Message begins at 41:49
[0:01] When the crowds cried, Hosanna, it means save, actually save now. They were saying to Jesus as he was coming into the city, revolution.
[0:17] Right now, you're the man, you're the king, we want to, let's do this now, let's get it done. Kick out the Romans, we're with you. What would have happened if he had done it?
[0:32] Wow. We'd be lost. We'd be lost. They would have been happy.
[0:48] Be careful what you ask for. They would have been thrilled. And in the end, they would have perished. Because we always think we know best.
[1:01] Only Jesus really knows best. So he did come to save. And he did save now. Just died in the way they thought.
[1:12] But in the way they needed. Wow. Thank you for that. That just hit me, thank you. Thank you. Let's return to the Jesus we need to know.
[1:26] In John chapter 7. Father, as we come to your word, open our eyes that we may see the Savior.
[1:38] The one Savior. The only Savior. No other Savior. No one else. There's no other name that you have given us under heaven whereby we must be saved.
[1:50] But that name. The name of Jesus who is Lord. Oh Lord, we need to know it again. We need to hear it again.
[2:01] We need to understand what all of that means. That he is our Lord. He is and he alone is Lord. So Father, please.
[2:12] Would you allow this message to help in some way? Your word is right. Help us to see it. Help us to see Jesus.
[2:25] Who is always right. Help us to submit ourselves. To his authority. To his way. We're in a fight.
[2:39] Our will. Our wills. Our hearts. Struggle. But you can help us. And please help us now.
[2:52] Use my little offering to you this morning. Of this message. In worship. And in the fear of God. I offer this message to you.
[3:05] That it may bless your people. Your sheep. And if there's anyone here, Lord. Who doesn't know who Jesus is. Is still struggling with their own will. Their own ways.
[3:16] Will you speak to their heart to show them who Jesus is? Only you can do that. So we submit ourselves to you.
[3:27] And I submit anyone who needs you to you. I am not their savior. New city is not their savior. Only Jesus can be that. So speak, oh Lord.
[3:40] But bless your people. And prepare us for life in this world. Strengthen us. Use us. Transform us. Renew us. In Christ's name.
[3:53] Amen. John chapter 7. Beginning at verse 14. About the middle of the feast. Jesus went up into the temple.
[4:05] And began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled. Saying. How is it that this man has learning. When he has never studied. So Jesus answered them.
[4:16] My teaching is not mine. But his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will. He will know whether the teaching is from God.
[4:27] Or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority. Seeks his own glory. But the one who seeks the glory of him. Who sent him is true. And in him there is no falsehood.
[4:41] Has that Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why did you seek to kill me? Crowd answered. You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill you? Jesus answered them.
[4:53] I did one work. And you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision. Not that it is from Moses. This is John's editorial comment. Not that it is from Moses.
[5:04] But from fathers. And you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath. A man receives circumcision. So that the law of Moses may not be broken. Are you angry with me?
[5:14] Because on the Sabbath. I made a man's whole body well. Do not judge by appearances. But judge with righteous judgment.
[5:28] That is the word of the Lord. Please be seated. You know.
[5:45] Authority is a very important concept. Isn't it? It gives you the right. To act in a certain way. And in certain situations.
[5:55] If you have it. If you don't. Then you could find yourself. In a whole lot of trouble. When Ahmaud.
[6:06] When Ahmaud Arbery was killed. In Georgia. Did those men have the authority to stop. Or even try to arrest him. Their authority was usurped authority.
[6:21] It was based upon faulty racist assumptions. About black people. And they certainly didn't have the authority. To murder him. But they took authority.
[6:36] Authority gives also. Gives you the right. To tell the people. Under your authority. What to do. So it can be helpful. But it can also be abused.
[6:49] People assume authority. They do not have. Again. That's usurping. It's wrong. And many times. When people usurp authority. Other people get hurt. In some way.
[7:02] But Jesus. Never usurped authority. Nor abused it. He's the creator. Of authority.
