make your commitment and turn it in, the only person at EBC who will see or know your commitment is our financial secretary.  I won’t know it.  Our deacons won’t know it.  Our capital fund raising team won’t know it.

 

What if you can’t fulfill your commitment?  Then so be it.  No is going to know except he financial secretary, and no one is going to hold you accountable.  That is between you and the Lord. 

On the commitment card, those numbers are simply examples.  You don’t have to choose one of those denominations. 

 

When Christy and I filled out our card, our total commitment number is not on here, and you can give your commitment all at once on the front end, all at once on the back end, and any time in between. 

 

We are asking for all commitment cards to be turned in by Sunday, October 23, and we are asking you to give as much of your total commitment that you can give on Sunday, November 6, for our First Fruits Offering. 

 

For example, let’s say you commit to $1,000 over three years.  Then you bring $500 for November 6.  Then you will give the remaining $500 over three years, and the three-year giving period is November 2022-October 2025.

 

By the way, when we seek a loan, that loan will be 25-30 years even though we will try to accomplish a miracle of epic proportions by paying it off in 3 years.  However, if we can’t, then we will simply pay on it until it is paid in full.

 

So let’s look at the work that the people did in Nehemiah 2-6.

 

2:17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.  So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

 

In verse 17, Nehemiah shared his vision with the remnant there in Jerusalem.  He also invited them to join him.

 

In verse 18, he told them that the king had given him permission, but more important than anything else, this was God’s vision and so God’s hand was on him.

 

How do you think the people responded? Look at the text.  They said, “Let us rise up and build,” and that is what you have in chapter 3.  They people did the actual work themselves.

 

Beginning in verse 1 and through 32, I counted somewhere between 40-45 families that came together and helped rebuild the wall and gates and city, and notice the end of 4:6.  They had a mind to work.

 

Therefore, here is my question for Emory Baptist Church.  What if we followed the Lord and followed our leaders and set our minds and hearts to doing the work, what could be done?

 

 

1. We could do more than we ever thought.

 

We saw last Sunday that the leaders of Samaria didn’t want Jerusalem to be rebuilt because they wanted Israel to be easy to take captive.  When they heard what was happening, they acted in opposition.  See 4:7-8.

 

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

 

How do you think Israel would respond?  Could they keep working and finish the wall?  Did they have to stop working and fight?  What would say if I told you they did both? They did more than they ever thought.  See 4:13-18.

 

13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”  15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

 

They kept building the wall, and they protected themselves from adversaries. 

 

Some of you might be thinking, “I can tithe or I can commit to the FLC, but I can’t do both.”  Really?  Are you sure about that?  Have you asked God? 

 

Go back and look at 4:9. Also, don’t forget 14-15.

 

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

 

Follow God and your leaders and commit your mind and heart to do it, and see if God doesn’t enable you to do more than you ever thought. 

 

 

2. We could overcome economic adversity.

 

Perhaps economic adversity is one of our biggest challenges right now, and I understand.  Since January, I have lost over $80,000, and I looking at sending three daughters to college.  I get it.

 

In Nehemiah 5, there was a famine, and working on the walls had kept the remnant from working their crops, and so they were in need of food.  What did they do?

 

Verse 3 says they mortgaged their land and vineyards to buy food.  However, they needed to borrow more money to pay the king’s taxes.  They ended up selling their children into slavery to pay their bills. 

 

The rest of chapter 5 says that Nehemiah was able to step in and help alleviate their hardship. 

 

Brothers and sisters, I know times are tough right now.  I buy the same groceries as you.  I buy the same gas as you.  I have lost the same investments as you, and yet I believe that God wants to do a miracle that can’t even comprehend as it relates to funding our Family Life Center.  However, He isn’t going to do it apart from the obedience of His people.

 

3. We could accomplish our goal.

 

I said to you last week that Nehemiah would have many challenges along the way.  We saw Nehemiah’s first opposition but not his last. 

 

Today, we have seen challenges from the outside trying to attack the people.  We have seen challenges from the inside and economic adversity. 

 

Chapter 6 has more challenges for Nehemiah personally.  His opponents tried to smear his reputation and sabotage his leadership.

 

However, look at 6:15-16.

 

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

 

The wall was completely rebuilt in 52 days.  Remember how it long it had been in ruins?  140 years. 

 

 

Conclusion

So let me paint a picture.  What if you said God is in this?  God brought us to this point, and God is leading our pastor and deacons and FLC Committee and CFT. 

