“YOU’RE NOT IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT”

  (Matt. 16:21-27)

“FOLLOW ME” SERIES – MESSAGE #4

Originally preached September 25, 2011

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and FOLLOW ME.

25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

INTRODUCTION   

Today’s “Special”:  “Dad at the supermarket”:

My father was completely lost in the kitchen and never ate unless someone prepared a meal for him. When Mother was ill, however, he volunteered to go to the supermarket for her. She sent him off with a carefully numbered list of seven items.

Dad returned shortly, very proud of himself, and proceeded to unpack the grocery bags. He had one bag of sugar, two dozen eggs, three hams, four boxes of detergent, five boxes of crackers, six eggplants, and seven green peppers.

We’ve talked often about our hunger for God – what about His hunger for us:  HE wants to be in the driver’s seat of our lives.  How do I know that Jesus is in the driver’s seat of my life? 

  PRAYER

I. I FOLLOW HIS PETRA  (vs. 16-19)

   Peter answers Jesus’ question on His identity (v. 16)

   Jesus responds with 2 “eye pictures” that don’t show up in the English:  

• (1)  You are “Petros” (pebble), and 
• (2)  On this “Petra” (Boulder like the Rock of Gibraltar) I will build My Church.                    Jesus uses Peter’s declaration to show Himself as both the Boulder/Foundation of the Church, and the Boulder Guide of our lives.

II.       I FOLLOW HIS PASSION (v. 21)

   A word we have lost which was revived by Mel Gibson is “passion” – that is what the cross is all about!

   Jesus shared often (at least 10 times) about His passion – note responses!

   in fact, the communion is done “in remembrance” because we are quick to forget.

   What can change a community faster: people in church or to the cross?

   His passion is the basis for the gospel  (1 Cor. 15:3,4):

“ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…”

III.       I FOLLOW HIS PATH  (vs. 22-23)

   Jesus’ path is to Jerusalem, the way of death

   Paul reminds us of this:

• “…according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  (Philippians 1:20-21)   
• “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”  (Romans 6:13)

IV.       I FOLLOW HIS PURPOSE  (vs. 24-26)

Illustration: An old car was being driven through town when the elderly passenger noticed that her elderly driver drove through a red light.  She looked over at her driver but, noticing that she wasn’t too concerned, let it pass.

They then went through a second red light, and, once again, the elderly passenger noticed her elderly driver not so concerned about this indiscretion.

And then?  The vehicle went through a THIRD red light, at which time the elderly passenger exclaimed, “Mabel, you need to be more careful.  That’s the third red light you’ve driven through.”

To which Mabel replied, “oh, I’m driving?  I thought you were driving!”

   “Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”  (The Message)

“Suffering” is part of His purposes for His children – “embrace it” as it causes the world to see Jesus through us – REAL Christianity!

CONCLUSION

How will I know that my life was lived with the Lord Jesus in the Driver’s Seat of my life?  

Are our lives lived with Jesus’ splendor in view, with our lives an open book before His Throne? (“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”   v. 27)

OR are our lives lived for today, and not, as the old song said, “with eternity’s values in view”?

Close in prayer

FOLLOW ME SERIES – MESSAGE # 3

Matthew 10;28 ff

Originally preached September 11, 2011

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?

And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men,

him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. vs. 28-32

INTRODUCTION

There are many times you can communicate much when you ask a simple question which starts with, “where were you when…”. 

For example, “Where were you when the Apollo 11 crew landed on the moon on July 20, 1969?”  “Where were you when JFK was shot?”.  “Where were you when Nixon resigned?”.  “Where were you when you heard that Elvis died?”.

And…”where were you on 9/11/2001?”.  Most of us have an answer.