[7:14] That's important. This is important today. Because as a culture. We struggle. With authority. We don't respect authority. Authority.
[7:24] Authority. Nor do we willingly submit to it. We question. All authority. Many times. The strange thing about it.
[7:35] Is many times. We actually fight for. Authority. But the same time. We distrust people. Who have authority. We want.
[7:49] Revolution. But revolution. Only brings. New authority. Human revolutions. Merely change.
[8:00] Places. New people. In all places. What we need. Is renewal. Not revolution. Divine authority.
[8:11] Brings. Renewal. Transform people. In old places. Then we'll see change. You see.
[8:22] Authority. Is not the problem. It's the kind of people. Who have the authority. That's problematic. Will you submit.
[8:36] To Jesus. Authority. So that he can. Joyfully. Transform you. And then use you.
[8:47] To bring renewal. We need. Transform people. Under the authority. Of Jesus. Who he will then use. To renew.
[8:59] Old places. Tough places. Wherever you go. You. In this passage.
[9:11] The authority. Of Jesus. The son of God. Is being questioned. Particularly. In three areas. In teaching. Glory. And time. And I think.
[9:22] This. It still is. Being a question. In those areas. We're going to focus. On one aspect of that. This morning. On the teaching. But. First of all. Let's ask. A basic question. What gives a person.
[9:35] Authority. Just a few thoughts. Position. Title. Rank. Right. If you have it. You have authority. People don't even have to know you.
[9:47] Think about when you first went to a doctor. You didn't know that person. And you trusted them with your life. Knowledge. Why? Because they had position. Education gives people authority.
[10:02] Knowledge. If you. If people. If you think somebody knows something. They become somebody. You can go to for information. And you end up trusting them. You give them authority.
[10:15] Connections to power. Gives you authority. You may not have the authority yourself. Because you don't have the position. But if you're close to the position. And you can represent the position.
[10:27] You get authority. Experience. Slash ability. Gives you authority. If you can get the job done.
[10:38] Because you done it. People will say. Follow her. Listen to him. Being first.
[10:49] Gives you authority. If you're the first one to do something. Everybody looks up to you. That is if it's good. If you're the first one to go to jail in your family.
[10:59] That's not exactly. But if there's something good. Important. If you're the first. Wow. You can speak. One more.
[11:11] My favorite. Proven. Good. Character. Character. I said proven. I said proven. I said proven. Good character. If people.
[11:22] Can see you as trustworthy. Over the long haul. You may not have a position of authority. But people respect you. Right.
[11:34] They say. Lenard is somebody you can trust. And he'll be able to speak in people's lives. Just because they recognize.
[11:45] His character. Has been consistent. And good. And trustworthy. Over time. Jesus has all of those.
[11:58] That hit me the other day. He has all of those. Position. Title. Educate. Not all knowledge. Connections to power. Right hand of the father. Experience. Ability.
[12:09] Wow. Really? Being first. The first born from the dead. Proven. Good character. He's got all of them. But does he have authority?
[12:20] In your life. Does someone. Or something else. Have more authority.
[12:31] In your life. Than Jesus. He's all of those things. Not just all of those things. He's all of those things. Perfectly. But does he have authority? In your life.
[12:44] First thing I want you to notice. In this passage. Keep in mind where we are. Jesus. The feast of booze. Is about to happen. Jesus' brothers. Has said. Hey. We're going up to the feast. Jesus. If you want to be seen.
[12:55] If you want to make a splash. You want people to know. How great thou art. Then you need to go up to the feast now. Jesus says. I'm not going up with you right now. Talk to the hand. You go. Anytime is right for you.
[13:06] I'm not going right now. Timing is everything. Remember last time? But now in verse 14. He does go. Point.
[13:17] First thing I want you. The big point here. Is that Jesus has the authority to teach. And interpret God's word. And I add something to it. And to tell you how to live.