 

Because this was of God, you committed to following our leaders and putting your mind and heart into working financially to make this happen. 

 

God could allow you do more than you ever thought.  God could help you overcome economic adversity that is crippling our country, and we could accomplish our goal.

 

However, all of that most likely won’t happen if don’t commit to follow the Lord and follow our leaders and commit our mind and heart to obeying the Lord in what He says to give. 

 

Brothers and sisters, I am inviting you to ask God what you should commit and then rise up and do the work.

RISE UP! And Assess Reality!

Today is week of 4 of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign.  Where have we been in the recent weeks?

 

Week 1 was RISE UP! And Remember God’s Faithfulness!  Has God been faithful to you?  Has God been faithful to us?  Don’t forget it!

 

Week 2 was RISE UP! And Kneel Down!  This capital campaign will not be successful unless we pray and ask God to intervene and ask how we should participate.  By the way, we still have two one-hour time slots left for our 24-hour prayer vigil.  They are 2 and 3 AM.

 

Week 3 was RISE UP! And Reclaim God’s Vision!  God’s vision for Nehemiah was to rebuild the city walls so that people of God would be safe and secure in the city of God. 

 

At EBC, our vision is to love God and love people and make disciples.  Our vision is to make disciples of this generation and the next generations of children of teenagers.  A Family Life Center can help with this vision tremendously.

 

Week 4 is RISE UP! And Access Reality.  Today, for the first time, but not the last time, we will see that when an individual or a group of individuals is seeking to following the follow the Lord, the reality is that there will be opposition. 

 

I want you to see this morning that opposition can come from people, passivity, and perspective.

 

 

1. Opposition can come in the form of people, 2:9-10.

9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. 

 

Verse 9 says that Nehemiah went to the governors beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the letters from the king.  What is that about?  Look back at 2:7.

 

7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah.

 

In order to get the timber needed from the king’s forest to rebuild the walls and gates, Nehemiah had to pass through enemy territory.  Therefore, he requested letters from the king that gave him permission. 

 

However, that didn’t sit well with these governors.  The king had even sent an entourage with Nehemiah to protect him, and verse 10 shows the first opposition that Nehemiah encountered.

 

Sanballat and Tobiah were their names, and they didn’t like the idea of Nehemiah rebuilding the city because of what that would mean for Israel.  These men were leaders of Samaria, and Nehemiah’s efforts, if successful, would embolden Israel and make them harder to conquer.  Therefore, they didn’t like and opposed what Nehemiah was planning.

 

I know there are some church member today that don’t think we need a FLC.  There are others who are fine with a FLC but not right now.  There are others who are fine with a FLC but not for that price.

 

I understand, but I want you to remind you that we haven’t gotten to this point over night.  We also haven’t gotten here because of the vision of one person but of many, and it has been well-said that delayed obedience is disobedience.

 

In Deuteronomy 1, Israel turned an 11-day journey into the Promised Land into a 40-year wandering in the wilderness.  How?  They were fearful and disobedient to what God told them to do and had even provided for them.

 

 

2. Opposition can come in the form of passivity, 2:11-12.

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

 

Verse 11 says that Nehemiah came to Jerusalem for a three-day tour.  Verse 12 says that he did his surveying and accessing of reality at night, and he had some men with him that evidently shared his vision.

 

The end of verse 12 gives us insight into what drove Nehemiah.  God had put in his heart to rebuild Jerusalem.  It was Nehemiah but God. 

 

However, think about this.  What if Nehemiah would have said to God, “Thanks but no thanks.”  What if he chose not to act on what God wanted him to do for whatever reason?

 

Well, simply put, that would have been disobedience, and Nehemiah would have run the risk of discipline for himself and the remnant if he would have responded passively to what God put in his heart. 

 

I did this last week so I won’t do it again, but over 14 years ago, God put it in the heart of EBC to build a FLC, and you approved.  For the past 14 years, EBC has been acquiring property to make that happen, and you approved.  In the past two years, we hired an architect to design a FLC, and you approved, and God provide the property to build it on this block, and you approved. 

 

Now, I am asking God to provide the money through His people.  You get another opportunity to actively approve rather than passively do nothing.

 

 

3. Opposition can come in the form of perspective, 2:13-16.

13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

 

When Nehemiah went out at night, what do you think he saw?  He saw exactly what we knew he would see. 

 

The walls were broken down.  The gates had been burned.  There was so much ruin piled up that his donkey couldn’t pass through. 

