[0:00] Amen. Well, we have a lot to talk about. We may not finish it, but I'm coming back next week. So we can finish it then. But I want to spend the next two weeks! Now, look at your sheet.
[0:42] And I will tell you, when you refer to your sheet, there is a quote from the Tabletop magazine. It's a very, very important quote. And I shall read it and listen carefully to what it says.
[0:56] It says, Our theology will determine what happens to us for all eternity. So it is important to engage it rightly.
[1:10] Now, let's look more at this quote. Let's get very close to this. Very important to understand what's being said. That theology matters. Do you understand that?
[1:20] Theology means the study of God. It is so very important. What you believe matters. And it matters not just for now, but it matters for all eternity.
[1:35] It matters what you believe about God. It is so very important. And that's what we will be talking about. Who is God? What He's done in the person of Jesus Christ.
[1:47] But also it says that we need to engage it rightly. Now, what does it mean to engage it rightly? We need to be sure that we are listening and obeying what God has said.
[1:59] So the question is, how do we know what God has said? How do we know what's the truth about God? How would you know? How would you determine who God is and what He's done?
[2:13] How would you know what God has said? And that's why I have the verse. Look at the verse on the sheet. It's Deuteronomy 29.29. Very important verse.
[2:23] And I'm going to read it. It says, Now notice that it says, See, God knows a whole lot more than He has revealed.
[2:49] God knows everything. But it shows that we don't need to know everything ourselves. But what He has revealed is what we need to know about God and how to know Him.
[3:05] So it's very important. The living God has made known who He is and what we are to believe and what we are to do. It comes by direct revelation from God.
[3:18] God speaks to the prophets, to the writers, to the apostles. And we have the Word of God, the Scriptures. That's why we read and study the Scriptures together.
[3:31] Because it's important to understand the truth about God is revealed to us by God Himself. The Bible, the Scriptures are God's words. We must listen and engage the Scriptures rightly.
[3:45] And that's what we will seek to do. And this afternoon, we're going to specifically see what God's Word says about Jesus. You will notice in these verses that we're going to be looking at, that as people are confronted with Jesus, some believe in Him as Lord and Savior, and some, sadly, will reject Him.
[4:13] And you'll be looking at verses in the book of Acts, and some verses in Matthew, and John, and Mark as well. Now look at Acts 23, 1 and 2.
[4:24] It's a very interesting verse. And I shall read it. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.
[4:46] And then in verse 2 it says, And the high priest Ananias commended those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. So that's the first two verses of chapter 23.
[5:00] And you think, why is that in there? Why does God want you to know that? Well, it's in God's Word. He wants you to know that for a reason.
[5:11] Notice that Paul was hit in the mouth by the Jewish leaders, by a Jewish leader, but the Jews refused to listen to what Paul had to say.
[5:25] They did not, they refused to accept what the Bible said about Jesus. So Paul was talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.
[5:38] And as you see in the chapter and before, in the previous chapters, he said, You need to know this Jesus. And in this chapter, he gets hit in the mouth.
[5:50] Because they're saying, Stop saying that! Now that's opposition. See, they responded negatively and refused to listen to God's Word.
[6:07] But see, the problem is not against, it's not against Paul per se. It's against his message. He's talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.
[6:21] And when he does that, he gets struck in the mouth. Stop saying that! It's what's happening in the chapter. It's all about Jesus, really. And who he is that they reject.
[6:34] Now look at Acts chapter 28, verse 3. It's on your sheet. It says, When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
[6:50] Now again, why are you supposed to know that? And so the question is, why does the snake bite Paul and not somebody else?
[7:06] Now, where have you heard about snakes before? How about Genesis chapter 3? See, Satan is really behind what the snake is doing.
[7:21] See, you have the Jewish livid who's in the mouth. Now you have this serpent who latches onto his hand. It's a viper. He should have died, but God saves him.
[7:33] Because Satan, also, he hates what Paul is doing. He hates the message. Do you see that? He hates that he is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ and he'll do anything in his power.