[13:31] That's the whole point of the word. Interpreting it. To tell you how to live. Because. They're amazed at Jesus. You see. He shows up to the feast in verse 14.
[13:43] And right away. He's teaching. In verse 15. They're marveling. How is it that this man. Has learning. When he has never studied. Wow. That boy can preach.
[13:56] He's teaching. The word of God. He's. Why are they amazed? Because he's so knowledgeable. Of God's word. But never went. To seminary. Or rabbinical schools.
[14:09] Of that day. Those schools are great. Let's move forward. To seminaries here today. They're great. They're designed. To teach you.
[14:19] God's word. And biblical theology. And languages. And all at the feet. Of established experts. Who have authority. The rabbis.
[14:31] Of that day. Were like that. For their people. These men. These men knew. And had memorized. Large portions. Of the old testament. I mean.
[14:42] Some of them. Had. I mean. Large portions. And. And Jesus. Had never studied. Under them. Yet. He knew. God's word. Better.
[14:52] Than anyone. In history. Because of who he is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. John is. John can. John 1.
[15:05] John 1. John 1. John 1. John 1. 1 through 5. Remember. Who is Jesus? In the beginning was the word. The lagos. The controlling principle. That unites all things.
[15:16] In the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
[15:29] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. I remember years ago I was in Jordan, and we were in this amphitheater.
[15:44] Now, you know, Jordan's a Muslim country. And we were there. I went with First Press, Tim Tinsley, who was now a glorified pastor, who was, I miss him every day. He asked me to go with him, and we went.
[15:56] And I remember we were standing in this amphitheater, and, you know, you could hear the acoustics. This is an ancient amphitheater. The acoustics were amazing, okay?
[16:06] This is right in the middle of the street, public area. And I remember I went up front, and they said, and Tim and the guy said, Kev, say something, man.
[16:17] See if we can hear you. And the Lord, I hope it was the Lord, and not just me being stupid, but I began to quote this passage.
[16:28] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. And I'm standing in a Muslim country, and people, but people came up to me and thanked me afterwards.
[16:48] That's powerful dynamite right there. That's dynamite truth. Who is Jesus? He is God. But 114 comes in.
[16:59] He's not, John's not done, because he says, the Lagos, this controlling principle that you greet people and worship and expect and believe in, but don't know what is. John takes a word that they knew, a concept that they knew, and shows them how Jesus fulfills it better than they thought anything could.
[17:18] He is the Word. Right? But then John says, hold it, but I'm not done. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
[17:33] So this is why they marveled at his teaching, because they were standing and listening to the Word made flesh, to he who spoke the universe into existence by saying, let there be, and there was.
[17:53] That's why it says in Matthew chapter 7, it's not going to be on your screen, 28, 29, when Jesus finished these sayings, this is the Sermon on the Mount, when he finished the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were astonished at his teaching.
[18:12] Why? He was teaching them as one who had authority and not as their scribes. The scribes taught as those who had derived authority.
[18:24] They would quote the rabbis, Rabbi Shimeel, Rabbi Hosea, whoever, they would quote them as, but Jesus didn't quote the rabbis, he just told them what the Word said.
[18:38] He is the authority. He speaks as the author of the Word, not merely an interpreter or teacher of it. And it wasn't just his skill or even his knowledge that blew their mind.
[18:53] Listen, y'all, it was his understanding and insight into God and our human condition. Jesus knows the Father for all eternity.
[19:12] And because the Word became flesh, Jesus knows you for all eternity. He knows you. He has insight into your condition.
[19:28] And all that stuff boiling around in you, he understands it. All your confusions, he understands it.
[19:42] All your fears and anxieties, the Word understands. He understands.
[19:57] Why, question, why do you read and study the Bible if you do? Why do you read and study the Bible? Looking for principles.
[20:09] Amen. The principles in the Bible. Amen. Good stories. Better than soap operas, baby. Read the Bible.
[20:22] Stories in there will blow your mind. Tragedy. Drama. Family drama. National drama. I mean, heroes who are imperfect.