 

The story of Nehemiah is that he responded to God’s vision with faith instead of fear.  What is the difference?  It is all about perspective. 

 

The perspective of fear sees circumstances instead of God.  In this case, the circumstances were a city in ruins, 140 years, too few people to do anything about it.

 

The perspective of faith sees God in the circumstances.  Faith doesn’t deny the circumstances. However, faith sees God in the circumstances and able to overcome the circumstances. 

 

Think back with me to three very familiar Old Testament Bible stories.  What if Noah responded with fear instead of faith to what God told him to do?  He had never heard of rain.  No one ever needed a boat of that size.  How could one man and his family accomplish such?  See Genesis 6:12-14, 22.

 

12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.  13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.  22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

 

What if Joshua responded with fear instead of faith when God told him how to take Jericho?  Obviously, God had never attended West Point.  He must have failed military strategies.  You want me to circle the city in silence for six days?  On the seventh day, you want me to circle and then yell?  That’s going to bring the walls down and give us the city?  See Joshua 6:1-5.

 

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

 

What is David responded with fear instead of faith when Goliath taunted the God of Israel?  Goliath was too big.  He had already killed too many.  David was just a little shepherd boy.  1 Samuel 17:10, 37, 45.

 

10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

 

37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

 

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

 

Brothers and sisters, I want to ask you to ask God to replace your fear with faith…faith in Him, and faith in your leaders, but that isn’t all.

 

Tony Evans said, “Obedience is the visible, verifiable proof of your faith or trust.  I’m not just asking you to trust but also to obey.”

 

Trust and obey…that would make a great song. 

 

1

When we walk with the Lord

  In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

  While we do His good will,

  He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

 2

Not a shadow can rise,

  Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

  Not a doubt or a fear,

  Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3

Not a burden we bear,

  Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

  Not a grief or a loss,

  Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

4

But we never can prove

  The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay;

  For the favor He shows,

  And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

5

Then in fellowship sweet

  We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

  What He says we will do;

  Where He sends, we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

But that song isn’t simply some one’s thoughts and ideas, it is the truth of Scriptures.  See Proverbs 3:5-6.

 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

RISE UP! And Reclaim God’s Vision!

We are in week 3 of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign.  In the recent weeks, we have begun studying the book and story of Nehemiah.  Two weeks ago, we were challenged to RISE UP! And Remember God’s Faithfulness.  Last week, we were challenged to RISE UP! And Kneel Down.  That was a reference to prayer.

 

By the way, we still have available 1-hour time lots for our weekly prayer room and our 24-hour prayer vigil scheduled for October 15-16.  Brothers and sisters, if you are retired or determine your own work schedule, help me understand why you aren’t part of our weekly prayer room ministry.  Furthermore, with the 24-hour prayer vigil happening on Saturday and Sunday morning, it should not take us long to fill all of those time slots.

 

Today, we turn our attention to Nehemiah 2:1-8, and consider the challenge of RISE UP! And Reclaim God’s Vision, and vision is important.  I know that you are familiar with KJV of Proverbs 29:18.

 

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.

 

What was God’s vision in Nehemiah 2?

 

 

Exposition

In verse 1, we see that this scene takes place approximately 4 months after chapter 1.  Back in the chapter 1:1, we saw that the time marker was the month of Chislev.  That is our November and December.

 

Here in 2:1, it is the month of Nisan.  This our March and April. 

 

Also in this first verse, we see Nehemiah doing his job.  Remember, he was the king’s cupbearer.  A cupbearer was a trust individual whose job was to drink the king’s drink and eat the king’s food to make sure it was safe for the king.

 

Nehemiah took the cup of wine after he had tasted it, and gave it to the king.  However, the king noticed something about Nehemiah that he had never seen before.  Nehemiah was sad, and the king could tell it.

 

When asked why, Nehemiah became deathly afraid.  He didn’t want the king to think his sadness had anything to do with him. 

 

In verse 3, we see the reason for his sadness.  He was grieved at the state of Jerusalem.  Remember, King Nebuchadnezzar ransacked Jerusalem in 586 BC, and it had laid in ruins for 140 years. 

 

Without saying the name of the city, he said the place where his fathers’ tombs were laid in waste.  Furthermore, the gates had been burned with fire.  In case you are thinking about gates that we are accustomed to, these were wooden gates.  In verse 4, King Artaxerxes asked what Nehemiah wanted him to do.

