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THE ACTIVE WORD

THE TITLE OF Message: Who's on Trial

MESSAGE DATE: 2/25/2004 TAPE NUMBER: C3560

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Scripture Reference for Message: John 18:13

TIMECODE



Opening Prayer:

Father this night we give you thanks for the blessed gift of your son Jesus Christ. And tonight we thank you Lord for doing everything you did on our behalf. As we walk with you this evening through a series of six trials. Lord we pray that the word would so clearly speak to each and every heart. That we would as we often pray, leave this building forever changed. Please God, in light of everything you have done for us, let us purpose now to do for you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Message

Jesus on Trial both in the word and in the world. In the word specific scriptures, in the world a special subject even now. And what you'll find of course is that everyone seems to have an opinion, a belief, a conviction, a perspective about Jesus. Is he guilty or is He not guilty? Your verdict is. And that's where I'll have to stop. What's that?

Well stop for a moment and consider you verdict. Your choosing weather he's guilty or not? No, no that's the mistake we make, and I think a mistake, a problem that Pilot made. You see he continued to assume that he was trying Christ, when in realty Christ was trying him. You see every time that Jesus is on trial in conversation, in communication, in realty and all actuality. We are the ones on trial. To debate who He is? No. He knows exactly who he is, our conversation again, our communication. Well we would be wise to consult the word. For each time He is tried we learn something about us. Each time?

Yes it wasn't just one time. It was six times. Six times in the word of God we see him paraded and presented, we see him analyzed and appraised. Three times by the Romans, three times by the Jews. And each time, well because, questions and criticism, its still the same. Attitudes and actions, they're still the same. So they'll be some what in my opinion a striking similarity.

Every trial we will learn something. And what do we learn at our first stop. Well its John's gospel the eighteenth chapter the thirteenth verse; he first goes to Annas. They led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Now make your way to verse nineteen same chapter: The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always met, in secret I have said nothing. "Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" And Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?" (now watch verse twenty four) Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now wait a minute some of you are now scratching your minds saying, the High priest? I thought that, that was who he was standing in front of? Annas. So how is it he leaves Annas the high priest and goes to Caiaphas the high priest? You can't have two high priests. One would be, well one would have to be higher. Exactly.

You see what you need to know and it's important to reference it in verse thirteen: Annas happens to be the father in law of Caiaphas. As a high priest right now he has lost that powerful position, but he has retained a position of power. What position would that to be?

Scholars have submitted that as we will read, there's this covert operation going on behind the scenes. What are we going to do with Jesus? Why are we so concerned about Jesus way of speaking, His way of living and the miracles He's been doing? Well because he's undermining the integrity of what happens in the synagogue. You see we have not seen in our religious circles miracles happen, like what's been happening in the life and through the ministry of Jesus Christ.

And when He came into the temple proper, and began to flip tables, and began to cry out in a loud voice, "This is supposed to be a house of prayer and you've turned it into a den of thieves." Do you know what He did to our business?

Keep in mind, listen, Christianity if you're not careful can just be a big business. And the business of ministry? Well sometimes even in the, sometimes even the well intentioned circles you can find that there's a business side to the ministry of the church. For instance, a few weeks ago at a board meeting right here at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale we had to debate the finer points of how much money to spend, to make sure we had a sexual harassment insurance policy.

You see it's recommended that we do. So how much money does a church our size with our size staff have to spend to make sure that we have a sexual harassment insurance policy? Well about eighty thousand dollars a year. You think, well wait a second, why in the world, what in the world is that all about. And that was my point as well.

You see sitting around my fellow disciples, I wondered if Thomas or Andrew, if Peter ever had to talk about a sexual harassment insurance policy. I don't think so. But the business of the church is in fact from time to time a business. A business? Be careful it doesn't become more business than ministry. Why? Well we're supposed to be here to minister.

Jesus saw what was happening in the religious circles of His day becoming more business than ministry and that's why He starts turning tables. Well now when his turning tables destroys the business, now it's not only, not only a ministry, it's also not a business. And now these religious leaders are upset. Why? Well we can't minister, that's what He's doing, and now we can't do business because that's what He's undoing.

That's why Annas would be called first. What's that? I, I need to talk to this guy. I need to find out and please look at verse nineteen of the same chapter, about his disciples, and about his doctrine. That's what I've got to try and figure out. About his disciples and about his doctrine.

Now know this, there will always be questions about Jesus, His doctrine, and His disciples. And it is interesting that Annas would actually go to Christ himself. Hey I'm kind of curious, here's what I want to know. Well why is it then Jesus when given the opportunity to provide Annas with an answer simply says, "Wait, wait, wait a second, wait a second. I'm not going to give this to you now. You go ahead and talk to the people that I've been talking to. This has not been something off in a corner. This is not something that's been hidden in a box. You go ahead and talk to the people that I've been talking to." Why.