[20:37] Man, you can't get better. This is, this is great stuff. Is that why you read it? You like the stories? Amen. Do you find that Jesus knows you when you open the Bible?
[20:51] Do you find that the Word, some, that speaks and penetrates, do you find that you're being, you're being looked over and looked into and exposed?
[21:03] Do you find that when you, when you, when you, when you, when you read the Bible? Are you, is that happening to you? Are you seeing yourself as part of his story?
[21:17] You're not just out here on your own, but you've been brought into a bigger story than you could ever imagine. It's not just about you and your four walls or you and your family or you and your plans for your life, but when you, but do you find that as you open the book that you are transported into a larger narrative?
[21:40] That you see reality a lot more clearer than you did before? I hope so, because that's what he wants to do.
[21:52] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[22:03] Amen.
[22:18] Amen. Amen. Because I know. Come on, BB, you would have said, because I know. That's why. He didn't do that.
[22:31] He says, I'm only telling you what my father told me to say. Hmm. He is the word of the father. He's the word that communicates the father.
[22:43] Literally, Jesus says he is not speaking on his own. That's literally what he says. The word authority is supplied by our translators to help us understand.
[22:55] But literally, the word is not there. But that is the idea. I like the literal, though. He's not speaking on his own. He is, and John, we find out, he's not doing anything on his own.
[23:12] Little kids, I had little kids once. They're all grown up women now. But little kids love to tell their parents, I can do it. What they mean is, they can do it on their own.
[23:28] They're not just saying, I can do it. They're saying, they don't need your help. No help from you. No, mommy. No, mommy. I do it. I do it. Jesus was not like that.
[23:40] He was more dependent upon God than any person who has ever lived. He was dependent upon his father showing us how to live.
[23:57] But also, you know what I'm going to say. He was dependent in our place. Because Bruce likes being independent.
[24:10] Bruce is the child who says to God the Father, I can do it. Come on, somebody can identify with Bruce. Thank you, thank you, Andrew.
[24:21] Appreciate you, brother. The bearded wonder himself can identify. I can do it. We are told to be independent, are we not?
[24:34] We've taught our children to be independent, especially when it comes to money. Pay your bills, baby. But God doesn't call us to be independent.
[24:47] We fail to live dependently upon God so Jesus does it for us in our place so as we grow in our understanding and trust of him, he turns and makes us more dependent.
[25:06] That's kind of crazy. I'm a grown man. I depend. Come on, somebody. I'm edumacated. All those years in school so I could be independent.
[25:22] And now Jesus comes along and tells me, you need to be more dependent, Kev. Woo, that's a shock to the old pride and ego.
[25:37] It's only in total dependence that we really find the authority of Jesus renews us. That means, therefore, if I'm living under his authority when he speaks, can I say it?
[25:54] And not be labeled legalist. When Jesus speaks, he's to be obeyed. See, here's the thing.
[26:07] You can trust him to use his authority over you in the right way. He will never abuse his authority. He will always do what is good for those who trust in him.
[26:20] But we live in a culture. Come on, people. We live in a culture that distrusts all authority. So when God's word speaks to us with authority, even though Jesus is the perfect one, we still get scared.
[26:40] And worse, we get angry with God. We don't want him to tell us who to love, our identity, where to put our money.
[27:01] Oh, no, don't touch the money. We don't want him to tell us where to live or what job. We say we believe. I mean, I love you guys.
[27:13] I'm so glad you're in the fellows ministry. But you're saying you believe he is Lord over all of life. Are you living like that? Are you living on his authority? Can he speak to every aspect of your life?
[27:27] Who you marry? If you marry. Where you live. What job you take. You see, we say these things. But then when he expresses his authority to speak.
[27:41] Because remember, he interprets the word. He brings the word. He is the word. That is God's word. It is not his suggestions. It is what he says he wants us to follow for our good.
[27:55] For our good. Jesus gets no points because you follow. How do you view Christ's authority in your life?