 

To be clear, God’s vision was Jerusalem, His holy city, to be safe and secure.  Consequently, He put that vision in Nehemiah’s heart, and Nehemiah’s part was then to rebuild the walls and gates. 

 

Here at Emory Baptist Church, what is our vision?  Our vision is to love God, love people, and make disciples.

 

Of course, the first step in making disciples is evangelism, and if you were here last Sunday, you remember how I demonstrated the importance of evangelism children and teenagers because once they turn 18 years of age, there is only a 16% chance that will be saved as adults. 

 

Consequently, God’s vision is to save the children and teenagers of Rains County.  A Family Life Center can be a tremendous resource and tool in aiding that effort. 

 

That is the big picture goal…making disciples.  However, what is the specific goal of RISE UP?  You can find it on page 8 of your RISE UP! booklet: To pay for the entire cost of our Family Life Center in a three-year period beginning November 2022 by engaging every member of Emory Baptist Church in biblical financial stewardship.

 

Therefore, how do we accomplish our vision in light of God’s vision?  What did Nehemiah do?  Look at verse 4.

 

 

4. Nehemiah prayed, 2:4.

So I prayed to the God of heaven.

 

Nehemiah’s normal practice was to pray.  He prayed here, and we saw him pray last week.

 

Do you remember the contents of his prayer? He asked for God’s attention.  What is a great way to get God’s attention in prayer?  Tell Him how great He is.

 

Next, Nehemiah confessed his and Israel’s corruption or sin.  In short, they were disobedient to God’s commands given to them through Moses. 

 

What are your sins to confess specifically as it relates to RISE UP?  Are you guilty of fear or doubt or self-indulgence?

 

Finally, he petitioned God for prosperity.  Nehemiah prayed for God to prosper him in his efforts to rebuild the walls and gates. 

 

What would prosperity or success for us look like in this capital campaign?  Join me in praying for our construction costs to be no more than $225/square foot.  Join me in praying for every single EBC Family to live out biblical, financial stewardship, and that starts with giving and working toward tithing. 

 

Finally, join me in praying for God to provide every single cent to pay for our Family Life Center in a three-year period.  Humanly, it can’t be done, but when you call on the Lord God Almighty who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and can feed 5,000+ people with 5 biscuits and 2 sardines, He can turn our impossible to possible. 

 

 

1. Nehemiah planned, 2:4-8a

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”  6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.  7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.”

 

When the king asked Nehemiah what he wanted or needed, he had obviously been thinking about it and planning it out.  Verse 5 says that Nehemiah told the king that he wanted to go and rebuild the city.

 

Of course, the king asked some details questions about timing, and then Nehemiah make some more requests of the king.  Verse 7 says that he requested some letters of permission and protection as Nehemiah traveled into enemy territories. 

 

Verse 8 is how we know that Nehemiah was rebuilding and repairing wooden walls and gates.  He needed access to king’s forest.

 

At least since August 2008, I believe EBC has been planning for where we are today.  Keep in mind, that is at least 14 years in the making.

 

• Slide 1: August 24, 2008-First worship service in existing facility
• Slide 2: May 23, 2010-EBC votes to establish our first Family Life Center Committee
• Slide 3: May 15, 2011-EBC votes to purchase first of 4 lots on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth
• Slide 4: August 17, 2014-EBC votes to build a Family Life Center
• Slide 5: August 17, 2014-EBC votes to purchase the second of 4 lots on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth
• Slide 6: November 16, 2014-EBC votes to call Richard Piles as their 29^th pastor
• Slide 7: July 2017-EBC is completely debt free having paid off our note on this main building
• Slide 8: 2017-EBC acquired the Avon Rice property on this city block
• Slide 9: January 2020-EBC votes to purchase the Wright property on this block
• Slide 10: December 2020-EBC votes to hire Godwin Design Architects for our Family Life Center
• Slide 11: January 2021-FLC Committee received input from the congregation on the design of the FLC through multiple bulletin inserts and multiple listening sessions
• Slide 12: March 20, 2022-EBC votes to approve GDA’s design for our FLC
• Slide 13: March 20, 2022-EBC votes to establish the Capital Fund-Raising Team for the FLC
• Slide 14: September 18, 2022-RISE UP! Capital Campaign begins for 6 weeks
• Slide 15: September 25, 2022-EBC votes to purchase third and fourth lots of 4 on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth

 

Brothers and sisters, we have not rushed to where we are today.  As a matter of fact, we have been planning, like Nehemiah, for 14+ years moving closer to our goal.

