1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,120 Would you please stand now for the reading of God's word will 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,080 be in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 28. 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:15,680 The last few verses that Matthew records to set the scene. 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:22,560 Jesus had been killed dying the death that we all deserve to 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:27,960 die. Gory murder of the King of 6 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,600 Kings. He's been in the tomb. 7 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,360 His disciples have scattered. Now they've gathered together 8 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,800 again. Can only imagine the grief. 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,960 And Matthew tells us that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are 10 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:48,480 on their way to see the tomb, to tend to his body. 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,760 But on their way, they see an Angel. 12 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,720 The Angel gives them instructions to go back and tell 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:01,520 the 11 disciples. So Mary and Mary turn and go 14 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,640 back to where the disciples are. These are the words that Jesus 15 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,920 said to them in verse 9. Jesus met them and said 16 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,400 greetings, and they came up and took hold of his feet and 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,120 worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, do not 18 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,720 be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and 19 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,960 there they will see me. So this morning we're going to 20 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:27,480 that mountain in Galilee. We're going to see the Lord 21 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,480 Jesus. We're going to see and hear what 22 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,120 he says to his 11 as they meet him there. 23 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:37,000 We pick this up in verse 16. Now the 11 disciples went to 24 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,960 Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them, 25 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:42,640 and when they saw him, they worshipped him. 26 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,840 But some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 27 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:51,080 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 28 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,000 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, 29 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,160 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and 30 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,760 of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have 31 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:07,840 commanded you. And behold, I am with you always 32 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,160 to the end of the age. This is the word of the Lord. 33 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,600 Let's be to God. You may be seated. 34 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,640 Father, thank you that we believe this is Your word, for 35 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:27,280 it's the gift of the Spirit in our life, illuminating these 36 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:34,080 truths, enabling us to see, enabling us to hear, enabling us 37 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,040 to affirm that all Scripture is God breathed. 38 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,200 Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit would do a work now and 39 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,720 giving us eyes to see again the glory of Christ, to listen to 40 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,560 his words, to be transformed even this day for your glory and 41 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,960 our good. We pray this in Jesus name, 42 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,800 Amen. Starting last Sunday is Paul 43 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,760 beautifully preached. We have been focusing on seeing 44 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,120 the passion of Christ through others eyes. 45 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,840 We saw last Sunday through the eyes of the prophet about the 46 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:14,040 triumphal entry of Christ. We saw Monday through the eyes 47 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,360 of sleepy disciples who couldn't stay awake as Jesus suffered in 48 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,680 the garden crying to the Father. Father, if you're willing, take 49 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,760 this cup from me, yet not my will be done, but yours. 50 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,960 We saw through the eyes of a violent, murderous criminal 51 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:33,040 Barabbas, who was set free by pilot as they shouted free 52 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,360 Barabbas and then crucify Christ. 53 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,840 We saw through the eyes of soldiers who mocked and beat 54 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,200 Jesus beyond recognition. We saw through the eyes of 55 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,640 Malchus at night in the garden as Peter sought with his sword, 56 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,640 probably to take off his head, but instead got his ear. 57 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:58,120 We saw on Friday, Good Friday, through the eyes of Joseph of 58 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,760 Arimathea, what it was like to care for the body of Jesus, our 59 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:07,720 Lord, who is dead. And today we come to this 60 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,960 mountain to see the Kingdom, His Kingdom, through the eyes of the 61 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,279 Messiah. And what we're asking and 62 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,200 inviting you to is to come and see. 63 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,160 To come and see and hear what it is that Christ says. 64 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:28,680 I want you to know as you look at verse 16, that the 11 65 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:33,040 disciples were distraught. This is not what they expected 66 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,560 to happen. They did not expect their Savior 67 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,160 to die even though He had told them. 68 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,920 Now that he's been dead, they know that they denied even 69 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,480 knowing Him. You can imagine the grief that 70 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,440 they're experiencing. It's deep and profound. 