Because your accusing me of something. And if the accusation is accurate certainly you should be able to go to the people that I've been talking to and find out exactly what I've been teaching. The real problem Annas. You know exactly what I've been teaching, and you're bothered by what I've been teaching.

You see it's not what we can know about Jesus Christ according to His word that bothers us. No its what we choose not to know because we don't go to the word of God to find out what He believes or how he feels, or what His opinion is about anything.

What is Annas' real problem? Listen to this and jot it down, its Deuteronomy four twenty nine: "If you will seek God, with all of your heart you shall find Him. What's that? It's a promise from the beginning, what back in the book of Deuteronomy, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy. You mean to tell me early on he was saying, If you seek me with all you heart, you can find me.

So in other words those who find God are those who put their heart first? Listen, listen, listen spiritual things are spiritual things; the natural man in the Bible cannot discern them because. Well he just doesn't have a heart for. A heart for it?

You mean it's a matter of my heart? I thought that according to God's word He simply reveals Himself to those who are chosen. Well in fact that is true. But how is it that your chosen? Well now we have a great debate between the sovereignty of God, the responsibility of man and how they meet together in the perfect orchestration of God's will. But they do meet together perfectly in the orchestration of God's will.

So as Jesus Christ is having Annas entertain Him with questions, he says you know what? You already know this. You know exactly what I've taught. In fact, you've probably questioned a lot of people and you been hard time finding anyone at all that will make the kind of claims that you're hoping to make about me.

So here's what I'm choosing to do. I'm choosing that I will. Well I'm not really going to answer you. Why? Now pay very careful attention to this because here's what happens today. And the one question we learn from Anna's trial is, what do you know about Jesus? Well I know this, its going to require some faith. What's that?

It's going to require some faith. Now a lot of you don't want to hear me say that. But keep in mind according to God's word, the Bible says, without faith it's impossible to please God. Why? Well there's going to have to be based on His terms a step to getting there. And it happens to be faith.

Now it's the kind of faith the Bible says a child can exercise it. It's not a matter of the intellect. It's not like this longer you study head knowledge. No, its longer you want to know heart knowledge. I really want to know God. And what I've come to discover over years of ministry. Is that for those who want to know God, they find him. I mean that's just a matter of fact.

But what if, what if you're only seeking God intellectually. Will you be found of God if you're just trying to figure Him out? You know you just want to have a grasp on Him? Or you want to undo Him. I have this conviction that He actually can hold away information for those who have a conviction to undo Him. I mean think about it. The intellect says, "I'll prove Him wrong." And the intellect has no real determination to prove Him at all. So he stays away. And God says, "You know the day he has a need and the day that he calls on me from the heart, is the day he'll be found by me." But as long as he's just making things up in his head. You know what; I'm not going to give him the privilege or the liberty of knowing me.

Bob I don't think that's fair. Oh be careful. Now you're the one calling God not fair. Oh He'll always be perfectly fair. The problem is Annas is not being fair because he knows he can get the knowledge he needs by asking those people that Jesus has been talking to. But who is he deciding to talk to? He's going to find somebody who disagrees with Jesus and find out how he feels. And it happens all the time.

Oh mark my words. With the release of The Passion of Christ, they'll be article after article as there already has been. How do you feel about Jesus? How do you feel about Jesus? How do you feel about Jesus? And who will they ask? Will they ask those people who have a relationship with him? Or will they ask those people who just have an opinion about Him?

Well watch and see. Why? Well because that's what we learn from the first trial with Annas. Well where do we go for the second trial? Well, turn away from John chapter eighteen, its Matthew chapter twenty-six. In Matthew chapter twenty-six we'll pick it up in the fifty seventh verse: Matthew twenty-six and fifty seven: And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.' "And the high priest arose and said, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath and said Him, I'll put you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"

Watch carefully verse sixty four: Jesus said, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Now notice power in our translation is capitalized. He's referring to His father, the ultimate of Power in verse sixty five the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! "What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death." Your attention please.

We move from first trial Annas, to second trial Caiaphas. And in this trial what do we learn? Well we learn there are always going to be false witnesses concerning Christ.

They'll be people that are willing to talk a lot and say things that they really don't know. People with half truths like this one. I'm able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days. Oh you know. Jesus was commenting to His disciples about the temple after they commented to Him about just how beautiful this building was.

And Jesus wanted them to know concerning temples that there were two types. There was of course the physical temple but there was also His body the temple. And as he refers to His own temple, it being destroyed and raising it back up. He made it perfectly clear to them what He was talking about. But there would be those who would take what was perfectly clear to the spiritual and distort it in the physical.

And that's exactly what happens all the time. Those who understand clearly in the spiritual, those who are physical will only hear it physically and as they distort it even more so in the physical. Now they find themselves with some kind of convoluted conversation concerning Christ that has no merit and no truth. And that's the problem.