ILLUSTRATION:  The birth of a 9/11 baby

Here are “Reflections from a  new father” as given by David Skidmore, a youth pastor whose daughter was born on, you guessed it, 9/11/2001:

“I have looked forward to writing this article for…oh…about nine months, and I had hoped that they would be joyous words devoted totally to my gratitude to the Father for bestowing the same title upon me…again. Indeed, I am thankful that Anna Belle Skidmore was born on September 11, 2001 (7 lbs., 13 oz. and 20 inches long with red hair and blue eyes like her sister), but my heart is heavy that as our family added a member, so many lost those whom they had brought into this world. The world Anna Belle was welcomed into is a different world than the one that awaited her one day earlier, but I have to reflect on the words of the doctor as she held my daughter in the air for her first unaided breath as a TV over our bed told of the unfolding drama, horror, and tragedy. She turned to everyone in the room and said, “May this child be a reminder of who is really in control of our world.”…

“On the way to the church to write these words, I heard the “Star Spangled Banner” being played on the radio. On either side of the road were flags hung by the doors of several houses — one even hand drawn by a child, but I have to trust that it is not only the flag to which we gained a greater allegiance this day, but also we became aware of our need for our nation to truly be “under God.” If July 4th is our Independence Day, perhaps September 11th should become our “Dependence Day”…a moment in which we as a nation came to realize that our total hope, future, and lives were placed more securely in His hands.”

ILLUSTRATION:     ESPN article on sports on 9/11

More out of curiosity than anything else, I did a search on the computer for anything under the subject “10 years later”.  Being sports oriented as I am, I should not have been surprised by an ESPN article to be published this week in their magazine.  The article is entitled, “A Whole New Game”. Here are some choice excerpts:

“LATE THAT SUMMER OF 2001, the New York Giants began referring to themselves as the NYPD Blue, running plays in practice with names like “rescue” and “explosion.” They had lost in the Super Bowl the season before and expected to return and win. The captains recited an informal motto between 100-yard sprints at training camp: “Be ready to sacrifice.”

Their season opener was scheduled for Sept. 10 in Denver. It was a matchup of elite teams on Monday Night Football, with 15 million viewers expected, and the first game at Invesco Field. Giants coach Jim Fassel called a team meeting three days before the game and delivered a speech he had made dozens of times in his career, a speech he would never fully believe again.

“Starting now,” he told his players, “this game is the only thing that matters.” …

   19 YEARS HAVE passed since the terrorist attacks reconfigured America’s priorities, and sports are no longer as carefree as they were in those first days of September. What once offered a respite from the real world has instead become a part of it. A trip to the stadium sometimes means a metal detector at the entrance, a mandatory bag check inside the gate, a no-fly zone overhead and armed police officers standing alongside autograph seekers outside locker rooms. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has helped train colleges on how to guard against terrorism at sporting events. In 2006, the FBI investigated potential terrorist threats at NFL stadiums…

Every fan is a potential threat. Every athlete is a potential fraud.

“I think of Sept. 11 as the major marker in my life, in sports, in the history of this country,” Fassel says. “It’s a stark divide. There’s what it was like before, and then there’s what it’s like after.””

The world has changed much in 10 years.  Just go to an airport if you don’t believe that.   And make sure you’re there at least 2 hours before flight time!

But the greatest change perhaps is our understanding of “fear”.  Before 9/11, we had no fear of any country or religion.  After 9/11, there is a national fear of those whom we have identified as “radical Islamists”.  And unfortunately, that means that anyone who LOOKS like an Islamist is now a potential terrorist – at least that is what some say.

What is the Christian response?  Our text in Matthew 10 shows things which should be our guide, our attitudes, for a world which as much now as then, needs to hear a true gospel from those who say they love Jesus.  

Prayer

Over 2,000 years ago, our Savior gave the Christian response to “9/11 plus 10” in Matthew 10:

1.   Fear eternal God, not mortal man  (vs. 28-31)
>>> Is Christ our only fear?
2.   Confess God freely before a world which hungers to hear (vs. 32-33)
Illustration:  Ray Stedman on “from darkness to light”.