[28:10] Is he a curmudgeon trying to destroy all your joy and keep you from having fun? Is he some kind of sadist just wanting you to suffer? Does he hate you?
[28:24] Is that how you see his authority? He hates you. Because he wants you to do hard things. How do you see his authority?
[28:37] Is his authority good suggestions among others? I think it was Ted Koppel. Many of you probably don't know who that is. But he was news anchor many years ago.
[28:48] Well, well respected journalist. One time, Ted Koppel was Jewish. And one time on national news. This is before Fox News, y'all. Believe it or not. Before Fox News. Ted Koppel says something like this.
[28:59] The Ten Commandments are not the Ten Suggestions. On national TV. Is that how you view the Lord's authority in your life?
[29:11] Some good suggestions. But I need to compare his ideas with my favorite blogosphere. My favorite podcast. My favorite author that I just love to hear because they speak words of light.
[29:26] My favorite right wing or left wing commentator. You know, we got to get their word first. Before we can follow Jesus. Before I submit to his authority.
[29:38] I got to go check out what. Hmm. I don't know. Now I'm just crazy. Is his authority to be followed no matter what?
[29:51] Right. I re-watched a movie a week ago. Don't hate me.
[30:04] It was Fast and the Furious. Hobbs and Shaw. I like Hobbs and Shaw. Because I like Dwayne John. I like The Rock. And I love Jason Statham.
[30:15] Those guys are action heroes. And this lady was in it too. And I don't know her name. Forgive me. But she was amazing. You know the story. If you watch Fast and the Furious in this one. These are two agents who hate each other.
[30:28] You know. Now you see how The Rock is a. You know. He's this giant of a. Statham is slight a bill shorter. But man. That guy can move. And he can fight. He's gifted. He's talented. No doubt. They have to work together.
[30:39] But they hate each other. Of course they got to go out and save the girl. Which is actually Jason Statham's sister. Who Hobbs begins to. Who The Rock begins to kind of take a shine to.
[30:51] You a little bit. They got to go save her. And of course. They must save the world. But in doing that. Because they hated each other.
[31:02] And they both had the hugest egos. You ever want to see. They said to each other. At just separate times. They both said. Nobody tells me what to do.
[31:15] When one of them would say. Hey. Let's go this way. You never got to go. Nobody tells me what to do. And then they go. And then they never got to say. Hey. Come this way. Nobody. And they kept doing that to each other.
[31:25] No. That was their refrain. And this. I think this is us. Forgive me. Nobody tells me what to do. That's our culture.
[31:38] And it's. And we live in this bubble. And we're. And we're being saturated. With the fact that we're all experts now. Because we read a blog. We can all speak.
[31:52] And our voices can be heard around the world. Because we got something to say. And nobody tells us what to do. Jesus died and rose again to be king.
[32:03] Over a people for whom he died. He established. He has revealed his kingdom. He died for you.
[32:13] So that you could have the joy. Of no longer living for yourself. But for him. Who died to have you. He wants you to experience the joy.
[32:25] Of living under his divine authority. You've already did the other. You've already lived. If you didn't grow up in a Christian home.
[32:36] You. And get saved at an early early age. You've already lived. Under your own authority. You've already said. My will be done. My kingdom come.
[32:47] My will be done. You've already done that. And you. And you have to know. That. Where did that get you? How did that work for you? I don't know about you.
[32:57] It wasn't working all. It was. It was working. When it worked. And when it didn't work. Oh boy.
[33:09] And the truth of the matter. It really wasn't working at all. That's the truth of the matter. We all live under some type of authority. Whether we like it or not.
[33:20] But we've got to stop listening. To the philosophies of this world. As our guiding authorities. The guiding principles of this world.
[33:32] In psychology. Sociology. Political science. Gone. They all promise something. And I call it revolution.
[33:44] They all say. We can take power. Whether it's racial. Whether it's political. It doesn't matter.
[33:54] Whether it's an education. It's about power. These things want power. These philosophies want power. They want authority. And they say.