You see Jesus Christ knows exactly who He is. He declares, when you see the Son of Man. The Son of Man? Can I ask you close near the word Son of Man, just write down eighty four times. What's that? Eighty four times in the Gospels Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. Well you could say, what's the big deal about that? I mean all throughout the Hebrew scriptures the phrase Son of Man is referred to, to imply either man or human kind. So I don't understand why it's so relevant, why it's so important, and why they would tare their robes when Jesus says hey. You're going to see Jesus coming in the clouds alongside power. Here's why.

Because although the term Son of Man is used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures to describe either man or human kind. It is used in a very exclusive way in both Ezekiel and in Daniel. In Ezekiel it is used by God to describe Ezekiel the prophet. And he is quite a prophet. Why? So much of his prophecy has to do with what is going to happen in the future.

Now Daniel on the other hand, employs the phrase Son of Man to describe none other than Messiah. So when they ask him are you the Christ? Jesus answer is clearly implying what he hoped they would receive. And now their response clearly helps us to see what Jesus intention was. So as they tear the robes and say wait a second this is blasphemy. What are we to conclude from the second trial?

Jesus it he Christ. He makes no bones about it. He is the anointed one of God that has come to save both Israel and the Gentiles nations. He was the one who was predicted, he was the one who was prophesied.

And once you gather that information you say well wait a second. What is it again I'm learning from the second trial? Well from the second trial I learned that they'll be a lot of false witness concerning Christ. But if you ask Jesus who he is. He's going to say that He is the hope of all, both Gentile and Jew alike.

Where do we go from there. Well this time it's the third trial, and its back to John's gospel, it's the eighteenth chapter, and this time we'll pick it up in twenty-eight. John chapter eighteen, and verse twenty-eight: Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" And they answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you." And Pilate said, "Well you take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death," that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" And Jesus answered, "Well my kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate then said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "Well you say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Now watch this.

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

"But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" And they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

Trial number three what do we see? Well it's Pilate asking this question, I've underlined it in my Bible, verse thirty eight: What is truth? What is truth? And what does Jesus say to him? Nothing. He already to him, I am the truth. What's that?

Well I already told you Pilate and that's part of the problem. That's exactly what we see happen in the world today. People do they really want to know truth? Or do they just like to ask the questions and then hear the answers without acting upon the information.

I have found again, and again, and again and again people say, "Well you tell me the truth." And I'd say, well Jesus he claimed to be the truth. That's not what I want to hear. I want to hear the truth. Well I just told you what the truth is. What's the problem?

The problem of course is, and you can jot it down, Matthew 7:6, Jesus declared, don't give what's holy to dogs and don't cast your pearl before swine. What is that? Now you have to be very careful doing this because of course you'd have to pre determine who's a pig right? I'm not casting my pearls before you, you swine. No, how dare you judge a swine when one time you were a swine and aren't you glad somebody cast a pearl in your direction?

Of course you are. But be careful why? Well because there is a time, and then there's not a time. And I've found sometime is the time and sometime isn't the time. It's all based upon you discerning and know when are you being received and when are you being rejected?

I know this about my ministry personally. I love to spend time with sponges. People who like to just drink up truth. I don't care who you are or what class of life you come from. If you want to know more about God I've got time for you. On the other hand however I'm a little reluctant and little resistant when it comes to somebody just wanting to argue with me, or debate with me.

In fact over the last five, six maybe seven years. There are a couple of subjects that when somebody wants to just get out their doctrinal sword and try and cut me up and tell me how I'm supposed to believe. And then if I was really right I'd believe the way that they believe rather than the way that I believe. I found myself just simply walking away from that argument. Why?

I know what I know what I know what I know because I know that I know what I know. But if you don't. Well then you need to know. In other words you need to now know not only where your position doctrinally. But then you need to be able to defend. And then you also need to be able to discern it.

You see it's in the discernment at that point that I've been able to say, "You know what, this is not good right now. Tell you what. I'm going to be praying for." Oh you shut up; you tell me this one thing. No, no, no, rather than me telling you one more thing at all, I'm just going to be praying for us. Oh you coward. Call me a coward; call me a chicken berp, berp, berp. Whatever you'd like to call me, but I know this right now, I'm going to stop this conversation. Why?

There are some conversations that you will know are not going anywhere. You're not winning anything. And you tend to think; well I get this one for it. Okay are you ready for this? Here's what the Bible says, the natural man doesn't understand spiritual things it's because their spiritually discerned. You don't get it anyway do you? No I don't. See? See what? See what I told you? What did you tell me?

You don't get it. No I don't. Ah. And in that point in time you need to pray. Why? Well basically Pilot says what's truth? Jesus said, "I'm not going to tell you." Because I just did. What did Jesus say? Jesus would say, listen again Pilot. I said that everyone who, well I came as a witness to bear the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. You see Pilot you're not listening right now because you don't have what it takes to listen. And I have found that through much prayer I've actually seen a softening of the heart. And that the hardest of hardest people many times after a season of prayer.

