If you have not read the post "Demand #6" please read before reading Demand #6.1
JESUS SPEAKS THE VERY WORDS OF GOD
When Jesus finished his famous Sermon on the Mount, "the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes" (Matt. 7:28-29). This authority was not because of a personality trait or a pedagogical technique. The reason is much deeper. His words have authority and power, Jesus says, because they are the words of God. "I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment - what to say and what to speak" (John 12:49). "What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me" (John 12:50; cf. 8:28). "The word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me" (John 14:24). Jesus' words have authority because when he speaks, God speaks, Jesus speaks from God the Father and as God the Son.
Showing posts with label What Jesus Demands from the World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What Jesus Demands from the World. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Demand #6
So I'm really taking my time on the book What Jesus Demands from the World. I'm only through demand #6. Really is a great way for me to end my day, by meditating on what Jesus wants from me as a Christian! I thought this one was SO GOOD that over the next few days I will post a different part of Demand #6. So here we go.
Demand #6
LISTEN TO ME
He called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand." Mark 7:14
As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Luke 8:8
Take care them how you hear. Luke 8:18
And a woman named Martha welcomes him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said. :Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42
The entire life and work of Jesus is one great argument why we should listen to his word. Page after page of the New Testament Gospels pile up reasons to turn off the television and listen to Jesus. Here are some of those reasons - and why so many don't listen.
NO ONE EVER SPOKE LIKE THIS MAN
Jess' ministry was so astonishing and so threatening that his adversaries wanted him out of the way. So the Pharisees "sent officers to arrest him" (John 7:32). But to their dismay the officers came back empty-handed, not because Jesus had good bodyguards, but because his teaching was so stunning. "The officers...came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why did you not bring him?' The officers answered, 'No one ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:45-46). When they listened to Jesus, they could not follow through with their mission to arrest him.
Demand #6
LISTEN TO ME
He called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand." Mark 7:14
As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Luke 8:8
Take care them how you hear. Luke 8:18
And a woman named Martha welcomes him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said. :Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42
The entire life and work of Jesus is one great argument why we should listen to his word. Page after page of the New Testament Gospels pile up reasons to turn off the television and listen to Jesus. Here are some of those reasons - and why so many don't listen.
NO ONE EVER SPOKE LIKE THIS MAN
Jess' ministry was so astonishing and so threatening that his adversaries wanted him out of the way. So the Pharisees "sent officers to arrest him" (John 7:32). But to their dismay the officers came back empty-handed, not because Jesus had good bodyguards, but because his teaching was so stunning. "The officers...came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why did you not bring him?' The officers answered, 'No one ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:45-46). When they listened to Jesus, they could not follow through with their mission to arrest him.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Demand #3
Started reading "What Jesus Demands from the World" by John Piper before I go to bed. He writes 50 demands in the book. So for the next 50 nights the wife and I are reading it together to learn what Jesus demands from us. I'm looking forward to see how this book helps us grow together with the Lord! Tonight I want to share part of demand #3. Throughout the book I will touch on some from time to time. Keep pressing Church!
You refuse to come to me that you may have life. - John 5:40
"You Refuse To Come To Me That You May Have Life"
Why don't people come to Jesus? At one level the answer is because they "refuse to come." In other words, people do not want to come. Some call this the choice of free will. Jesus would probably say it is the choice of a will enslaved to sin. "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Jesus would say that people do not come to him because they are enslaved to their supreme preference for other things. "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light" (John 3:19-20).
How then has anyone ever come, since we are all enslaved to sin and spiritually dead (see Demand #1)? Jesus' answer was that God, in his great mercy, overcomes are resistance and draws us: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). "No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father" (John 6:65). God grants the gift of new birth and repentance, which opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to the truth and beauty of Jesus. When this happens, all suicidal objections fall. We are finally free. And, finally free from slavery, we come.*
*What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper (pg.46,47)
You refuse to come to me that you may have life. - John 5:40
"You Refuse To Come To Me That You May Have Life"
Why don't people come to Jesus? At one level the answer is because they "refuse to come." In other words, people do not want to come. Some call this the choice of free will. Jesus would probably say it is the choice of a will enslaved to sin. "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Jesus would say that people do not come to him because they are enslaved to their supreme preference for other things. "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light" (John 3:19-20).
How then has anyone ever come, since we are all enslaved to sin and spiritually dead (see Demand #1)? Jesus' answer was that God, in his great mercy, overcomes are resistance and draws us: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). "No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father" (John 6:65). God grants the gift of new birth and repentance, which opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to the truth and beauty of Jesus. When this happens, all suicidal objections fall. We are finally free. And, finally free from slavery, we come.*
*What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper (pg.46,47)
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