Lost in Translation

Notes: Lost in Translation
Matthew 16
Pastor Greg Laurie
SERIES: God Came Near
Sunday, March 8, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Greg is saying that as he gets older, his hearing just is not as good as it used to be. He says in bed he can hear chirping birds but in a crowd he can't hear like he used too. 

American advertising is some times lost in translation to other countries. Like as Schweppes advertised in Italy its Tonic Water was translated as toilet water.

In Matthew 16 Jesus Christ's words were lost in translation. They thought Jesus Christ was coming to rule, when He was actually coming to die.

A question everyone must answer: Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Matthew 16:13-18 NKJV
[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.

Jesus Christ asked who did men say I am? Ultimately, one day, everyone will say, "Jesus Christ is Lord."

Four Options of who Jesus is:
A legend, a liar, a lunatic or the Lord.

You can't just call Him a "super good guy", the scriptures would not back that up. Either the scriptures are true or they aren't.

It's one thing to say that Jesus Christ is Lord at church, but are you saying it outside of church?

Luke 9:26 NKJV
[26] For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:20 NKJV
[20] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."

Matthew 16:15 NKJV
[15] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

God confined Himself to a single human cell, and was born like the rest of us.

Matthew 16:16 NKJV
[16] Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 16:18 NKJV
[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.

The word used for Peter, is Petra, it is a Big Rock, like the rock of Gibraltar. It is the rock the Church is built on, not of Peter himself.

Many build on the wrong foundation. 

Build your life on Christ, He will sustain you through the worst storms. 

Angels and demons both have rankings, among these rankings there is infrastructure. The gates of Hell are part of that infrastructure.

Through evangelism we are attacking the gates of Hell.

No one is beyond the reach of God.

Matthew 16:21 NKJV
[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.

This is specific.

Matthew 16:22 NKJV
[22] Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"

Peter wanted to protect Jesus Christ, but that was the devil would want Peter to say, wanting to stop Jesus Christ going to the Cross.

Satan will come to us and try to stop us. He will come to us at the beginning of our lives, the end and in the middle.

Tripping you up at the end is something satan would love to do. Discrediting all you have done. 

Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV
[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?

What is this Cross that Christ is calling us to carry?

The Romans may not have invented the Cross, but they perfected it. The cross was barbaric and horrible punishment, it would have been a scary thought for them.

Matthew 16:25 NKJV
[25] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

You find your life by losing it! 

This is not traditional thinking.

You will never find fulfillment by chasing it. You will find it by finding Jesus.

By not denying God you can do it in all kinds of ways. Like praying before a meal in public, or putting your spouse first. Denying yourself can be done in many ways. 

Galatians 2:20 NKJV
[20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Matthew 16:25 NKJV
[25] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Live a Holy life and you will live a Happy life.

A "Wholly" lived life is a happy life.

Again, who is Jesus to you?