Hey can I ask you one more time if you'd like to go to church with me? You know it's a funny thing. How many times have you invited the same person to church and then low and behold one day much to your shock and surprise. They actually invite themselves. Hey are you going to church? Yeah I am. Do you mind if I come along?

Your driving all the way church going I can't believe. And what's even more profound in my opinion. Is that the people that you do end up seeing in church, your blown away even more so when they actually come forward. They actually get saved. You bring this person who you are convinced has no interest in God, then suddenly they have a interest in God. And it's the end of the Bible study and you go, Oh Lord he's not going to get this. He talked on tithing.

Boom, stand up start to walk forward. How did that happen? He talked about tithing and someone's getting saved on a tithing message? I didn't believe anyone could get saved on a tithing message.

I had the great joy last week in Orlando. Hearing the story of a person in our church who's wife got saved at a tithing message. I go she got saved at tithing message? Oh yeah. Well what did I say? I don't even know if she's knows what it was. And that's how it is sometimes.

Again I want to remind you of this fact. I went to a great Baptist church before I got saved. The church that I found out after the fact when I came to find out after the fact, that they were a great gospel presenting congregation. But I didn't hear it the week that I was there. It's as if I was in a world of light, and I was still so dark that I couldn't hear the gospel.

But count on the spirit of the Lord at work when my brother and his wife just continue to pray and pray and pray and pray. And that night when I got on my knees and asked Jesus Christ into my heart. Now I come back to that same church. Wow, this is incredible; man I never heard this, what a great church. And I'm thinking. What did they teach last time I was here? I didn't hear a thing.

No let me tell you what happened. God by his great grace I'm convinced, fueled by the power of prayer flipped on my switch. You know what I mean? He took up the blinders and suddenly, Hallelujah! It's like I get it, man wow. And then the Bible, look at this, this is incredible.

I needed to grow when I first came to Christ and I didn't where to go and my younger brother said, "You know we're having a home Bible study at my house and you can study with us." And I said, "Really? Where are you at in the Bible?" He said, "We're going through the book of Romans verse by verse and chapter by chapter." "You are?" And I came over to the house and it was just me and a, I said. Your going through the? Yeah, yeah we're going through the book here.

Found out after the fact they started the study just for me. Yeah going through the book of Romans right here at our house, everyone's invited. Okay sure, you're the only one who showed up; let's take the look at the first chapter here. And see exactly what it says and.

And I was a sponge and I had such a hunger. And I can recall times when I can just. And it happens now. Never just say I only got time for a verse. You open up the Bible and next thing you know you've gone a chapter. Wow how did you know that? Well this is where that story's at, I didn't even know that. Look at that. Wow, wait a minute what does that say? Well I don't even know what that means. You have to ask someone, what does that mean? Oh that's convicting to me. I don't want that page in here, hang on a second let me take that out of there. I don't think that was in the original there, they must of added that.

Trial number four: Luke's gospel the twenty third chapter: Luke chapter twenty three: We've gone from Annas, to Caiaphas to Pilate. Two Jewish trials, one Roman trial, and now the second Roman trial. Luke twenty three and three: Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "It is as you say." And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault with this Man." But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard the many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. Your attention please.

I want a miracle! That's what we learn from Herod's trial? Yes, I want a miracle. I want God to do something for me. Come on God, its time for the Jesus show right? Do something for me. If you could do something for me than I'll believe in you. But if you don't anything for me than I'm not going to believe in you. Oh you can't do anything? You mean to tell me you impotent? You mean to tell me that you're powerless? You mean to tell me that there's no ability in your at all? Well then I'm not going to believe in you. Well then I'm just not going to. Well, guys start making fun of Jesus because he can't do anything.

It breaks my heart. Why? Here's why, because it creeps into the church and you can jot it down. Its Matthew's gospel the twelfth chapter the thirty ninth verse: Jesus said, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.

Now please pay careful attention to that, and I can't be misunderstood on this point. And I'm bound to be. Why? Well because there are men today that have ministries of miracles. Everyone runs there like a Herod. They've heard a lot about miracles now they want to see it for real. A miracle happens, come on Jesus I'm waiting for my miracle. And when Jesus doesn't show up with a miracle, they have a tendency then to mock Him. Well he didn't show up, there's a problem here.

And they'll take it so far as ridiculing him because he didn't do what they expected that he would do. Wait a minute. Who's God? Are you God? And in other words, you tell Him what to do and he's forced to comply? I thought for some strange reason in a God servant relationship, He told you what to do and you were forced to comply. I mean do we come to God on our terms? Or do we come to God on His terms?

