Pastor Preston Lee
John 6 How many times have you put time and effort into something, only for it to disappoint? We expect someting from stuff we put time and energy into? What happens when we have high hopes from something but it fails us? What happens when we put effort and time into Christ, and he disappoints We need to develop a proper expectation of who Christ is before we learn more about him. John 6 Huge crowd following Jesus (over five thousand) How are they going to feed them all? As the miracle happens, imagine the crowd as they realize who Jesus is. They realize they want to make Jesus king. The crowd seeks Jesus, but because he provided for them materially. The work of God is believing in Jesus Christ.* It was not Moses who provided the bread, but God. Jesus: the signs I have been doing reveal me, but you guys aren’t here for that A sign is only so powerful as what it points to! Imagine a stop sign. Only powerful, if we obey. Judges 6: God raised Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Gideon tests God, and the sign God gives him demonstrates God’s command. But the sign itself is not important. It’s what behind it. Jesus is trying to teach the crowds a deeper truth. The bread Jesus speaks of is not physical and perishes, but it’s one that lasts forever. Jesus reveals himself as the bread of life, having come down from heaven. Jesus makes a claim to deity! He is God! Jesus is drawing upon the “I am”. If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life. The crowds don’t buy it. They look at the sign, but not what is behind it. Jesus continuously points to something greater than the bread, but the people just look at the bread. The crowds came in fixated on a certain want. They are unable to move from the physical to the spiritual - they are unable to move from a daily need to an eternal one. Many leave because they realize Christ has a different mission than them. Many people place their certain expectations on Christ. Christ just wanted them to believe him. They wanted food. They were disappointed. Why couldn’t Christ meet them where they needed him? Simon Peter KNOWS Jesus is God - he knows Jesus holds eternal life. He sees Jesus for who he truly is. There is no other alternative to Jesus. Any expectation is surpassed because he knows who Jesus is. His expectations and faith can’t be shattered because he is in relationship with God himself. Before we become enamoured with what Jesus does, we need to first be witnesses of who He is. *There is a danger of creating a narrative of the Jesus we want him to be.* As we become biblically informed, we will slowly start to learn who Christ is! From the bible we develop our image of Christ. Watch out for your expectations getting in the way of seeing the true Jesus. The Jews want a king, a saviour, who will be their political leader and figure. HOWEVER, Christ came to earth for a different reason and for a greater reason. There are many modern groups that claim Jesus as their own. They take Jesus and make him their champion of their issue. Reflect on your own life: do you project your expectations onto Jesus? We want Jesus to do things for us before we even know who he is? Exhortation: First know who God is. Build a strong biblical foundation first. You will not walk away disappoined. Fun fact Can eat a slice of costco pizza in one bite Moved over 20 times in his life, movingthis saturday from irvine up to the valley loves country music Cuts his own hair Pastor at Community Christian Alliance Church in Northridge ————— PChris Japanese but English pastor of a Chinese Church Came to Christ during college at UCLA Became a pastor at 50 Three children at aacf Pastor of fcbcla for 12 years
0 Comments
Pastor Chris Tomokiyo
The Lordship of Christ Luke 2: Christ introduced as the Lord Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is Lord, whether you believe it or not. Jesus is Lord of everything, of both believers and nonbelievers. What does it mean to have someone as our Lord? Whatever the Lord says, we do Romans 8: Confess = “agree with God”; agreeing with God that what you did what wrong Confess jesus as lord - “i agree jesus is the lord” How does Jesus define lordship? Luke 9:23: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him Why does Jesus keep repeating the struggle of following him? Jesus is Lord; he has a plan. He gifted us to do the job he wants us to do. If we don’t obey, we’re not using what God gave us the opportunity to do. The majority of people won’t be obedient to God’s will. Jesus always confronts pride and self-determination. The kingdom has one lord. What calling Christ as Lord means: Being willing to do whatever he says whatever the cost, and trusting in him You never experience the faithfulness of God until you trust in him completely Many christians jump into the 4 foot pool, when God can hold us up on the ocean. Application of calling Christ our Lord: Our questions are "what, where, who". God is talking "how" and "why". God is more interested in how and why you do something, rather than the what and where and with who you do the thing. God is more interested in the how you do it and the reason you do it. A prayer: “God help me to know why. Help me to know how.” Sermon on the mount (Matthew 7): “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." The one who ACTS on the words will weather the storm. For winter quarter, our large group will be held in Humanities Hall 262, starting at 7:30PM on Wednesdays!
|