[The following is a full manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 22nd of April, 2018. Look for the video of the service on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Today I’d like to wrap up our series based on some of the “I am” statements Jesus made during His ministry. This time, though, it’s going to be more of a “you are” statement. Now that we have a little clearer understanding of how Jesus described Himself, and how that applies to us in our daily walk, I think we need to examine how He pictured us, His church. In other words, let’s look at what Jesus expects of us, those who go by His name. And what better way to do that than to go right to the very start of His church.
So please listen and follow along as I read from chapter 16 of the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew, verses 13 through 19, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
So please listen and follow along as I read from chapter 16 of the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew, verses 13 through 19, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
--Matthew 16:13-19 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You revealed to Simon Peter just who Jesus truly is: the Christ, the Son of the living God. We have the advantage of those words saved by the Apostles, those words You gave them to write. We too know Jesus to be Your Son, who You gave as a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank You for loving us this much.
Enrich us now, Father, with the message You wish us to hear this morning. Show us, please, how better to serve You and accomplish our role in Your great plan for mankind’s salvation. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
A young man was eager to grow in His Christian life. He got a piece of paper and made a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down the things he would give up, the places he would go to minister and the areas of ministry he would enter. He was excited. He took his list to church and placed it on the altar.
He thought he would feel joy, but instead he felt empty. So he went home and started adding to his list. He wrote down more things he would do and wouldn’t do. He took the longer list and again put it on the altar… but still he felt nothing.
He went to a wise, old pastor, told him the situation and asked for help. The pastor said, “Take a blank sheet of paper. Sign your name at the bottom. Put that on the altar.” The young man did, and then peace came to his heart.
I’ve heard it said that a great way to be successful is to look for those places where God is working, and go there and join in. This young man truly wanted to serve God and Jesus, so he made up a list of all the things he would do. He laid that list at the cross of Jesus, so that his Lord might see it and be pleased. But he still felt empty, like something was missing, so he gave it more thought added to his list. Still he felt only emptiness, where he had expected joy.
The problem is, the young man was trying to tell God what needed to be done, rather than waiting for God to tell him what to do. Like the wise old pastor showed this young man, to truly acknowledge Jesus as our Head, to follow His example, to fully serve Him, we must be willing to sign and hand over a blank check of our lives. In the memo line we should write: “Jesus, we are Yours – do with us as You will.”
Yesterday at our NC Regional EA Convocation, the theme was that we must be about our Father God’s business. During His time on earth, that was exactly what Jesus did: He saw to His Father’s business. Everywhere He went He helped people, healing them, curing them, changing their very spirits, and He preached the Good News of reconciliation to God and salvation through our faith and belief in Him as Lord.
Everything He did and said, the example He set, His self-descriptions in the “I am” statements, all show us how to make disciples because that is how He made disciples! Let’s look for a moment at how He called the first five men He chose to be His followers. Listen to the words recorded by Matthew in chapter 4 of his Gospel account, verses 18 through 22 and chapter 9 verse 9…
Jesus said, “Follow Me”, and these men dropped everything they were doing, left behind everything they’d ever known, and followed Jesus in His walk and in His ministry.
Now granted, most of us don’t have the persona, the charisma of God. If I’d go up to someone and simply say, “Follow me”, they’d likely respond with, “Why? Where are we going?”, or “What’s in it for me?” Of course, I don’t want them to follow me, I want them to follow Jesus. But even that would be a challenge, if they didn’t already believe.
According to Matthew’s account, Simon was the first disciple called, along with his brother Andrew, and followed by James, John, and Matthew himself. But it was Simon whom Jesus chose to be the rock on which He would build His church. This is the same emotional, fiery, stubborn, often conflicted disciple that walked on water, even if only for a moment, that tried to tell Jesus what to do and not do, who cut off the ear of a Temple servant. The same Peter that denied even knowing Jesus on the night of His arrest.