And that's where many times the greater mistakes are made. I, I have a, an opinion and, and if your offended I, I'm not bothered. There, there's a little two word saying, sometimes people wear it in a necklace, sometimes people have it on a wall plaque. "Try God, try God."

You know I don't care for that phrase. If you have that necklace again you might just want to reach back and slip it off this evening. Why don't I like the term try God. Try God sounds like your slipping on a pair of shoes to see how comfortable they are. And if they're any blisters you can take them off. I don't think you try God. You accept Christ as your Savior and Lord when you deny yourself, pick up a cross, and decide to follow him.

Try Him? Oh a thirty day trial. Just try God, and I've had people who with well intentioned hearts have said to those non believers, "Oh come on, just pray a prayer, ask Jesus into you heart, and man mark my words. If it doesn't work after ninety days."

Is there a warrantee? That's what I want to know. Is there a guarantee? That's what I want to know. Well here's my guarantee. You surrender your whole heart to Him, and you will not be disappointed. However if you try on God, ah, I'll try a little God. Ah, tell you what I'll do. I'll try a little God; I'll put a fish on the back of my car and see what happens. I'll get just the New Testament, won't buy the whole Bible.

Well I wouldn't invest in a whole Bible, I'll just pick up you know one of those three dollar New Testaments, read it through and just give a try. Just going to give God a try. See how He works.

Sorry you're asking for a Jesus show. And that doesn't impress Him at all. Now does that mean, and am I trying to say that if ever you prayed the kind of prayer. God I need to know that you're real, please help my unbelief. No. Here's the difference. And here's the way I'll phrase it. Are you serious or are you curious?

If you're curious I don't know why you'd expect anything from God, because that's not genuine faith, that's foolishness. But if in fact you're serious and you're approaching God saying, "God please help my unbelief." If it's a genuine from the heart God help me. Don't be surprised He doesn't do something.

But then again if He doesn't do anything, what He may be saying to you is, I would really love to see you walk by faith and not by sight. Why? Again, it's an adulterous wicked generation that seeks after a sign. You see if you've got to have God do something for you before you believe. Than when somebody else does something for you, you might follow them as well. And the whole idea behind a faith filled relationship is that is also becomes a faithful relationship because you faithfulness is attached to your faithfulness. And the connection between the two?

Well I've illustrated in the past it's the relationship I have with my wife, it's the relationship I have here and with the church. You all exercise great faith in me every single week. Why? You left where ever you were at. You drove that distance, believing that I would be here speaking or that someone would be here to deliver truth.

But what if this next week, it's the weekend; we're in the middle of a series. You know I've still got a few more parts left on the armor of God. And you get up in the morning, you drive here. No, no Bob. What happened to Bob? And there's nobody here. And you say well maybe he'll show up at the next service. Nope. Nobody here. Next service, maybe he's here. You don't see more for a couple of weeks. Where did he go? Is he on vacation? I didn't know it came this early. But where did he go?

And then I show up, and then you decide to show up, and then you don't show up. And then all of us are so sporadic about our participation in this thing called the church. We soon have a reputation of being faithless and fruitless. Why?

Well because we're not going to bare that kind of fruit in fact we're so fickle about our decisions and when we're here and when we're not here and when we've decided to show up and when we've not decided to show up. That's not very much faithfulness at all. In the same way. Will I go home tonight after the service? You better believe I will. But what if I don't go home tonight, then come home tomorrow night, then go home a week from now, then come back.

After a while my wife would say, "Well what's going on? You've got somebody else in your life? Why, why would you not come home? Where are you at?" And the implications are, is there an affair? Is there adultery? Is it wickedness? When you pledge a promise and at the same time don't keep it. No, please. If you're pledging a promise to follow God, then you're following it even by faith when feeling has gone.

And when feeling is completely not there, know this. In my opinion is when your truly, truly growing up in the faith. Let me explain. Over the years I certainly have come to appreciate those times where I do feel the presence of the Lord. And I love that, there's nothing like that.

In fact there was a time in my life as an early evangelist going out in the streets that I could actually feel something in my heart before I'd go out. And I'd pray and wait until I had that feeling before I went out. However, I've also come to discover that the more mature a believer is, sometimes the less feeling they'll have. Why?

It's the same thing that happens in a marriage relationship, or in a dating relationship. In the early days of dating relationship. I just need to feel, I just need to touch, I just need to know you love me? Do you really love me? Yes I really love you. Do you really love me? Yes I really love you. The more mature your relationship is, let me tell you something. You could go years without saying I love you to my wife. No, no, no, no, no, something is thinking that's not as funny.

Anyway my point is this. Feelings? Do I feel like I'm in love with my wife? Yes I feel like I'm in love with my wife. When? Well the times are different. Because as we mature in our relationship some if it's just a matter of faith. Some of it's a matter of fact. Here's how I've discover more concerning God. The fact is, this is His word. And the more I've studied the facts about these facts, the more that the facts concerning who God is, has established even greater faith.