 

 

• The King perceived, 2:8b

And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

 

At the end of verse 8, Nehemiah said the king granted his request.  Why did he do this?  He granted his request because he perceived or trusted that God was leading Nehemiah.

 

Brothers and sisters, sooner or later, as it relates to our FLC and how to pay for it, you are going to have to perceive whether or not your leaders are being led by God.  Is your pastor following the Lord?  Are you deacons following the Lord?  Is your Family Life Center Committee following the Lord?  Is your Capital Fund-Raising Team following the Lord? 

 

If no, then sit back and do nothing but watch.  If yes, then it is incumbent upon you to follow your leaders as they follow the Lord.

 

Here is one couple that doing just that. 

RISE UP! And Kneel Down!

Last week, we began our six week RISE UP! Sunday School Series and Sunday Morning Sermon Series.  If you weren’t here, we looked at Nehemiah 1:1-3, and we remember God’s faithfulness.

 

In that text, we were reminded of God’s faithfulness in being in control, in always providing, and in being holy and calling us to the same.  As a matter of fact, the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates were burned with fire as God was disciplining Israel for their disobedience.  God is faithful to always bless obedience and always discipline disobedience.

 

Specifically, in 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had attacked the city, its walls, and its gates, and they had been in ruins for 140 years before Nehemiah.  RISE UP! is about God raising up Nehemiah to lead the people in restoring what had been destroyed and raising up the people of EBC to build what God can use to bring more people to Himself for salvation.

 

 

1. The Cause of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 1:4

4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 

 

Verse 4 says that Nehemiah heard some words, and when he did, he prayed.  What words had he heard?  Look at verse 3.

 

3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

 

Jews who had escaped and survived the Babylonian captivity were now in Jerusalem, and they reported to Nehemiah through his brother, Hanani, that wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates had been burned with fire.

 

Understandably, this broke Nehemiah’s heart.  How do we know?  After he heard, he sat.  When he sat, he cried.  In his crying, he mourned for many days. 

 

However, his grief and his mourning drove him to his knees.  He fasted and prayed before the God heaven.

 

Brothers and sisters, the walls had been torn down, and they needed to be rebuilt.  It was this need that drove Nehemiah to his knees in prayer. 

 

I am not going to stand before you this morning and tell you that a Family Life Center is a need that we have.  However, I will tell you that ministry to children and teenagers in our community is absolutely a need, and FLC would be a tremendous resource and tool that could help us in this ministry. 

 

By the way, statistics tell us again and again, that an individual doesn’t accept Christ as Lord and Savior as a child or teenager, chances are he or she won’t after they turn 18.   Specifically, 84% of Christians came to Christ before 18 years of age.  After 18, the number drops to 16%.

Personally, I want you to know our CFT understands this need.  Consequently, back on August 14-17, we did intermittent fasting for 3 days.  We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Monday and ate dinner.  We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and ate dinner.  We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Wednesday and ate dinner. 

 

During breakfast and lunch, what did we do?  We read the entire book of Nehemiah in parts, and prayed.  We asked God to give us the resource and tool that would help us tremendously in reaching more children and teenagers in Rains County for Christ.

 

 

2. The Content of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 1:5-11a

5 And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name.

 

I see three parts to Nehemiah’s prayer.  You may see more, but first, he asked for God’s attention in verses 5-6. 

 

Verse 6 says please let Your ear by attentive and Your eyes open that He might hear our prayers.  Do you know the best way to get God’s attention in my opinion? 

 

Tell Him how great He is. That may sound odd or weird, but isn’t that exactly what Nehemiah did?  Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments. 

 

As it relates to building a FLC debt free, we at EBC cannot do it!  But God…the God who is great and awesome, the God who loves children, the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the God of the possible and not the impossible.  But God can, and when He does, He will get all the glory and honor.

 

Let’s pray and first ask for God’s attention.

 

Second, notice that Nehemiah confessed their corruption or their sin.  There in verse 6, he said they had sinned against God.  They acted corruptly in verse 7 by not keeping or obeying God’s commands. 

 

By the way, the truth of verses 8 and 9 is all throughout the OT and needs to remain before us in our study of Nehemiah.  God is always faithful to bless our obedience, and He is faithful to discipline our disobedience. 

 

Verse 8 says He will scatter because of disobedience and gather because of obedience.  Whether we are talking about a FLC or not, brothers and sisters, learn this truth.  Live this truth.  Heed this truth.