[7:51] I've got to stop Paul from talking about Jesus. So throughout the book of Acts, you see God bringing many to faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.
[8:07] but you also see much opposition to preaching and teaching of the Christians, Paul and others. Remember, the opposition is against the message of Jesus.
[8:26] If Paul and the Christians would stop talking about Jesus, everything would be okay. But they cannot because that's the message of the Bible.
[8:37] We must talk about Jesus. Now look at Acts 28. It says, He, that is Paul, he lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him proclaiming the kingdom of God and preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
[9:01] you know, to me, this is the one of the most amazing verses in all of the Bible. I love this verse. Because you think that you should read just the opposite.
[9:18] That Paul's in prison in this verse, he's in prison. It should say Paul is extremely discouraged. He's depressed.
[9:28] nothing's getting proclaimed. He's in prison. He's in chains. He can do nothing. Is that what it says? Is that what it says in this verse? It says, He taught with all boldness and without hindrance.
[9:45] And that's how the book of Acts ends. Isn't that a great verse to end the book? It says, with all boldness and without hindrance.
[9:58] See, my friends, God always gets the last word. God will always get the last word. He is always and has always been the sovereign Lord over all creation.
[10:16] He is in control. No matter what you see, hear, read, you may be thinking, oh, this world's falling apart. But who's in control? God's in control.
[10:27] He knows what's going on. He knows what he's doing and he is working. He is working in ways which we don't even know. And he's doing amazing things because he is the Lord over all things.
[10:41] So despite the opposition of Jesus, the church keeps growing. Now, specifically, why is there so much opposition to Jesus?
[10:53] Now, I want to look at John 15 in a few other verses that says this, if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
[11:04] Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
[11:17] If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. but all these things they will do to you on account of my name because they do not know him who sent me.
[11:33] You see that? But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, that mean on account of Jesus' name.
[11:43] It's all about Jesus. It's not about you my friends. It's about Jesus. See, Satan and the world just do not like at all what God is doing.
[11:59] Satan hates you. But see, the thing is, after Jesus ascended to heaven, Satan can no longer attack Jesus like he did on earth.
[12:11] So Satan is thinking, now who can I, I can't attack Jesus, he's always sent into heaven. Now who's the next thing, now who's the closest thing to Jesus that I can attack?
[12:24] His people. Because it says in the Bible, you are in Christ. See? So then Satan says, if I can't attack Jesus, I will attack you.
[12:38] And that's why it's opposition, because you belong to someone else, not someone else. is Jesus. Because of your relationship with Jesus.
[12:53] Look at John 3, 36. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
[13:12] Did you hear those words? Satan and the devil hates every single word I just read to you. It says here, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
[13:30] You see that? Isn't that great? But then it says, but those who don't obey the Son, they will not see life. It says the wrath of God remains on him. So if someone doesn't know Jesus has a Son, if someone does not know Jesus is Lord and Savior, the wrath of God remains on them.
[13:49] Isn't that what it says? I didn't like this, God revealed this. How can I not say anything? People need Jesus.
[14:03] He's the only way to know God. He accepts so many refuse to listen. It's very sad. But many people have no idea who it is.
[14:15] Many of them are waiting for somebody to say something to them. We'll talk about that more next week. John 8 24. I told you that Jesus I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.
[14:33] You know this sounds a lot like John 3 36. See I said before it's not about you it's about Jesus.
[14:50] See Christianity is not something you do Christianity is something you believe. Do you see that? You have to get it right about Jesus.
[15:04] If you don't get it right about Jesus you are not a believer a Christian. It's not what you do it's what you believe about Jesus.
[15:18] Unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. Do you see that? Each one must trust in Jesus alone as Savior and Lord.