Now it's by faith that I then will sometimes have feelings. But you see how I've established my relationship with him? Fact is He loves me, sent His son, died on the cross for my sins. That has moved in my hear to some faith. Wait, why? The Bible says Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God.

Well what is the word of God? The word of God is a fact concerning God. So now I have the fact that leads me to faith, the faith leads me back to even great fact, and now the fact along with the faith leads me to a feeling. And I sit there and go, I am overwhelmed by this. This is powerful information. This is great I'm so glad God has given us His word.

Herod on the other hand. I just want a miracle; I just want to see him do something. Come on do something. You're not going to do anything? He's going to do nothing. Well then ridicule Him, then mock Him. Then criticize Him. And sadly that's what we do when we expect God to fit in to our agenda and He fails to do so because he's God and we're not.

Move a little quicker, number five, make your back with me to Matthew chapter twenty seven: Matthew 27 we'll pick it up in the first verse: We've go to do some fast reading here. When morning came, all the chief priests and elders and all the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hung himself or hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "Well it is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. And then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

Which is a powerful thing that the very people who betrayed the Lord. In the process of receiving the money and spending it, fulfilled scripture. Just blows my mind. There's a little feeling coming from the faith attached to the facts.

Verse eleven: Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus, "Well it's as you say."

We've already said that, we've already read that, but we come again to follow the context. Verse twelve: While He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. It was at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

So while he's sitting on the judgment seat, (according to Mark's gospel it's also called the pavement seat I ad), his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas!"

They said Barabbas. Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" And they all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" Then the governor said, "Well why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." Your attention please.

What did we learn from the fifth trial as we watch Pilate for a second time actually anal, analyze and then in his own heart excuse himself from this responsibility and task? Here's what we learned. There are a hand full of people I'm convinced are stuck in the middle. That's where Pilot's at, he's stuck in the middle.

He hears what his wife has to say, he's talked to Jesus. He finally comes to a place he goes you know what? You guys are going to call him guilty; I'm going to call him unguilty I feel very awkward about this right now. But at the same time, well in the last trial, the trial that's actually before this entire multitude. I'll actually find myself yielding to your position because my power, my prerogative is not being acknowledged or recognized. Why is that an important point for us to make? Here's why.

Notice next how Pilate easily sways to the side of the crowd. Why? He has no spiritual power within him. He's going to behave like a natural man because he has no supernatural ability. Now let me illustrate this to you so that you understand how important it is that you're around the body of Christ.

Years and years and years ago Charles Spurgeon's teaching a class. One of his students raises her hand and she says, "I don't understand why." And the context of her question had to do with why she as a believer could not entertain or spend more time with people of the world. He said, "Well I'll illustrate it to you this way.

And he took this little petite gal up on the platform where he's teaching. Crowd of students out there before. He says here's what I want you to do. He says I want you to get up on this chair. Now Spurgeon if you don't know was a very, very portly you know large, you know robust man. Now the little petite gal stands up on a stool.

He then grasps her hand, he says now I want you to pull me up to you. And everyone started to snicker. Why? There's no way she could of pulled this big guy up to the stool like she's standing on. She says, he says. But now watch this. And he takes her hand and he yanks her down off the stool. He says, you can go back to your seat.

And the students all stand, and he goes. I want to tell you something. It will always be easier for the world to pull you down than it will be for you to pull up the world. Why? Because the world doesn't have spiritual understanding. And without that understanding, we can't expect them to understand. Again, we go back to the power of prayer.

But how many people do you know that are stuck in the middle? And if we as a church would spend more time in prayer and then carefully analyze the content in question, when we're being asked and when we provide an answer. I believe that together we see God work.

Evangelism? If you've never had the joy of leading someone to Jesus Christ. Then you've not had the joy of leading someone to Christ. But there is no joy like leading someone actually to Jesus Christ. There, there's just no joy like it. Why?

Because I sit there go and go, Do you want to go to heaven? Do you realize what your? Do you want to go heaven? I think I do, I've go one more question. Okay let me ask that. Let me answer that, okay here it is.

To know that at that moment in your life your mouth, your body, your heart has been an instrument of taking somebody out of the clutches of the pit of hell and the enemies handy work, and putting them into the Kingdom of God. Into the glorious life. And that they're, they're names have been written in the Lambs Book of Life. What is that like? How many weeks do you see me at the end of a service start to blubber? And start to you know weep. And here people standing at the base of this platform.

I said come on up. And I look at and it happened last week again. And here's the most impressive person to me. Somebody who's in the later stages of their life. Somebody's that's in their eighties. And we had a guy just a few weeks ago come up with walker. He made his way up. Tears flowing down his face. And as tears are flowing down his face, I say. Now repeat after me. And he leaves his walker and he gets down on his knees and he puts arms.