The late Pastor  Stedman told the story about a fellow in his church who was concerned about a friend of his who was severely depressed.  But the friend was an avowed atheist, agnostic, anti-God, everything.  So Ray offered to talk with him.  The man came to Ray, and Ray offered two things to the man:  “if you are willing, I will read a word of Scripture, and I will pray.  That’s it.”  The man agreed, and that’s what Ray did.  He then asked the man, “does that mean anything to you?”, to which the man answered, “no.”  But the man was willing to come back.  And for weeks, months, and even years, every week the man came to Ray, and the results were the same.  And one week Ray read a Scripture, prayed, and asked, “does that mean anything to you?” and the man said, “well, yes it did.”  And Ray said, “you meditate on that this week.”  The next week came the same response.  This went on for several months when one day the man said to Ray, “I have come to know Jesus as Savior!”.  The man is now a leading servant in the church Ray founded in California.

What happened?  Ray realized every man, woman, boy, and girl, is in a journey to know God. We have no control over the time length of that journey, but we DO have the light which can change a heart.

>>> Is Christ our only confession?

3.  Find our true worth in being a follower of the cross (vs. 34-37,39)
>>> Is Christ our only Lord?

4. Give a cup of water in Jesus’ name  (vs. 40-42)
>>> Is Christ our only gift?

CONCLUSION

Go back to verse 38:  “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

The key thought is to answer individually the question, >>> Is Christ our only worth?

A person of Jesus’ day would know immediately what Jesus is requesting.  The imagery would be of someone carrying his cross outside the city of Jerusalem to a Roman execution.  Jesus is asking, “Am I your only worth?”  “Will you take up your cross for that which has eternal value?”.

“9/11 Plus 10” has shown the need for our complete devotion to Christ alone.  And the test of that devotion is obedience.

CLOSE IN PRAYER

By Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Retired Pastor

(Matthew 9:27-31)

Message #2 from the “Follow Me” Series
Originally preached September 4, 2011

INTRODUCTION  

Today’s Special:  “A Diary Funny” .

WIFE’S DIARY:

Tonight I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much.

I asked him what was wrong. He said, “Nothing.” I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving.

I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t reply, “I love you, too.” When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted  nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I  decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep; I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HUSBAND’S DIARY:    

“A four putt! Who FOUR putts? Arrrgghh.”

*  Identify yourself:  Are you a “fan” or “follower” of Jesus?

*  “Follow Me” in Scripture will assist us in that answer!   

Prayer

1. A SIMPLE STORY  (Matthew 9:27-31)

   This passage is in the context of our previous message, where Matthew had come to follow Jesus.    Perhaps the blind men were in the area when Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow Me.”  Perhaps they knew Matthew and his reputation for being a scoundrel.  And now?  Matthew following Jesus?  Impossible!

Our text tells us about these two blind men who follow Jesus, present themselves to Him, and then are amazed that He asks them one simple question, “do you believe that I can do for you what you’ve been wanting all your lives, to see?”  And then He replies, “it will be done to you according to your faith.”  And it was!

What faith?  What is there in this passage that we can follow as well?

Without taking too many liberties, let’s look at the dynamics of their faith!

2.  AN AWESOME FAITH!

* They had an eternal affliction – they were blind.  There were no eye surgeons.  Their condition was hopeless.   Their physical hopelessness was similar to the spiritual hopelessness of their – and our – day.   Over and over Jesus calls the religious leaders of the day “blind guides”.

But our text tells us that they knew Isaiah 42:6,7.  They knew that the Messiah was sent to heal the blindnesses of the world – especially the spiritual.

*  They followed Jesus  Considering their blindness, this no doubt was no easy task.  They were out of their comfort zone, literally.  And yet the text says, they followed Him wherever He went.