71 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,760 But now these two ladies return. He's alive. 72 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,440 He wants to meet you and see you as planning to do so in Galilee 73 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,480 on the mountain. And so they go as they arrive. 74 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,920 This is what we're told happened verse 17. 75 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,600 When they saw him. This is the 11. 76 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,440 Judas is dead. He hung himself. 77 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,160 And when they saw him, they worshipped him. 78 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:17,040 But some doubted how gracious of Matthew to include this. 79 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,320 That's just like what's happening here today. 80 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,960 Not just in this sanctuary, not just in this hour, but at 8:00 81 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,520 and 9:30. This sanctuary has been full all 82 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,960 morning in churches all over the globe. 83 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,960 There are people who come who truly are followers of Jesus, 84 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:39,240 who've been born again, who love him and want to worship him. 85 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,440 Alongside, though, are others who doubt. 86 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:50,520 They're skeptical. They're not sure that day on 87 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:54,960 that mountain. Speaking of the 11, Matthew 88 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,240 tells us some worshipped him, but some doubted. 89 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,960 Maybe that's you today. No matter where you are, if you 90 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,400 know you're in Christ and you're a worshipper, whether you know 91 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:11,320 you're in Christ but you you have doubts, whether you are 92 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:15,920 here just to make a relative happy or a friend, we are so 93 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:21,000 grateful and we want you to come and see what God's Word says 94 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:26,000 from the Word himself, Jesus. What's interesting is the word 95 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,080 doubt here is not the normal word for doubt. 96 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,880 Dan Doriani, our dear friend, professor at Covenant Seminary, 97 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,400 points this out. He says this is not the ordinary 98 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,800 term for doubt. It does not mean they were 99 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,240 unsure whether they believed or not. 100 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,320 Rather, they believed but hesitated. 101 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:54,160 Their hesitation reminds us that the journey towards mature faith 102 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,200 is difficult. Even believers hesitated time. 103 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:02,320 No one understands everything all at once. 104 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:12,200 No one obeys perfectly, not even the 11 here today as Jesus is on 105 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,520 this mountain. Some are worshipping, some are 106 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,960 doubting, they're hesitating. This word for doubt that Matthew 107 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,280 uses is only used one other time in the book of Matthew, and it's 108 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:30,000 interesting where it occurs. The disciples are in a boat and 109 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,680 as they're floating on the water, suddenly there is an 110 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:37,240 image moving towards them. And then they discover that it's 111 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:44,480 Jesus and he's walking on water. Peter the bold disciple calls 112 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,960 out in verse 28 of chapter 14. Lord, if it is you, command me 113 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,640 to come to you on the water. And many of you know what 114 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,520 happened. Jesus says come. 115 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:02,000 So Peter got out of the boat. He did not get out on the boat 116 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,280 where the water was shallow. He did not get out of the boat 117 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,040 onto another boat or onto a dock. 118 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,960 He got out of the boat and stepped on the same water that 119 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:18,720 Jesus was walking on. And like Jesus, he walked. 120 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,920 He walked on water. Only two people in the history 121 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,480 of the world have walked on water, Jesus. 122 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:37,400 And then Peter for a moment. But as Peter is walking towards 123 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:47,720 Jesus on the water, Matthew tells us he saw the wind, he was 124 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:55,080 afraid, and he began to sink. And as he sank, he cried out. 125 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,960 Lord, save me. That's what some of us need to 126 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:02,280 cry out today. It's actually what all of us 127 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,960 need to cry out today. Lord, save me. 128 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,960 And Jesus immediately reaches out his hand. 129 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:14,800 He takes hold of Peter, saying to him, O you of little faith, 130 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:22,920 why did you doubt the same word, the same word he's now using to 131 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,200 describe the 11? They had faith. 132 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,400 They believed Peter had faith. He was the only one that got out 133 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:31,880 of the boat. There's no record of other 134 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,840 saying I want to go, I want to turn. 135 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,160 But then the wind, the circumstances, the world around 136 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,960 him caused him to take his eyes off a Christ and he began to 137 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,720 sink. And when he sinks, what does he 138 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,200 cry out? Lord save me. 139 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:53,240 Maybe today you're here and you've never cried out that to 140 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,800 Jesus. Maybe you have cried out that 141 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,400 and you have walked with Jesus. But in the circumstances of your 142 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,600 life now, the wind, you see it, it's great. 