 

What is your corruption or sin that needs to be confessed this morning?  As it relates to the FLC, is it the sin of fear? Did you know that “feat not” is the most prevalent command in the entire Bible?  God knows what He is doing, and His time is always right, and I believe that we are following God’s timing.

 

Maybe you need to confess the sin of doubt.  Where is your faith?  Do you have more faith in the mountain or the mountain mover?  If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can say to that mountain go, and into the ocean it will go. 

 

Maybe you need to confess the sin of self-indulgence.  I read just this week that every adult in Texas has on average $5,308 in CC debt.  That means $10,000 per couple.  I’ve been there, and it was sin, and Christy and confessed and repented never to go there again. 

 

Third, Nehemiah prayed for prosperity.  Why was it ok for Nehemiah to prosper?  What was Nehemiah doing?  He was leading the people of God to be obedient to the word of God and rebuild the walls of the city of God. 

 

If we are able to build a FLC debt free, it will only be because God has provided.  Logically and financially, it doesn’t work out on paper, and people thought Noah was crazy building an ark when they had never seen rain. 

 

What would prosperity look like for this occasion?  First, pray for construction costs to come down to at least $225 per square foot. 

 

Second, pray for God to drawn in every single family at EBC to live out biblical, financial stewardship.  That means honoring God with you spend your money.  That means not spending more than you take in.  It means tithing.  It means being generous. 

 

Third, pray for God to provide every single cent to pay for this FLC in three years’ time beginning November 2022. 

 

 

3. The Consequence of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 6:16-16

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

 

The consequence of Nehemiah’s prayer is that it was answered by God, and it was God who rebuilt the wall.  Remember, this remnant did the unthinkable.  They rebuilt the wall in 52 days after having been broken down for 140 years.

 

When God pays for this FLC through your generous giving, all the naysayers will be forced to say, “God showed up!”  I look forward to that day.

 

What can you do today?  Pray individually.  Pray during our 24-hour prayer vigil.  Pray in our prayer room weekly.

 

 

 

Believing is the Beginning Not the End of Salvation!

In the recent weeks, we have been looking at the ongoing dialogue between Jesus and Jewish religious leaders who did not believe His message.  It all takes place in Jerusalem, and for the most part, they are trying to trap Jesus and discredit His ministry. 

 

However, what usually happens is that He refutes their claims and ends up making them look ridiculous which further multiplies their anger.

 

Today, we finish John 8, and I want to give you 5 signs of a true follower of Christ in this message that I have entitled, “Believing is the Beginning not the End of Salvation!”

 

 

31. A true follower of Christ perseveres in life, John 8:31.

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

 

Evidently, there were some Jews who may have been starting to give Jesus a listen.  We ended last week with verse 30 that said that many believed in Him. 

 

However, believing is just the beginning of salvation not the end.  In verse 31, Jesus pointed them to the next step in their salvation journey.   

 

The first evidence of a true follower of Christ is one who abides in His word or perseveres in life.  True followers may fall a way for a time but not forever.  All true followers of Christ return to Him before they die.

 

People ask me regularly if I think this person or that person was a Christian.  I always say it doesn’t matter what I think, but if they walked away from Christ and never returned, the answer would appear to be no.

 

John talks about some people who left the church he was pastoring in 1 John.  See 1 John 2:19. 

 

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

 

We have members of EBC who joined our church at one time but no longer attend.  Did they lose their salvation?  I would say that if they don’t return, they were never saved in the first place, and that should scare us to death because plenty of those people are close friends and family members. 

 

We ought to be do all that we can to minister to them and hopefully see them return to Christ and His church.  A true follower of Christ perseveres in life.

 

 

36. A true follower of Christ is pure in his living, John 8:32-36.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”  34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

 

Not only will a true follower of Christ persevere in life, but he will also be pure in his living.  Does that mean that Christians are perfect?  Does that mean that Christians don’t make mistakes?  No, it means that Christians are not slaves to sin.

 

In verse 32, Jesus said you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  The truth is liberating. 

 

However, these Jews did not understand Jesus to be speaking spiritually but literally and physically.  In verse 33, they contended they had never been enslaved to anyone.  This statement makes you wonder.  Had they forgotten about Egypt?  Were they not enslaved to the Romans right then? 