And now I'm getting emotional now. Why? Its about the kingdom of God, it's not about joining our church. And you'll always hear me say that. But if this guy makes it into the kingdom. At the later stage of his life. And now name written in the lambs book of life. Man pray, pray, pray, pray, pray. Don't let those who are in the valley of decision stay there.

No when you here the end of a bible study, pray, let's get them out of the valley of decision, lets have them be decided weather they're decided for or against. Pilate's stuck in the middle. And that's what we learn from Pilate.

What do we finally conclude? Well you still in the same chapter this time however back track to twenty two: Its Matthew 27 verse 22: Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

Now the ultimate question we answer and this will be on the lips of many for the next several weeks is Who Killed Jesus Christ? Well let's take a look at who killed Jesus Christ. And, and the way that we'll note that is interestingly enough going back to John chapter nineteen: and in verse six: John 19:6. Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

Okay so the officers are saying crucify, crucify. Okay now move to verse twelve: Then from then on Pilate sought to release Him.

Now Pilate's actually trying to release Jesus. He says I don't want to be a part of this, but the Jews cried out, and said, "Wait a second; if you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. But now follow with me, verse sixteen. It says then he delivered Him to them to be crucified.

Who's He? Pilate. Pilate said I'm going to do myself to get out of this, but he's the one that delivers it to the crying Jews. So is it Pilate that's guilty for delivering to the Jews, or the Jews, they're guilty for actually crying out that he be crucified.

No. Somebody has to do it. Look at verse twenty three of the same chapters: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus,

The soldiers crucified Jesus. Well certainly the soldiers couldn't of crucified Jesus and was left of the Jews no. Don't you understand? Will had to give them the power and authority, that's why Jesus died on a cross.

Had it been simply Jews killing him that would of stoned him to death because their act of death was by stoning not by crucifixion. So the very fact that he's on a cross tells me Rome crucified Jesus. Oh no, no, no but the Jews were the one's who was asking. Yeah but Pilot had to deliver him. Do you see where we are going?

I want you to jot it down, John chapter ten verse eighteen: listen to this. Jesus declared, No one takes it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I receive from my father. What's that?

Who took the life of Christ? God took the life of Christ. The heavenly father ordained. It became a command that Jesus obeyed. And based upon the obedience of Jesus Christ we now have salvation gifted to us. Who's responsible for the death of Jesus Christ? I got one answer. All of us are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.

Because through the death of Jesus Christ all of us can be saved. And when you understand that, weather it's a movie or weather it's the word. Whether it's the word or it's the world, we have an answer. And the answer is Jesus would that all would be saved. And come to that knowledge in the hope of what? That His blood would not be shed in vain. Let's pray.

Closing Praye

Father this night as we simply walked our way through. We certainly have seen ourselves react and respond to the attitude and actions that we know are typical today. Lord I don't know who's here tonight but you do. And if they're somebody that's behaving a little bit more like a Herod, I want to see a miracle. Somebody who's behaving a little bit more like Pilote, what is truth. Somebody who is like Pilot stuck in the middle. Or somebody who is just crying out and saying let His blood be on us and be on our children. Lord now we ask.

Let the life that was laid down on our behalf; come to life, birth life in us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

If you saw today's paper one of the religious writers in the Sun Senntenal gave her opinion of The Passion. And she started the article by saying, there is no way that I can tell you how I feel without also telling you how I feel. Full disclosure. And then she told us of her religious affiliation. And I thought boy that was an honest approach.

I'm going to tell you how I feel about Jesus based upon what I already know. Is it what you already know about Jesus that allows you make a clear, wise biblical opinion? You see it's an amazing thing but for twenty-three, twenty-four years of my life I thought I knew Jesus. And then one night I encountered him for the very first time as he is revealed in His word.

I met Jesus that night as a friend, I met Him as a Savior, I met Him as a forgiven, I met Him as a merciful brother. I met Him as somebody that was waiting and willing to rescue me from my own path of destruction. And from that day forward, honestly I can say although I probably have looked back a few times. I've only looked back to be reminded that I sure am glad I'm not back where I used to be.

So what about you? What brought you here tonight? Well for some of you it was Bible study, and when you walked your way through the trials of Jesus Christ you realize man He went through so much for me. But quite possibly there's a few folks that are joining us tonight for the very first time and whether it's been the movie or the conversations concerning Christ you have some questions and hopefully I provided some answers.

I go back to trial number two. Jesus said, "Your right, I am the Son of God, I'm the Christ." In other words, I am the one who saves the world. See we're all going to die, and when we die according to His word, we will soon meet our maker. And you will either meet Him as a friend or has a judge. He will either judge and the gavel will come down and you are guilty because you don't have a sacrifice for your sins. Or he'll set the gavel aside and he'll reach out and he'll grab his hand. And he'll come from behind the bench and say, "Am I ever glad your here."