143 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,360 And you have doubt. You're hesitant, you're not 144 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:10,680 willing to trust Him fully. Well, I pray you will listen to 145 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:12,760 these words because they're powerful. 146 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,840 While some worshipped and some doubted, we then move into what 147 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,400 Jesus says. There's three things Jesus is 148 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,040 going to say that we're going to pay attention to this morning. 149 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,440 The first one is significant. They're all significant, but 150 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,920 it's significant because it's first what will be the first 151 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,360 words. Matthew records that Jesus says 152 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:39,000 to the 11. Listen to this verse 18 And 153 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:48,400 Jesus came and he said to them, all authority in heaven and on 154 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,760 earth has been given to me. I want you to hear this again. 155 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,680 The first thing Jesus says to the disciples according to 156 00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:00,440 Matthew's Gospel is when he sees the 11 on this mountain where he 157 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:07,840 told Mary and Mary to tell them to come is all authority in 158 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,080 heaven and on the earth has been given to me. 159 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:19,440 He doesn't say some authority, a portion of the earth, this 160 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:25,880 region, this much power. He says all authority has been 161 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,160 given to me in heaven and on earth. 162 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:37,960 What does that mean? It means that Christ is 163 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,760 revealing to them His full and eternal authority. 164 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:51,920 All spiritual, metaphysical, philosophical and religious 165 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:58,560 power in heaven is under him. All social, physical, political 166 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:02,760 and economic power on earth is under him. 167 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:09,680 Not some of it. What Jesus is saying is that 168 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:19,480 every person, Everything, Everywhere and always is under 169 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,960 me. Every person. 170 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:33,480 Look around, every person, everything, everywhere, not just 171 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:38,840 what you can see, but beyond what we can see is under me. 172 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:44,160 It's full rain. It's full power. 173 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:52,280 It's full authority overall, it's one inch equals 1 inch full 174 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:57,280 scale. Why did Jesus say this? 175 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,000 He's the Son of God. Didn't he always have power? 176 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,160 Didn't he always have authority? Yes. 177 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:05,480 In fact, he had authority when he taught. 178 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,120 Those listening to him said He teaches US1 Who has authority? 179 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,120 Because he, the word of God, was speaking the very word of God. 180 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,560 He had authority over illness and disease. 181 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,280 The disciples watched him heal people. 182 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,120 He watched him raise people from the dead, like Lazarus. 183 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,080 He had authority over nature. He's walking on water, but on 184 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,520 that same body of water, when the sailors were scared to death 185 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,960 that they might drown while Jesus was sleeping, he woke up 186 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,040 and said be calm and be still. And it was. 187 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:44,880 He had authority, but in His earthly life, His earthly 188 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,000 ministry, He only practiced a fraction of it. 189 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,560 Remember this conversation on another mountain recorded 190 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:58,760 earlier in the book of Matthew. The Holy Spirit in Matthew 4 has 191 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,720 LED Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. 192 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,600 Satan brings 2 temptations, and in each case Christ uses the 193 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,440 word of God to refute what Satan has said. 194 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,560 But now comes the third temptation recorded in Matthew 195 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,840 48. Again the devil took Jesus to a 196 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,680 very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the 197 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:28,240 world and their glory. And he said to Jesus, All these 198 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:33,800 I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me. 199 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,240 The devil had authority, but he didn't have ultimate authority 200 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,160 or eternal authority. Jesus responds again as he did 201 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,240 the prior 2 times with the word of God. 202 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:51,240 And he says, be gone Satan. For it is written, you shall 203 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:56,920 worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve now 204 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:03,760 after his death, Right after his resurrection, he tells the 205 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:09,040 disciples to meet him on another mountain, high on this mountain 206 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,680 between heaven and earth, so to speak. 