Had it been our choice, would we have tapped Simon Peter to be the foundation for what is the most important body in the history of mankind!? Probably not, but Jesus knew what He was doing. This shows that the choice is not up to us, but to God. All we can do, all we need to do, is lead people to Him and let God do the rest.
So the church of our Lord Jesus was founded upon Peter’s back and look at how it grew, at what it is today. Are we still the church Peter founded, are we the church Jesus wants us to be?
We must be a church with a mission, with the mission, the great commission Jesus assigned us. Matthew recorded that assignment like this, in the 28th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 18 through 20…
“Go and make disciples.” Jesus didn’t sit in the synagogue in the middle of Capernaum and wait for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to come to Him. He went to them. And He tells us to go, to go into the greater community and make disciples for Him.
And the nice thing is, He shows us how to do it! Each of the “I am” statements we’ve covered the last few weeks show us how to approach other people, how to reach out to them, how to reach them with the Good News of salvation. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”, our key that we should help provide for the needs of others, just as He did, and while we help provide for their physical needs, we have the chance to also provide for their spiritual needs, showing them Jesus in our acts.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”, telling us that we need to shine His light so others can see the path He laid, the path to salvation. Jesus said, “I am the door”, the access to God and to heaven - we need to show others that they can have the same free access we have.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” We don’t have to give up our lives, but we can make of ourselves a living sacrifice, giving of our resources, our time, our hearts, in service to Jesus and to those we would disciple for Him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We can help others to new life, to new birth in Jesus. The more we do for them, the more they see Jesus at work.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Too many people can’t accept or believe this. But actions speak louder than words. Jesus showed the truth of His words by His love and so can we, by loving unconditionally, sacrificially.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” By our belief we are members of the church Jesus founded on Peter. We are members of the great family of God. We now live in Jesus’ love. We must help others find that same sense of belonging, the same love we enjoy.
By showing the love of Jesus, through our every act, thought, and word, we can help make disciples for our Lord, our Christ. Jesus is our Head - we need to let Him lead us. Let’s follow His example.
In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You have put us in the exact location and time we need to be in order to carry out our part of Your great plan for the salvation of mankind and all of Your creation. Forgive us, please Father, when we hesitate to do our work. Forgive us when we are timid, when we feel inadequate, even when we just refuse. Please help us more closely follow the example Your Son set. Help us better serve You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help as we do so…
Lord Jesus, You showed us how to make disciples, and then You assigned us the responsibility of doing just that. Help us, please Lord, to accept and follow Your lead. You made us Your church. Now help us be Your church. Help us be a church on the move, a church with a mission, a church with a purpose.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
Enrich us now, Father, with the message You wish us to hear this morning. Show us, please, how better to serve You and accomplish our role in Your great plan for mankind’s salvation. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
A young man was eager to grow in His Christian life. He got a piece of paper and made a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down the things he would give up, the places he would go to minister and the areas of ministry he would enter. He was excited. He took his list to church and placed it on the altar.
He thought he would feel joy, but instead he felt empty. So he went home and started adding to his list. He wrote down more things he would do and wouldn’t do. He took the longer list and again put it on the altar… but still he felt nothing.
He went to a wise, old pastor, told him the situation and asked for help. The pastor said, “Take a blank sheet of paper. Sign your name at the bottom. Put that on the altar.” The young man did, and then peace came to his heart.
I’ve heard it said that a great way to be successful is to look for those places where God is working, and go there and join in. This young man truly wanted to serve God and Jesus, so he made up a list of all the things he would do. He laid that list at the cross of Jesus, so that his Lord might see it and be pleased. But he still felt empty, like something was missing, so he gave it more thought added to his list. Still he felt only emptiness, where he had expected joy.
The problem is, the young man was trying to tell God what needed to be done, rather than waiting for God to tell him what to do. Like the wise old pastor showed this young man, to truly acknowledge Jesus as our Head, to follow His example, to fully serve Him, we must be willing to sign and hand over a blank check of our lives. In the memo line we should write: “Jesus, we are Yours – do with us as You will.”