[15:31] Look at Matthew 16 15 through 17 He said to them but who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter replied you are the Christ the son of the living God and Jesus answered him blessed are you Simon Bar Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my father who is in heaven see Jesus is in fact the son of God he just said yes I am to Peter he said that this is not made up by man it's the living God who revealed that truth to you do you see that in the verse the truth about Jesus comes from God not from man he is the son of the living God God we must put our faith and trust in him look at
[16:35] John 18 6 when Jesus said to them I am he they drew back and fell to the ground now what in the world does that mean you know I talk to a lot of people in my life as soon I tell them my name is David no one has ever fallen back to the ground!
[16:54] what is different here notice that Jesus says here I am he you know what it says in the Greek it says in the Greek all he says is I am I am and the answer falls back because Jesus just announced the name of the living God that you found in Exodus chapter 3 he says I am and the Jews say whoa I mean even if enemies just fall back and who is this man who there's an awe and fear he just mentioned the name of God no wonder they fell back who is this guy there's nobody like him he's amazing and that's why he fell down who is he and look at Acts 4 12 and there is salvation in no one else there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved and this chapter is talking about
[18:04] Jesus and it's first said there is salvation in no one else there is not two ways or three or four or five ways to know God there's only one way to know God and that's the Lord Jesus Christ there's no other name under heaven and if you don't know Jesus Lord and Savior the wrath of God remains among you the wrath of anyone who doesn't know Jesus that's why we say something they need to hear this he is in fact the only way there's one other verse I want to read Mark 4 41 it says they were filled with great fear and said to one another who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him see Jesus had just called the storm and the sea and they're in his boat and Jesus says peace be still and the waves stop the storm stop the rain stop the thunder stop and now they're sitting there thinking what in the world who are you who in the world are you
[19:18] Jesus see that's the question you want everybody to ask that's the question I want every Muslim I talk to ask okay who is this man that is the best question anybody can ask there is something different about Jesus so my friends you must get it right about Jesus it is so important for you to know who he is and why he came your eternal death depends on knowing who he is and what he's done because only through Jesus through his death and resurrection are you brought into a personal relationship with him with your sins being forgiven there's no other way now we got about maybe four or five minutes what in the world does this have to do with
[20:22] Muslims you've probably guessed well I'm going to tell you I'm going to read a verse from the Quran and I want you to listen to what it says I want you to think back of what we just heard throughout the whole afternoon these verses from the Bible and I'm going to read just one verse in the Quran that Muslims tell me and I want you to listen to it this verse is written so that you will not become not stay Christians I want you to listen to it it is chapter 9 verse 30 in the Quran it says this the Christians say the Messiah is the Son of God that is their statement from their mouths they imitate the saying of those who disbelieve before them may God curse them how they are deluded did you hear that did you hear that do you see why
[21:31] Muslims believe Jesus the Quran just said that you being Christians and I do believe Jesus Son of God and Christians do believe the Bible said Jesus Son of God the Quran just called us disbelievers We are deluded and we are going to be cursed by God for believing that that's what the Quran says and so I want you to understand something here Muslims have no idea who Jesus really is they have no idea they are completely ignorant they think they know but they don't know they need to hear who Jesus really is because only Jesus as the Son of God as Savior and Lord and God can he take away our fear guilt and shame forever and bring us into right standing before God they need to hear and I'm going to read before we close
[22:33] I'm going to read the verse of John 3 6 again it says whoever believes in the Son has eternal life but whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life for the wrath of God remains on him so my friend the wrath of he is who he says he is so how in the world are they going to be saved they must hear about Jesus from Jesus to revelation the truth of Jesus is clearly taught taught but the vast majority of Muslims have never read the Bible or ever has someone taught them what we believe as Christians but I want to end with some good news before next week so you'll come back next week my friends today there are thousands of Muslims who are becoming followers of Jesus I've met maybe a couple hundred in my life there are many coming of the
[23:35] Lord they believe in him as the Savior as Lord as God as Son of God they do believe that and they are involved in the church they are born again believers so be encouraged so next week what we'll do I will share how God is changing so many lives in the Muslim world and then how you can be involved in sharing within the goodness of Jesus too because that's what God wants from you and from me let's pray