207 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:19,720 Jesus says all authority has been given to me in heaven and 208 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,840 on earth. Why does that matter? 209 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:31,000 If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, that means 210 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,240 that you are one with Jesus. It means that you have union 211 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,280 with Christ, you're married to Christ. 212 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,040 It's that kind of picture, that kind of intimacy. 213 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,320 And what that means is the one to whom you have been saved by, 214 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:51,480 the one who is risen, the one who now saying be gone, Satan 215 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:58,600 has defeated Satan. He lives in you and you live in 216 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:03,080 him. The one who has all authority. 217 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:11,560 Not some authority, All authority, all reign. 218 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,640 Let's think about this. Do you know anybody that's a 219 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,480 name dropper? Some of you are doing this. 220 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,800 Are you a name dropper? Do you know what I mean by that? 221 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,360 A name dropper? Somebody who kind of delights in 222 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,320 letting people know that they have a connection to someone who 223 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:35,920 has got power or prestige, could be an athlete, could be a 224 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,680 president, could be a theologian, could be an artist. 225 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,800 And then the conversation, something comes up and this 226 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:49,000 individual says, oh, well, if you would like me to connect 227 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,400 you. And they let you know that they 228 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,240 somehow have a connection to this person. 229 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,880 It's really kind of a fulfillment of the six degrees 230 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:02,240 of separation, the idea that was born in 1929 when an individual 231 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,680 said any two people are connected by a chain of 232 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:10,200 acquaintances with no more than six intermediaries necessary. 233 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:21,240 And So what that means is Tom knows Scott and Scott knows 234 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,599 Sheila and Sheila knows. Fill in the blank and fill in 235 00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:30,400 the blank knows. And somehow what happens is we 236 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:36,800 begin to over exaggerate lots of times the relationships that we 237 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,240 have. Remember just a couple weeks ago 238 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,600 I told you how close I am to Bob Costas. 239 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,320 If you didn't hear that, you can listen to that sermon later. 240 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:54,440 We over exaggerate because it does something to our identity. 241 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,960 It affects our identity. It affects how we see ourselves 242 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,240 and how we want other people to see us. 243 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,880 In this church, there are some pretty significant people who 244 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:06,960 know some even more significant people. 245 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,600 Sometimes somebody might ask me a General Assembly does so and 246 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:17,320 so go to your church. I can run that race and make it 247 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,080 sound like me and whoever you're thinking I'm talking about are 248 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,400 really close friends, when the truth is we're like this. 249 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:33,390 I'm out here. But if you're in Christ Jesus, 250 00:18:36,190 --> 00:18:43,990 if you're in Christ Jesus who has all authority over everyone, 251 00:18:44,070 --> 00:18:49,030 everything, everywhere, all the time, if you've been saved by 252 00:18:49,030 --> 00:18:56,800 him, you belong to him. You can never over exaggerate 253 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:04,960 what it means to be in Him. You cannot over exaggerate His 254 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,320 Holiness. You cannot over exaggerate His 255 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,880 power. You cannot over exaggerate His 256 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,080 Grace. You cannot over exaggerate His 257 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,880 mercy. His mercy is made new each day. 258 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:24,680 You can't over exaggerate how much mercy He offers. 259 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:30,440 You cannot over exaggerate if you're in Christ Jesus, His love 260 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,760 for you. We'll see it in Ephesians soon. 261 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,360 It's so wide, so long, so deep, so high. 262 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:45,280 We can't for us who are in Christ over exaggerate who we 263 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:51,120 are in Him. The 6th degree of separation 264 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:55,960 doesn't apply. There are no intermediaries that 265 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,680 are necessary. You do not need a priest. 266 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:03,040 You do not need a pastor. You do not need a Bible study 267 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:07,760 leader to take you to Jesus. He is the intermediary. 268 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,120 He is the high priest and the final priest. 269 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:19,160 He's the 1:00 and we have access to Him by His grace. 270 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:29,360 We cannot over exaggerate, but we can have false assurance and 271 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:34,360 presumption. We can assume that we're in 272 00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:39,720 relationship with Jesus because we don't really understand what 273 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,400 the Bible means by being a follower of Christ. 274 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,760 This is important especially in the Bible Belt, where we might 275 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,640 think we're in Christ because a relative is, or we might think 276 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,440 we're in Christ because we're conservative politically. 