*  They knew the Scriptures:  “Son of David” is a Messianic term indicating that they believed the One they were following was the One promised in Scriptures to one day sit on David’s throne as King of Israel, and of the world.  “Have mercy on us” is a phrase showing their remembrance of the mercy seat of the temple where animals were sacrificed to atone for national sins.  This reminds us today of the cross.  “Yes Lord” is a submission to Christ’s Lordship.  Even if it is only to His being Master of their lives, that, too says volumes.  How many masters are there in the world? They followed but One!

• “According to their faith” =

(1) A trust in truth 

(Heb. 11:1,6): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

(2) Active in love 

(1 Cor. 13:2):  “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love  [“don’t love others” New Living Translation], I am nothing.”

(3) A trust in God’s Word 

(Romans10:17):  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

(4) A focus on the eternal 

(2 Corinthians 5:7):  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

(5) A powerful weapon: 

(Ephesians 6:16)  “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

CONCLUSION:  

With that faith, they spread what they knew all over their world!  

Do we?

Close in Prayer

FOLLOW ME SERIES – MESSAGE #1

“MATTHEW THE FOLLOWER” (Matt. 9:9-13; Joshua 14:6)

Originally preached August 21, 2011

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Retired Pastor

INTRODUCTION:    

Today’s Special:  “Goldberg Brothers” .   

The four Goldberg brothers – Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max – invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner.

On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford’s office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.

Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car.

They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner, and cooled the car off immediately.

The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.

The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label – The Goldberg Air-Conditioner – on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.

Now old man Ford was proud of the Ford name, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg’s name on two million Ford cars.

They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million and that just their first names would be shown.  And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show on the controls. Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max.

ILLUSTRATION:  Thuvia’s ID theft  The other day my wife received an email verifying her transaction of $68.13 from her Paypal account to someone named “Sari in Europe”.  The only problem is that she doesn’t have a Paypal account. AND the transaction route was from my checking account, not from Thuvia’s.   It took several hours to eliminate this transaction, but the emotional consequences were understandably many!

*  Which leads us to a good question –  What is YOUR ID:  are you a “fan” or “follower” of Jesus?

*  The phrase “Follow Me”  in Scripture will assist us in that answer!   Prayer

1.  Jesus loves the individual faith (Matt. 9:9ff)

a.  Ministry of vs. 1–7 viewed by the crowd (v. 8)

b. Ministry of v. 9 only to an individual (Matthew)

c.  “Follow Me” – Matthew knew this to mean:

1.  “Serve Me, and not Rome nor yourself”

2.  Hunger only for the Big Picture – My Glory

3.  My job is your job  (tax collecting, writing a book of compassion for my fellow Jews) (see Col. 3:23; 1 Cor. 10:31)

4.  Your ridicule is My ridicule (v. 10ff)

5.  Your invitation is my invitation (v. 10; Luke 5:27 identifies this as Matthew’s house)  (See also Matt. 11:28-30)

2.  Jesus loves the individual focus  (Josh. 14:6ff)

a.  Contrast in worship – Caleb was a “Kenizzite”, thus a descendant of Esau who represented the flesh and not the faith of Israel.  Caleb’s worship of the true God was seen in his representing the tribe of Judah.

b.  Contrast in walk – “if the Lord is with me”. Caleb said to Joshua, “It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them [the Anakim at Hebron] out as the Lord said.” Caleb was willing to exercise his faith because his focus was on God alone!

CONCLUSION:

We call ourselves “people of faith”.  Based upon the accounts of Matthew and Caleb, how would we respond to these heart questions:

1.  I say “I follow Jesus” – am I still following my plan for my life, or is my plan surrendered to His plan?

2.  I say “I follow Jesus” – when people look at my home and my job, do they see Jesus on display, or me?

3.  I say “I follow Jesus” – am I looking for opportunities to include Him in my day?

4. I say “I follow Jesus” – like Caleb, am I looking for ways to exercise my faith?

IF I’M NOT “FOLLOWING JESUS”, WHO AM I FOLLOWING?

                     Close in prayer