 

Regardless, Jesus was speaking spiritually and told them that the one who commits sin, that is habitually practicing it with no remorse, is the slave to sin.  In verse 35, He used an analogy to illustrate that they would certainly understand. 

 

The slave is not a slave forever and doesn’t get to stay in the house.  However, the son is always a son. 

 

Wasn’t this true with Ishmael and Isaac?  Ishmael was the son of the slave woman and even though he was a son of Abraham, he was not the son of promise. 

 

The son of promise was the son of the free woman, Sarah.  That was Isaac, the son from which Christ eventually came.

 

Therefore, if the Son, that is Jesus, saves you, you are free from sin and no longer a slave to it.  That is exactly what Paul said in Romans 6:1-7. 

 

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

 

Again, you are perfect as a follower of Christ.  You are a sinner but you hate sin and want very much to be pure in your living.

 

 

• A true follower of Christ has a paternal likeness, John 8:37-39.

.  37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”  39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”  Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.

 

In talking about Abraham, Jesus challenged them on the point of being Abraham’s descendents because they were trying to kill Him.  Rather Jesus insisted they had another father in verse 38. 

 

Again, they didn’t get it.  They retorted that indeed Abraham was their father.  Jesus said to them, if that is true, then act like your father.  Demonstrate your paternal likeness.  After all the cliché says, “Like father, like son?”

 

Well, what exactly were they to imitate about Abraham?  See James 2:21-24. 

 

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

 

Abraham believed and obeyed.  He didn’t try to kill Jesus, yet that is what you’re doing.  A true follower of Christ has a paternal likeness. 

 

 

42. A true follower of Christ is passionate about the Lord, John 8:40-42.

40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”  Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”  42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

 

However, in reality, the Jews were demonstrating paternal likeness, but their father was not Jesus’ father.  If so, they would love Jesus or they would be passionate about the Lord. 

 

Jesus was the Son of God.  He was God’s messenger.  He came from God and acted on God’s initiative.  However, they didn’t welcome Him.

 

The same is true today.  We have plenty of people who claim to believe in God. 

 

However, believing in God is of no benefit if you don’t receive His Son, Jesus.  True followers of Christ are passionate about the Lord meaning they love Jesus and obey Jesus.

 

 

47. A true follower of Christ is perceptive in listening, John 8:43-47.

43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

                  

These Jews did not understand Jesus because God was not their father.  Their father was the devil, and he is the father of lies and has been lying since Genesis 3.  They did not believe Jesus, and they couldn’t hear God because they were not of God but the devil.

 

The same is true today.  Isn’t it amazing how when witnessing to a lost person, they just don’t understand. 

 

Someone who is not a Christian doesn’t “get” the Bible.  It doesn’t make since.  It is illogical. 

 

Paul told us the same in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 2:14. A true follower of Christ is perceptive in listening.

 

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

 

Conclusion 8:48-59

48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”  49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”  52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”  54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”  57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”  58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 

As a result, the Jews resorted to character assassination.  In verse 48, they called Him a Samaritan and said that He was demon-possessed. 

 

Of course, He wasn’t a Samaritan, and He wasn’t demon-possessed.  He was doing the will of the Father, and if they wanted to spiritually live forever, they would have to keep His word or in other words believe and obey. 

 

However, they went on with their attacks because they didn’t understand in verse 52.  The earthly Jesus had not seen Abraham, but the preincarnate Christ had, and Abraham was glad and welcomed the Messiah.  Actually, Jesus said He was before Abraham because He was God.

 

This they couldn’t handle.  It was blasphemy, and they were ready to carry out stoning right then and there, but it wasn’t God’s time.

 

So what about you?  Are you a true follower of Christ?  Will you preserve in life?  Are you pure in your living?  Do you have a paternal likeness?  Are you passionate about the Lord?  Are you perceptive in listening?

 

You may be a member of EBC, but are you a member of heaven?  You may be a regular church attender, but we you live in heaven for eternity? 

 

If you are not a true follower of Christ, today will you call on the Lord and be saved?  If you are, will you begin living like it?

Will You Die in Your Sins?

The last time we were in John 8, we heard Jesus say in 8:12, “I am the light of the world.”

 

If you remember, He said that at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles.  The four enormous menorahs had been extinguished, and as the darkness grew and where hundreds and hundreds of people could hear Him, He said, “I am the light of the world.”

 

We then found out what that means for those who come and follow Jesus.  He can dispel the darkness of unbelief in you.  He can dispel the darkness of ignorance in you.  He can dispel the darkness of unbelief in others.