277 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,600 We might think we're in Christ because we admire Jesus. 278 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:03,480 We might think we're in Christ because we attend church. 279 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:12,440 It's not how it works. Jesus tells us why as he moves 280 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,160 on from his statement about authority. 281 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:18,280 Here's what Jesus says. All authority has been given to 282 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,440 me. All authority in heaven and on 283 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:26,120 earth has been given to me. Now verse 19 Go therefore, based 284 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:30,280 on that authority, based on that power, Go therefore and make 285 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:35,440 disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of 286 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,720 the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching 287 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,800 them to observe all that I've commanded you. 288 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,480 Notice what Jesus says. All authorities been given to me 289 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:56,080 in heaven and on earth. Now my followers go therefore 290 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,840 and make. He doesn't say converts. 291 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,560 He doesn't say go and make moral people who can then think they 292 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,920 can save themselves. He doesn't say go and make 293 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,080 people who will embrace Christianity as the most 294 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,920 conservative worldview. He doesn't say go and make 295 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,520 people attend meetings. He says therefore go and make 296 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,880 disciples. Now, you cannot be a disciple if 297 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,080 you're not born again, if you're not converted to Christ. 298 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:34,120 You can't. But you can think you're in 299 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,920 Christ when you really aren't because you are not a follower 300 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,840 of him. You see, Jesus tells us what a 301 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:46,200 disciple is. It is someone who follows him. 302 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,080 That's what the word disciple means. 303 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,440 We need to define it in its shortest definition. 304 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,160 A disciple is a follower of someone. 305 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,440 Therefore, you could be a disciple of many things and many 306 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,640 people. But Christian discipleship is 307 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:07,320 different because it's centered on following the Lord Jesus 308 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,520 Christ and by his grace and for his glory, and by the power of 309 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:16,120 the Spirit seeking to obey all that He has commanded. 310 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,720 We live in a time where we really like things to be short. 311 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,680 We like definitions to be pithy and crisp. 312 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,080 We like them to have things attached to them that we can 313 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,720 check. Therefore, our definition of 314 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,320 discipleship can sometimes be very short sighted. 315 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,080 So I'm going to give you 1 and I'm going to tell you right now, 316 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,000 it's long. It is not hard to understand, 317 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,960 but I want you to hear it because sometimes we think being 318 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,000 a disciple, a disciple of Jesus is just simply saying, OK, sign 319 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:56,040 me up, I'll begin to obey. Much more has to be at play and 320 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:57,400 much more is. Listen to this. 321 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:07,040 A disciple of the Lord Jesus is by faith a follower of the Lord 322 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:13,280 Jesus and all of his teaching. Not some of his teaching, not 323 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,920 the parts we like only, but all of his teaching. 324 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,200 A disciple of the Lord Jesus by faith is a follower of the Lord 325 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,840 Jesus, and all of his teaching who is a result of God's 326 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:30,160 sovereign grace has been called by God. 327 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,520 In the book of Matthew, Jesus the 11 at some point he said, 328 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,480 come follow me, I'll make you fishers of men. 329 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,200 They've been called by Christ. Disciples have been called by 330 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,200 Christ. We've been called by Christ even 331 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,920 more and made alive in Christ. Why does that matter? 332 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:54,160 Because Paul tells us in Ephesians 2, all of us were dead 333 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:59,840 spiritually. We weren't just morally sick, we 334 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,200 were spiritually dead. And in order for us to be a 335 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,840 disciple of Jesus, in order for us to become a follower of 336 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:10,680 Christ, we had to be made alive. And the very words Jesus uses in 337 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:16,200 John 3 to Nicodemus is that we had to be born again and all 338 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,200 true followers of Jesus are born again. 339 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,000 Paul says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he's a new 340 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,880 creation, the oldest gone, the newest come. 341 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,400 You're a new person, you have a new identity. 342 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,400 So disciples of the Lord Jesus are made alive in Christ, given 343 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:39,080 a new identity, and its identity is permanent and its primary. 