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by Senior Pastor, Denis Beausejour.
Series: Practicing the Presence of Jesus - Encounters that Renovate the Heart
Message: In The Father's Authority
Text: John 7:14-36
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The "trial
motif" continues as we move past the halfway mark of the Feast of
Tabernacles. Jesus is being examined and accused, and the depth of his
knowledge and speed of his wit and intellect is being displayed.
He faces the crowds, the
people of the city. He also faces the religious leaders. Many placed their
faith in him. But also many reject him. Jesus always causes that kind of
division - some respond and others reject.
One of the challenging
issues here is the religious spirit - the dark reflexes of religiosity that
seek to preserve human traditions over God's truth. Is this dark reflex a
temptation at MCC? If we are honest we will say yes! Through it all, Jesus
challenges us and stands in a tremendous place of authority. We learn that he
is standing in the Father's authority. Once again John is creating an
encounter for us - how will we respond?
Main Idea: Jesus
operated in the authority of the Father and that is our calling today.
When we place our faith
in Jesus, we are adopted by the Father. See John 1:12-13 and Matthew 3:16-17.
He sees the blood of Jesus on us and imparts His righteousness on us -
Romans 3:22. As we learn, believe and appropriate this truth by the Holy
Spirit, we begin to live in the "blessing of the Father". We
walk in the authority of Sons and Daughters of the King of the Universe. We are
deeply loved, accepted, sung over, and blessed with the presence of God
himself. We are released to change the world (Matthew 28:16-20) in his
authority! This is also the role of Dads today - to call out this
inherited greatness in our kids! Let's see how thoroughly Jesus' authority
speaks from this text into our lives today:
1. The authority of his
teaching and application (Vs. 14-19)
- Jesus was not taught
in the seminary of the day, he was taught by obedience (Hebrews 5: 7-10) and
by the testing and refinement of temptation under the direction of the
Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1)
- likewise, the apostles
were unschooled (Acts 4:13) but they had been with Jesus (and the Father)
- The Rabbis and Scribes
quoted precedent and tradition - Jesus quoted his Father
- over 75 times in the
gospels (25 in John) Jesus says "I tell you the truth" (Greek:
starts with Amen, Amen)
- Jesus reminds us that
we have to act in faith before receiving revelation
- and when we do, truth
self-authenticates (see v. 17)
- Jesus challenges his
hearers where they have broken the ways of God (see 7:7)
- Jesus demands a
response in truth - and some reject his authority and rebel
2. The authority of his
miracles and actions (Vs. 20-27)
- The crowd turns on
Jesus and accuses him
- Jesus refers to
his Sabbath healing in John chapter 5 and their desire to kill him
- he challenges their
practice of circumcision as an example of the "hierarchy of
precedence"
- Jesus is above the
Sabbath - he is Lord over it (Luke 6:5) - see Hebrews 4:1-13
- His command of the Law
is amazing - see Matthew 12:5-7 - he wants mercy!
- The greater
perspective of grace, love and mercy always over-rides the law
- Jesus has an impact,
the crowds begin to see he may be the One
3. The authority of his
judgments and prophecies (Vs. 28-36)
- The accurate judgment
of apostasy - Jesus declares they do not know His Father (Vs. 28-29)
- The prophecy of heaven
is not comprehended by most
- But some come to faith
(Vs. 31)
- The leaders and
some of the crowd are left in turmoil and confusion (Vs.
35-36) although in a wonderful
example
of the Savior's irony, their questions foreshadow the Great Commission
- but the
rejecters are still responsible to discern truth! Romans 1:18-20
- Those who believe are
given access to the Son's total authority - Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22
- Those who do not have
a tough future - see 8:21
- May we see, know,
believe, and experience the authority of the Father as we follow Jesus!
Practicing His Presence:
Communion
As we celebrate the
Lord's Supper together, may we do so with The Father's Blessing today!
Resources:
1. The Father's Love
Letter - a beautiful summary
of Bible verses that point to the amazing love and blessing of the Father. See
our web site or http://fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html
2. The Difference a
Father Makes , by
Ed Tandy McGlasson see also this brief video of Ed speaking truth for today: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1e18d1fa3521aaf0c5a2
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