 

Here in John 8:21, Jesus is still addressing the Pharisees, who were the Jewish religious leaders. 

 

 

Exposition

8:21-22

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”  22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 

 

In verse 21, Jesus said again to these Jewish religious leaders that He was going away.  He was foreshadowing His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave and His ascension to His Heavenly Father.  Then He said they would seek Him, but would die in their sins.  For where He was going, they could not come. 

 

Jesus’ comments provoked this question in verse 22, “Will He will kill Himself?”  There question was snarky and insulting to the utmost degree. 

 

These Jews thought they were on their way to heaven.  They also thought that Jesus claimed to be headed there as well, but this statement through them off.  If He was going to heaven, why couldn’t they go there?

 

They then concluded that He was talking about suicide, and Jewish thought was that suicide would send a person to hell.  They thought they were going to heaven, and Jesus was going to hell.

 

 

8:23-24

23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

 

In verse 23, Jesus said that He was from God in heaven, and they were from the world.  Of course, that is true.

 

By the way, even though all of us are from the world, if have put our faith in trust as Jesus as Lord and Savior, we better not be friends with the world or love the world.  See James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15.

 

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

In other words, when you accepted Christ, all things should have become new.  If that is not true, you ought to be worried.

 

Brothers and Sisters, our marriage cannot be the same as the world.  Our speech cannot be same as the world.  How we recreate cannot be same as the world.  How we parent cannot be same as the world.  How we spend our money cannot be the same as the world.  If the only difference between you and the world is where you spend Sunday mornings, you might be on your way to the same the place the world will go when they die. 

 

Furthermore, Jesus went on to say they would die in their sins if they didn’t believe that Jesus was God.  What does it mean to die in your sins?  I’m going to answer that in just a moment. 

 

 

8:25-30

25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”  And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”  27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.  28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

 

In verse 25, they asked Jesus, “Who are You?”  Jesus told them that His answer is the same as it always has been, and they can trust what He says because He speaking on behalf of the one who sent Him.  Of course, they didn’t understand that He was talking about God the Father. 

 

In verse 28, Jesus prophesied of His death on the cross.  Some of them would finally recognize His true identity after seeing Him crucified and resurrected because Jesus was going to do everything His Father sent Him to do as they experienced perfect unity. 

 

 

Applications

1. Will suicide send a person to hell? Or, is suicide the unpardonable sin?

 

In short and according to the Bible, a person who commits suicide is not necessarily going to hell.  The only sin that cannot be and will not be forgiven is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit or attributing to man only what should be attributed to God.  See Matthew 12:31-32.

 

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

 

Therefore, suicide is not the unpardonable sin.  Rejecting Christ is or thinking that you can save yourself and don’t need to be born of the Holy Spirit.

 

What about Judas?  I believe Judas went to hell when he committed suicide, but it was because he rejected Christ and not because he hung himself. 

 

 

2. What does it mean to die in your sins?

Jesus uses that phrase on multiple times in 8:24. We are all sinners, and we are all living in our sins unless we have asked Jesus to forgive us and confessed Him as Lord and Savior.

 

For the person who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that person does not die in his or her sins, but trades his or her sins for Jesus’ righteousness when you call on the name of the Lord to save you. 

 

However, if you do not receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you are depending on your own morality to get you into heaven, and you will die in your sin even if it is only one sin because even one sin violates God’s perfect holiness.   

 

 

3. Who is Jesus?

That is exactly what the Jews asked in verse 25.  First, Jesus claimed to be God.  He did this in verses 21, 23, and 28.  Every time Jesus said, “I am,” He was claiming to be God, and we know this was true because He was God’s Son.

 

Second, Jesus claimed to be Promised Messiah.  When He spoke in verse 28, He was both looking back and looking forward.  He was looking back comparing Himself to Moses who lifted up the brass serpent to heal the people.  He was looking forward to when He would die on the cross for the sins of the world. 

 

Third, Jesus can be your personal savior.  In verse 30, many believed in Jesus.  Is Jesus your personal savior.

 

Back in 8:12, Jesus invited His audience and us to follow Him as the light of the world.  Would you follow Him today as light of the world and let Him dispel the darkness of unbelief in your life?

 

How you answer “How is Jesus” will determine where you spend eternity.  I pray that you have chosen Him as Lord and Savior and eternity in heaven.

Nehemiah 1:1-3, RISE UP! And Remember God’s Faithfulness

Get Back in the Game!