Only Jesus!

Notes: Only Jesus!

Matthew 17

Pastor Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM: Harvest Worship Band

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday March 15, 2015

In this message from Pastor Greg Laurie, we learn how "mountain top" experiences help to prepare us for the valleys of life. It's Jesus alone that saves us and keeps us, even when we experience hardship.

Have you ever felt Jesus Christ in your life in a personal way? Like while reading the Bible, or at church or something. Imagine how it was for Peter, James and John when they got to see Jesus Christ transfigured.

We want to live on the mountaintops of life. But those are what prepare us for the valleys of life.

Matthew 17:1-8 NKJV

[1] Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; [2] and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. [3] And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. [4] Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." [5] While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" [6] And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. [7] But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." [8] When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

From there at the transfiguration, He looked backward at His birth and forward to the Cross.

This was a glimpse of Jesus Christ's glory.

Matthew 16:28 NKJV

[28] "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

The transfiguration was a fulfillment of that.

Moses and Elijah are there speaking with Him.

Why did He only take Peter, James and John? Were they His super disciples, or was it because they needed to see it? Extra attention from Jesus for them to learn.

James and John were called the Sons of Thunder. They wanted to call fire down on people in the past.

Jesus Christ took Peter, James and John along on three occasions:

1. To the home of Jairus.

2. To the Garden of Gethsemane

3. The mount of Transfiguration

This could be to prepare them.

Patmos is where John was sent to be not heard from again, yet from there he wrote the book of Revelation.

God prepares us. Everything you go through in life is preparing you for something else.

Matthew 17:2 NKJV

[2] and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Could you imagine seeing the light coming from Jesus Christ just for a second? Jesus showed what He could do if He wanted to during His transfiguration.

It is interesting Moses and Elijah were there. Moses really represents the Law and Elijah really represents the prophets very well.

How did they know it was Moses and Elijah? This teaches us we will be able to recognize each other in Heaven.

The Bible teaches there is a bodily resurrection. You will be a perfect you in Heaven.

Job 19:26 NKJV

[26] And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,

Moses had been dead for 1400 years and Elijah had been dead for about 900.

Jesus came to suffer death, for the resurrection and ascension.

Luke 9:32 NKJV

[32] But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.

They were heavy with sleep. We can all remember doing something strange while we were half asleep.

Have you ever said something you wish you had not said?

Pastor Greg reminds us to respect law enforcement; God has placed them here for a reason.

God never lets people place their tabernacles in a place of glory when their world is still in flames. There will not be a peaceful area for just you when there is a storm going on in the lives of those around you.

We need to walk in faith and not in emotions.

Matthew 17:5 NKJV

[5] While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

They heard an audible voice from Heaven.

2 Peter 1:16-18 NKJV

[16] For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. [17] For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [18] And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

Matthew 17:8 NKJV

[8] When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

The law and prophets have their place but they point to Jesus Christ alone.

It is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ only that saves us...in all situations.

Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

[24] A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Only Jesus!

Matthew 17:14-18 NKJV

[14] And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, [15] "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. [16] So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." [17] Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." [18] And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Mountaintop moments do not last forever and thankfully neither do valleys.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

They came from a mountain of glory to see a possessed child.

If satan doesn't attack you, then he must not think you are a threat.

The enemy attacks those who are a threat to his domain.

When we feel we are the strongest is when we may actually be the weakest.

An unguarded strength is a double weakness.

Mel Graham said he had a "drug" problem when he was a boy. His parents drug him to church on Sunday and drug him on Wednesday.

Statistics say when both parents together bring their children to church, that the kids will have a much better chance of going to church in the future.

When you are doing what is right, you should expect that there will be the devil right there presenting opposition.

Jesus Christ listens to your conversations, and so do your kids. Pay attention to what you say.

We need to go to Jesus Christ.

Learning How to Walk

Notes: Learning How to Walk

Ephesians 4:1–2

SPEAKER: Pastor Greg Laurie

MUSICAL GUEST: Dennis Agajanian

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES: Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, March 12, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Most of us don't remember taking our first steps, parents really seem to remember their kids first steps.

You don't see kids giving up on how to walk. Even though those steps are hard to take we don't give up.

Ephesians is like 3 sections: wealth, walk and warfare.

Colossians 2:6 NKJV

[6] As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

1 John 1:7 NKJV

[7] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This chapter is teaching us about how to walk.

We as believers don't always know all

There is no theology without doxology.

Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV

[1] I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, [2] with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, [3] endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Paul is saying in light of what God has done for you, what should you be doing for Him.

Every believer needs to be actively involved in a local church. God manifests His presence in a special way amongst a group of believers.

When you are in church you many times will look at your problems in a different way.

Psalm 73:16-18 NKJV

[16] When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me- [17] Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. [18] Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

[1] I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

When ever you see "therefore" ask what is it there for?

Right doctrine is essential to right living.

You need to know who God is and what God says in order to know the True God.

It is not possible to live a Christian life without knowing what God has given you.

Paul says he is a prisoner of the Lord, not a prisoner of Rome.

Every thing is "God filtered", He either does it or allows it.

God doesn't want to see you come forward, He wants to see you go forward.

The Great Commission is the proclamation of Christ and to help others grow in Christ.

We could never do something equal to what God has done for us but we can have the proper response to what He has done.

1. If you want to walk worthy of the Lord, as much as possible, keep the peace. Ephesians 4:3

We are in this together so don't disrupt it or cause  division.

It is possible to disagree agreeably.

We are not competing with each other. We are fighting the world, the flesh and the devil.

Pastors can work together even though they disagree.

As a body in Christ, we all need unity.

You cannot have unity with those that don't believe in the essentials of the faith. Like God is the one and only true God.

Augustine says in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all charity.

Ephesians 4:2 NKJV

[2] with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

2. To walk worthy means we are to be humble and gentle. Ephesians 4:2

The Greeks influenced the Romans and they believed there was no place for humility. They actually looked at it as a derogatory term.

It takes more strength to forgive then it does for vengeance.

The Bible describes the strength of forgiveness as the same power it takes to bridle a wild horse.

Meekness is not weakness, its strength restrained.

Philippians 2:2-5 NKJV

[2] fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. [4] Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. [5] Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

What if you put others ahead of yourself always and would not be selfish. How would that change your life?

3. To walk worthy of your calling means to be long-suffering.

Moses spent 40 years in the desert.

Saul of Tarsus had to be prepared for his new work and live the hard life of Paul.

The world doesn't agree with the Bible about being long suffering. The world says to do what makes you feel good.

1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

[7] Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV

[4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1. There is one body of believers, the church.

God can reach anywhere.

2. There is one Spirit.

3. There is one Lord and that is Jesus Christ.

4. There is one faith.

5. There is one baptism.

6. There is one God above all, through all, and in you all.

Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

All religions Do Not teach the same things.

We need to spend our time walking with Him and getting to know Him.

Stop looking for the emotional feeling and just walk with God.

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?