[34:05] If you look at us. And listen to our stuff. And jump into our camp. Whether it's QAnon. Or Black Lives Matter. Whatever group it may happen to be.
[34:16] It promise you power. And authority. And here's the thing. If you buy into them. And go ho-ho. You might. You might. You might. You might get revolution.
[34:29] But all you're going to do. Is exchange. Flawed leadership. For more. Flawed. Sinful.
[34:40] Leadership. Under Jesus authority. You will find renewal. Which within the end.
[34:51] Will lead to the greatest revolution. Of all time. It's called. The return of Christ. That's the revolution we need. But.
[35:02] But. But that revolution. Is for renewed people. It's for people. Who are living under the authority. Of Christ now. Because we recognize. He is the word. He is the creator. He is that. He makes me tick.
[35:13] He understands. He knows me better than my psychologist. My counselor. My therapist. My doctor. He knows me better than all of them put together. And. And. He actually loves me.
[35:25] They don't. I'll prove it to you. Don't pay the bill. And you'll see how much they love you.
[35:41] Jesus. Jesus. Paid the bill. He paid all the bill. He said. Listen. Listen. They are too heavy. They can't. They can't afford the therapy they need.
[35:52] I'm going to have to do a renewal project. I'm going to pay the bill for them. So that they can be transformed. From the inside out. Under my authority. As I teach them the word of God.
[36:06] I don't know. Maybe I'm just crazy. I don't know. But I believe what the choir is saying. Our God reigns. That means he has authority over us.
[36:20] Whose claim he reigns. It's a statement of the kingdom. That's why we seek first the kingdom of God. And his righteousness. Because we're saying.
[36:31] We are living under the authority. Of the king. Of the lord of lords. And king of kings. We are saying. That we believe. That he is in total control.
[36:41] And that every aspect of our lives. Our vocations. Our recreations. Our families. Every aspect. Education. Everything is under his authority.
[36:53] And we can do everything we do. In his name. And in a way. That shines him forth. Are you an artist? Make art to the glory of Christ.
[37:04] Under his authority. His authority. Is freedom. Is renewal. Is change from the inside. And his authority.
[37:19] You'll be made whole. You'll be made whole. All the other authorities. Make you a slave.
[37:32] And in the end. Will spew you out. Bring Jesus authority. To the other authorities.
[37:45] And so you can't learn something from sociology. And et cetera. I can say that. I can say that. If it's true. It's God's truth. But bring his authority. His word. To bear.
[37:56] On all of them. Never get in bed with them. Right. Right. You end up with a spiritual STD. That's right.
[38:06] That's right. That's right. That's right. That's right. Jesus brings healing. Under his authority. And these dear folk were about to reject it.
[38:19] Right. Because they didn't know who Jesus was. And some of them didn't want to know. I hope you're not in that categories.
[38:31] I hope. And we'll talk more about it next time. But I hope your heart. Is to hear God's voice. And to know. The truth. And Jesus promised.
[38:44] Under his authority. That you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free. If you know him. And seek him.
[38:56] And submit to his authority. You can trust him. Jesus you can trust. Father. Please help us.
[39:08] Forgive us father. For fighting against your authority in our lives. Forgive us Lord. For thinking we really know better than you do. Or somebody else does. We're scared. Lord. Because human authority has let us down so many times.
[39:22] It has father. You know it's true. And so when Jesus shows up. And says. He speaks. On your authority.
[39:33] Which means he has authority. Because. Who he is. And he says. We need to live this way. And think this way. And believe this way. That's. Sometimes that scares us. Help us Lord.
[39:46] To look at his character. His good. Proven character. And recognize. We can trust him. And help us to proclaim.
[39:59] This one. To our friends and family. To our enemies. To our co-workers. And to our schoolmates. Help us to proclaim this one.
[40:10] Who has all authority. And is totally trustworthy. In his name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:21] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:31] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:42] Amen. Amen.