Wonderful Words of Life – Don’t Lock the Door
Pastor Michael Wise
Illus: Perhaps you have heard that old saying: “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”
What a terrible lie!
Words have power, they can affect us for good or evil.
So today I invite you to join me in looking into God’s HOLY WORD (the Bible), as we look at several important passages, with important words from Jesus Christ.
In John 6:1-13, we see the story of Jesus’ miraculous feeding of 5000 men (and that was not including the women & children).
Vs 14 gives us the people’s response – “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Sadly, their word’s, and later their actions, showed that they hadn’t yet seen Him as the Son of God. They wanted to force Him to become king so He slipped away, by Himself.
Later that evening, He appeared to the disciples during a storm, walking on that stormy sea, and He spoke these wonderful words: Vs 20 “It is I; do not be afraid.”
The next day the people went looking for Jesus. And when they found Him, He had more wonderful words for them (Vs 27). “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
They asked Him a very important question – “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (Vs 28)
And Jesus had a wonderful answer: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (Vs 29)
Faith in Jesus Christ really is the victory!
And that is still Jesus’ answer to us today!
So how do we respond to Jesus when He gives us an answer, instructions, that lovely, that simple?
Do we respond like they did in Vs 30-31 ? – “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written,`He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”
Now please keep in mind, He had just feed 5,000 men, plus additional women and children, all with 5 barley loaves and two small fish! They had also witnessed or were aware of the other miracles He had performed up to that point:
Water to Wine, Jn 2
Miracles in the temple, Jn 2:23
Healing of nobleman’s son, Jn 5:53
Healing at the pool of Bethseda, Jn 5:8-9
May I ask, what miracles has God performed for you or others that you are aware of?
There are times we get depressed at life’s circumstances and say “Jesus, are you there, can’t you work a miracle, to show me…. “. When, Jesus has been working miracles for us dear friends, our entire life.
So why do we say, “Lord, just show us another sign so we can believe?”
I’m so grateful God is merciful and patient with us. I’m so grateful for His wonderful words of life!
In spite of their unfaithfulness, He gave them more wonderful words: (Vs 35, 37, 40) “And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst…. 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out…. 40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
While Jesus will provide for our spiritual/salvation needs, we must admit, life in this world is not a bed of roses. Bad things sometimes happen. But the Bible tells us that better, eternal things are coming to the faithful on resurrection morning!
Scripture tells us that spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and the people’s response to Jesus’ promises demonstrated their spiritual lack:
There was Complaining (Vs 41)
There was Murmuring (Vs 43)
There was Quarrelling and Misunderstanding (Vs 52)
We still have God’s promises today, yet do we ever: complain, murmur, quarrel, or misunderstand truth?
In spite of that, Jesus had even more words, gentle, patient, merciful words: (Vs 54) “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Sadly, even His broader group of disciples didn’t understand what He meant – (Vs 60) “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
So Jesus offered more words of hope – (Vs 63) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Dear friends, our greatest need is for the Holy Spirit!
Later in John 16:13, Jesus said: “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth”
Have you noticed how Jesus frequently refers the Holy Spirit as a separate entity, a He? The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead; One God, in three persons.
But not everyone accepts the truth about, or the guidance from the Holy Spirit. Or His work of conviction and leading in their life. Vs 66 records some very sad words: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”
How it must still break Jesus’ heart when anyone turns away the Spirit. Because by doing so, they are in effect turning Jesus away. We can only abide in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Immediately, Jesus turned to the 12 and asked them: (Vs 67) “Do you also want to go away?”
Peter answered for the group (Vs 68-69) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
They didn’t know or understand everything, they didn’t have all the answers, but they had come to know, based on their limited experience with Jesus, that there was no other option! The evidence was conclusive to them – Jesus was the Christ!
Dear friends, in these last days, God is preparing a people to be faith filled and faithful witnesses; living martyrs to the world (dead to self and alive to/in Christ). He is preparing and refining believers to live with Him for eternity. That will take incredible faith – a faith in Jesus, the faith of Jesus.
Sadly, just like then, many will leave the faith, but, thankfully – joyfully, many, many more will come into the faith …. if ….
Illus: May I give you a simple definition for “Success”?: it is accomplishing what is wished for or intended. For a Christian, we need to keep in perspective that what is crucial is what God desires/intends, and not what self desires/intends!
May I ask you a question? In the context of our mission, to take the eternal gospel, the 3 Angels Message, to the world, how would you define success? What would success look like?
The answer is simple. Success is simple – it is every believer sharing the gospel with everyone they can. That IS Success!
Do you remember Jesus word’s when He said if He was lifted up He would draw all men unto Him?
Remember – we can’t convert, conversion is not our work, it is the Holy Spirit’s work. Believers are called to accept, live and proclaim the gospel! Doing that by God’s grace, is success
Illus: Many years ago I read about Wilbur Nelson, an SDA missionary worker in China. His love for Christ lead him to a personal goal: to lead someone to Christ…. daily….
b-4 eating breakfast.
But we can’t proclaim, we can’t live, what we do not have!
Illus: Have you ever been locked out of your car or home?
It’s a terrible feeling. It would feel terrible to lock someone else out too.
Please go to our second passage: Matthew 16
The time setting of this chapter is about 6 months before the cross of Calvary.
In His concern for the people Jesus asks His disciples who people say (think) He is.
Then in His concern for His disciples, Jesus asks a crucial question: “But who do you say that I am?” (Vs 15)
What was their opinion? You see, no one can be saved by their works, and no one can be saved by a dead or living prophet or saint regardless of how “good” they were/are.
Except for Jesus, there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.
Again, Peter answers Jesus and says: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Vs 16). An emphatic “THE”, not just any Christ, but the real One!