344 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,240 They're given a new purpose as they are adopted into God's 345 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:49,960 family. And from their true union with 346 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:58,880 Jesus, not like this, but like this true union with Christ and 347 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,360 the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit that lives in them. 348 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:10,480 They're learning to obey, desiring to obey, fighting to 349 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,920 obey, in the strength of God's grace all that Christ has 350 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,360 commanded. And in doing so, we are bringing 351 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:25,240 glory to the Father as we abide in Christ and bear much fruit. 352 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,600 You're probably going to have to listen to that later, but that's 353 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:35,760 what it means to be a disciple. Sometimes it helps to define 354 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:40,160 what a disciple is not a disciple of the Lord Jesus is 355 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:43,120 not just being an admirer of Jesus. 356 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:47,240 Many people admired him and many people hated him and still do. 357 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,880 But a disciple is not someone that just admires Jesus. 358 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,440 It is not someone who is just familiar with his teaching and 359 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:58,320 even admires his ethic. A disciple of Jesus does not 360 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:03,760 want someone who thinks of Jesus as a motivational coach or a 361 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:11,920 cultural mascot. A disciple of Jesus is one who 362 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:18,160 has said, Lord who he is, save me. 363 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,240 And because he does, they want to spend the rest of their life 364 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:28,600 learning and obeying all that Christ gives, all that Christ 365 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,240 calls us to. Well, one of the things that 366 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,800 Christ calls the disciples to is very clear here. 367 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,560 Did you see it? Therefore, go. 368 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:43,360 Disciples of Jesus are to go to go into your families, into your 369 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:46,720 neighborhood, into your schools, into your places of work, into 370 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:52,280 your places of recreation, go and make disciples. 371 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:57,160 And he says of all nations, and he says teaching them to be all 372 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,760 I have commanded. Have you seen the word all three 373 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,080 times? All authority and power, all 374 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:10,240 nations, all of my words. For many, this is where our 375 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:14,760 faith has pretty significant hesitation. 376 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:22,720 Though we know Christ, the zeal to go isn't what it should be. 377 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:29,240 Bishop JC Rile, Speaking of this passage, said these words. 378 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:35,360 It is still the duty of every disciple of Jesus Christ to do 379 00:28:35,360 --> 00:28:40,000 all he can in person and by prayer to make others acquainted 380 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,400 with Jesus. He doesn't mean admires of 381 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:43,920 Jesus. He doesn't mean people just know 382 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,280 about Jesus. He means those who are walking 383 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:51,360 in Jesus. He says, where is our faith if 384 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:56,520 we neglect this duty? Where is our love? 385 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,200 It may well be questioned whether people know the value of 386 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:06,400 the gospel themselves if they do not desire to make it known to 387 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:11,760 all the world. And if that's true of you, and 388 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,880 if it's true of me, we must cry out. 389 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:19,520 Lord, save me. Give me eyes to see again the 390 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:24,480 glory of this mission. Why would I not want to tell the 391 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:30,680 world about the One who is all powerful, has all authority, and 392 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,080 has done everything necessary to save his people? 393 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,000 Something's missing. You can't fix it. 394 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:44,560 Ask God to fix that. But how Jesus ends this section, 395 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,880 the last thing recorded by Matthew that he says on this 396 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,560 mountain is so amazing and it's so encouraging. 397 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,720 I want you to think about this. What the disciples have been 398 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,840 through for three years following Jesus. 399 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,080 It did not end how they expected. 400 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,760 And then when he died on the cross, they didn't expect to see 401 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:06,480 him again on another mountain. But here on this mountain, he 402 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:11,200 says, first all authority and heaven and on earth has been 403 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,960 given to me. Therefore go and make disciples 404 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,600 of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, 405 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,640 and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I've commanded 406 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:21,800 you. But then comes this last 407 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:26,400 statement in Matthew's Gospel, and it's not a command, it's a 408 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,120 comfort. Following the Great Commission 409 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:35,480 comes the great comfort, Jesus says in the second part of verse 410 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:42,640 20. And behold, I am with you always 411 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:52,720 to the end of the age. If you're in Christ Jesus, that 412 00:30:52,720 --> 00:31:03,640 means He is with you and He is going to be with you every day, 413 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:13,720 all day, to the end of the age. What a comfort it is that Jesus 414 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:18,840 gives to know that not a single day will pass in which the 415 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,840 presence of Christ is missing from his people. 