Yesterday at our NC Regional EA Convocation, the theme was that we must be about our Father God’s business. During His time on earth, that was exactly what Jesus did: He saw to His Father’s business. Everywhere He went He helped people, healing them, curing them, changing their very spirits, and He preached the Good News of reconciliation to God and salvation through our faith and belief in Him as Lord.
Everything He did and said, the example He set, His self-descriptions in the “I am” statements, all show us how to make disciples because that is how He made disciples! Let’s look for a moment at how He called the first five men He chose to be His followers. Listen to the words recorded by Matthew in chapter 4 of his Gospel account, verses 18 through 22 and chapter 9 verse 9…
4:18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.--Matthew 4:18-22, 9:9 (NKJV)
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
Now granted, most of us don’t have the persona, the charisma of God. If I’d go up to someone and simply say, “Follow me”, they’d likely respond with, “Why? Where are we going?”, or “What’s in it for me?” Of course, I don’t want them to follow me, I want them to follow Jesus. But even that would be a challenge, if they didn’t already believe.
According to Matthew’s account, Simon was the first disciple called, along with his brother Andrew, and followed by James, John, and Matthew himself. But it was Simon whom Jesus chose to be the rock on which He would build His church. This is the same emotional, fiery, stubborn, often conflicted disciple that walked on water, even if only for a moment, that tried to tell Jesus what to do and not do, who cut off the ear of a Temple servant. The same Peter that denied even knowing Jesus on the night of His arrest.
Had it been our choice, would we have tapped Simon Peter to be the foundation for what is the most important body in the history of mankind!? Probably not, but Jesus knew what He was doing. This shows that the choice is not up to us, but to God. All we can do, all we need to do, is lead people to Him and let God do the rest.
So the church of our Lord Jesus was founded upon Peter’s back and look at how it grew, at what it is today. Are we still the church Peter founded, are we the church Jesus wants us to be?
We must be a church with a mission, with the mission, the great commission Jesus assigned us. Matthew recorded that assignment like this, in the 28th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 18 through 20…
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.--Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
And the nice thing is, He shows us how to do it! Each of the “I am” statements we’ve covered the last few weeks show us how to approach other people, how to reach out to them, how to reach them with the Good News of salvation. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”, our key that we should help provide for the needs of others, just as He did, and while we help provide for their physical needs, we have the chance to also provide for their spiritual needs, showing them Jesus in our acts.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”, telling us that we need to shine His light so others can see the path He laid, the path to salvation. Jesus said, “I am the door”, the access to God and to heaven - we need to show others that they can have the same free access we have.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” We don’t have to give up our lives, but we can make of ourselves a living sacrifice, giving of our resources, our time, our hearts, in service to Jesus and to those we would disciple for Him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We can help others to new life, to new birth in Jesus. The more we do for them, the more they see Jesus at work.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Too many people can’t accept or believe this. But actions speak louder than words. Jesus showed the truth of His words by His love and so can we, by loving unconditionally, sacrificially.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” By our belief we are members of the church Jesus founded on Peter. We are members of the great family of God. We now live in Jesus’ love. We must help others find that same sense of belonging, the same love we enjoy.
By showing the love of Jesus, through our every act, thought, and word, we can help make disciples for our Lord, our Christ. Jesus is our Head - we need to let Him lead us. Let’s follow His example.
In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You have put us in the exact location and time we need to be in order to carry out our part of Your great plan for the salvation of mankind and all of Your creation. Forgive us, please Father, when we hesitate to do our work. Forgive us when we are timid, when we feel inadequate, even when we just refuse. Please help us more closely follow the example Your Son set. Help us better serve You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help as we do so…
Lord Jesus, You showed us how to make disciples, and then You assigned us the responsibility of doing just that. Help us, please Lord, to accept and follow Your lead. You made us Your church. Now help us be Your church. Help us be a church on the move, a church with a mission, a church with a purpose.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
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