Illus: Interview with Rabbi on Messiah. For one of my seminary classes I interviewed a Rabbi. I was given the topic of “messiah”. I was quite surprised when the Rabbi told me that the Jews were no longer looking for a Messiah person. “Messiah” would be a time when conditions and circumstances were right for their peace and prosperity.
In vs 17, Jesus told Simon that he was blessed as a result of knowing who Jesus is.
Dear friends, everyone who truly knows Jesus as Savior and Lord, who has a personal walk with Him, is blessed beyond understanding!
But Jesus also lets Peter know that He knows who/what Peter is – a little stone. (Vs 18)
“And I also say to you that you are Peter (Petros (Grk) means (loose) stone), and on this rock (Petra (Grk) means rock) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
This reminds me of God’s words to us in Psalm 103:14
“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
Some people confuse who the Rock refers to here. But Peter wasn’t confused. He knew Christ was referring to Himself and not Peter. Christ is the rock! Peter is a stone.
God built His church on a risen Savior not a dead saint!
And like Peter, the faithful are the living stones God uses to build His spiritual house. (1 Pet 2:5-8; Acts 4:10-12; Isaiah 28:16; Ps 18:2; 1 Cor 10:4)
But Christ gave to Peter and every believer the keys, His keys, to salvation: (Vs 19)
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
vs 19: Jesus said he “will give”; even the Greek tense tells us He was referring to a future action.
“doso”- bind/permit/restrict – perfect participle
“loos” – free up – perfect participle.
An understanding of the Greek also helps us understand the rest of this verse better: whatever would be bound on earth would have already been bound in heaven, and whatever would be loosed on earth would have already been loosed in heaven.
You see, the church follows Christ and it’s decisions should be a reflection of the decisions already made in heaven. Not the other way around!
- Christ had the Keys
Isaiah 22:20-23 is a prophecy of Christ (Rev 3:7)
Notice Vs 22 “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.” This verse reminds me of Revelation 3:7 and Matthew 16:19
We find further explanation in Revelation 1:18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
Friends, not only does Jesus have victory over Satan, (Lk 10:18)… but also over death and the grave itself (Heb 2:14-17)!
Because His resurrection victory, as well as His victory over Satan, is sure, certain, and complete, Jesus can unlock the doors of hell and death for us. Salvation in Jesus is wonderful!
And He has made salvation possible to anyone/everyone who will choose it.
- What were the keys given to Peter and the Faithful?
The keys given to Peter, the disciples, and every faithful church disciple is simply the everlasting gospel story = Good News about Christ = the 3 Angels Message
John 6:68 “But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I will give -vs- (not) I have given
Jesus had told the disciples: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Those keys were given at Pentecost, with the power of the Holy Spirit they shared the gospel in boldness.
(Acts 2:22, 23, 32, 33, 36) – Sermon after Pentecost
The response is recorded in vs. 37 – people hearts were pricked
Acts 2:41 records that 3,000 souls were added to the church
Acts 2:47 says the Lord added to the church daily
such as should be saved.
They were successful because they followed the Lord’s commands to go and share the Gospel.
They lifted up the truth in/of Jesus and God took care of the conversions
III. Why the keys are important
Scripture says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
But once we have the keys, we have to share them so we don’t lock anyone out!
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,
Jesus gave His church, His bride, a message of salvation to be shared with everyone: The words of Christ, a message of hope, & salvation to the lost.
III. Use em or lose em
When my keys are in my hand I can’t lose them, when I’m using them I can’t lose them. But when their out of sight and out of mind, I am likely to lose them
There was a time when Israel had the keys: Notice Jesus’ words in Luke 11:52: “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
They had the keys but didn’t use them and hindered others!
Isaiah wrote about it too: Isaiah 17:10 “Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold”
God loves every Jewish and gentile soul and is still working to reach each heart, but as a result of their stubbornness and refusal, Jesus said the He would raise up a new body, and new church to share the gospel: Matthew 21:42-43 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”
But we cannot share what we do not have!
I meet far too many Christians, including church members, who do not know if they have salvation. At the end of this message I have included a series of texts I use when I’m giving someone an introductory Bible Study on salvation. But for the sake of time please allow me to share just three of them:
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:11-13
Salvation can be a certainty…. You don’t have to wonder or guess, or go on feelings. The truth is, if you have Jesus you have salvation! But remember, if you have Jesus you be following Him and His example, wherever He leads. It is a gradual process, but Jesus expects us to follow Him.
But how could a person say they have Jesus and salvation if they stop following His leading? Abiding in Jesus is an ongoing lifetime decision, not a one time decision.
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” 1 Peter 2:21
Do you remember Paul Harvey, and his trademark “the rest of the story”? Scripture says once a person has accepted and received Christ that there is more to the story:
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
A Christian will continue learning more and more about Bible truth so they can keep growing in Jesus and in faith.
Conclusions/Appeal
My dear friend, in the story of Jesus Christ, we are given the good news of salvation! A person who has received Jesus will be eager to share His story, the gospel, with everyone they can so others can also have the hope and assurance of eternal life… as long as they continue to walk with Jesus and follow His example. And as they abide in Jesus and walk with Him, they will continue to learn and grow.
Will you be a key carrying and sharing disciple of Christ?
A Benediction for You:
Through the power of the Holy Spirit: may you never wander from the Lord, may you continually abide in Jesus, may you know Who He is personally, and may you share that good news of Jesus with all whom God puts in your path. Amen
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 10:10
1 John 5:11-13
Romans 6:23a
Romans 3:10,23
Romans 6:23b
1 John 3:4
Proverbs 14:12
Isaiah 59:2
1 Peter 2:24
Ephesians 2:8,9
Romans 5:8
James 2:19
1 John 1:9
John 1:12
1 Peter 2:21
Colossians 2:6