416 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:27,600 Not a single day. Your darkest day, your brightest 417 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,200 day, your hardest day, your easiest day. 418 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:37,240 Christ, if you're in him and He is in you, is with you. 419 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:42,920 And who is he? He's the one with all authority 420 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,840 and power, the one who tells them this after just dying on 421 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:48,640 the cross but being raised from the dead. 422 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:56,640 That's who he is today. If you're here, first of all, 423 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,160 I'm glad everyone is here. Those who are in overflow, those 424 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,560 who are watching this online now or even later, I'm so glad 425 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,880 you're here because the invitation has been for you to 426 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:11,920 come and see the real Jesus. And this is who he says he is. 427 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,960 In seeing who he is, He tells us what he wants the disciples do 428 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:18,880 in order to make the other disciples. 429 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:21,680 And you've heard what a disciple is. 430 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:26,400 So the question is, are you a disciple of Jesus? 431 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:32,120 If you know today you're not a disciple of Jesus, then all 432 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,680 that's been said is what you don't yet have. 433 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:40,040 And if this is something in your heart, now you're saying I want 434 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:43,360 that, I want that assurance, I want to know him. 435 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:47,360 Then just cry out as Peter did. Lord save me. 436 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,880 I'm a Sinner. I need you. 437 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,200 You're the only one who can give me salvation. 438 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:55,840 Save me. Pray that prayer now. 439 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:01,440 Pray it as we close. Not the day you were here and 440 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,240 you know you've been saved by his grace. 441 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,480 You've been born again. You're a follower of Jesus, but 442 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:11,360 more than being a worshiper, maybe the doubters describes 443 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:15,560 you. There's hesitation, hesitation 444 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:20,320 that maybe wasn't there before. Cry out to Jesus, Lord, save me. 445 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:24,160 It's not a prayer of salvation. You've already been saved, but 446 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:29,600 it's a prayer that comes to Christ who reaches out and will 447 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:37,280 give you what you need. And today, if you are a follower 448 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:49,840 of Jesus, then when you leave this place and by his power take 449 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:57,960 his name and drop it. Drop it everywhere you go. 450 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:04,040 Let me tell you about Jesus. I know Him. 451 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:09,080 Let me tell you how I know Him and how I know I know Him. 452 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,639 Now that can be scary. Certainly it was for the 453 00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:19,239 disciples. So that's why Jesus sandwiched 454 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:25,400 the Great Commission for all statements with the first one. 455 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:33,920 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me and 456 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:39,960 the bottom of the sandwich. And behold, I am with you all 457 00:34:40,679 --> 00:34:44,920 the days of your life, living in that reality. 458 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:54,400 Fellow follower of Jesus, go and tell the world who you know and 459 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:59,320 who knows you. He's the one who has risen. 460 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,320 He's the one who is all powerful. 461 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:07,040 He is the one who is all present. 462 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,040 He is the one who reached out to save his people. 463 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:20,520 He is the one who lives. He's the one who lives in US, 464 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:29,200 the Lord Jesus. That mountain was a real 465 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:35,000 mountain, as you were a real man who had just been raised from 466 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,280 the dead. And you spoke real words of real 467 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:43,080 authority, not the idea of authority, not the metaphor or 468 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,120 hyperbole of authority, real authority. 469 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:52,160 And then you spoke of a comfort, which is your presence, not the 470 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:58,000 idea of a comfort, not a statement of comfort, but the 471 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:02,040 person. So Lord, in this sanctuary now, 472 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:07,000 if there are any who want to know, they know you speak to 473 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:08,680 them through your spirit and friend. 474 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,320 Just cry out. Lord, save me. 475 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:17,360 For those who know they're in Christ this day, rejoice. 476 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:22,400 And what that means. You can never over exaggerate 477 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:26,640 what Jesus tells you about who you are in him. 478 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,520 Thank you for this Christ, for this day, for this time, this 479 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:33,800 space. Thank you for your presence and 480 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:36,760 thank you for your power. In your name we pray. 481 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:39,520 Amen. Please stand.