And he'll give you this big old bear hug and welcome you into the kingdom, where you'll get a chance to spend all of eternity because of what He did. And my prayers is that you'll meet Him, all of you will meet Him as a friend not as a judge. Because I do not want to be judged by God. I'm way too guilty.

He decided to judge His son for me. And everything that His son endured is what I deserved. And because of that I can't help it love Jesus. I'm crazy about Him. Because what He did for me, I got a place in the kingdom.

Now if you don't understand that yet, I'm going to pray for your understanding. And as I privately pray and I'm joined by hundreds of Christians in this room that are privately praying for your understanding. You may just find tonight that God grants you the spiritual site. And suddenly you felt compelled in your own place to leave your space and come forward and say, "Today I want to know Jesus as my Savior and my friend." I want to know this Jesus. He is so controversial.

Of course He is and he always will be. Why? Nobody ever made claims like Christ. And now that you know those claims, you're the judge, you're on trial. I'm the judge and I'm on trial. Yes exactly. Based upon how you respond well you'll find out guilty or not guilty. Do you have sacrifice for your sins? Are you someone with a place in the kingdom reserved and prepared for you or not?

Pastor Clay is going to close us in song and the singers are going to sing as always, as they do. If it's your night tonight, if tonight you sense that God is drawing you or calling you. I challenge you to get up out of your seat, come forward and stand at the base of this platform area. And when the group is gathered whoever you are I'll pray a prayer with you.

And the prayer will sound like this. Today God I open my heart, I invite you inside; I want to follow you, please forgive me of my sins. I want to change my life God. And as you pray that prayer right here, he'll do what He does and you will ah, never regret it in my opinion. Because there's nothing like knowing that you know that you know that you're saved. And I do, and I want you to have the same joy.

We call it blessed assurance. Come and receive the free gift of eternal life tonight. I'll be praying for you. Pastor Clay if you'll lead us in song.

(Song come and make my heart your home)

If a you would hold you applause for just a moment. The Bible says on the last and great day of the feast, Jesus stood up and said, If anyone's thirsty let him come unto me." We all thirst in life, what was Jesus talking about? He knew that there was something that we were looking for in life that we would keep on hunting for and searching for. That only He could satisfy. Is anyone thirsty? Yes of course we're all thirsty. NO, no, no. Does anyone want to quench that part of their heart that longs to know why, why we're here, why we exist, what our purpose is? Why do I life. You know what, what is that thing that just nags at us until we know that we know that we know. And when Jesus said if anyone is thirsty let him come unto me. He said then, and you'll receive. What?

Your going to receive the spirit of God and out from your inner most being will flow torrents of living water. You'll have life, and you'll have life to the full.

You see what I have is not just an earthly existence. It's an amazing adventure. Every single day I get to know God better. And when I die I get a promotion into the kingdom and know Him even more. Man you can't beat that, and its only available here it's His heart it's His word.

Now if you are hesitating this moment in heart, if you're not certain if you belong up here. Just the fact you're uncertain tells me you belong up here. Because you've not settled yet the issue, if or if you do not have a place in this kingdom. Why don't you know? Why?

Here's why, the Bible says these things were written that we might know we have eternal life. Listen again the Bible says these things were written that I might know I have eternal life. It doesn't say these things were written so I could hope I have eternal life. I have more than hope. These things were written that I can guess I have eternal life. No it's much more than a guess. I don't want to play guess work with my eternal destiny.

These things were written that I would know I have eternal life. And I know I do. If you don't know I'll give you one more minute. Leave you seat, come forward, stand here, pray that simply prayer, ask Christ in your life and know that you know right now. Anybody else at all?

Let's pray. Oh Lord tonight we give you thanks for your Word and for doing for us what we couldn't' do for ourselves. I wouldn't make it thorough one trial, let alone six. And to stay silent? The only reason you did that is to fulfill your word so that we would know you were who you claimed to be. Everything was a part of a master plan. And this night is at well.

Lord you knew who would be here right now, and you knew they'd take this step. And you knew that because you know everything. So us coming forward doesn't surpass you. But you are rejoicing. As your word tells us, even when one sinner turns all of heaven rejoices in your presence because you are rejoicing in heaven's presence.

So Lord this group that's gathered as they offer to you their prayer, said from the heart we know you'll do what you promised to do. Forgive them.

Those of you who have come forward, if you'll pray out loud. After me. Start by simply saying, Lord God I open my heart and I invite you inside to be my God, to be my Savior and to be my friend. Forgive me of my sins, wash me clean. For I've decided this night to follow you Jesus from this day forever. I'm yours. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Good move. Great. Now listen before you guys go anywhere, you haven't joined our church, that's not what this is about. This is about getting to know God better and receiving eternal life. So we have a Bible and we have a Bible study guide we want to give you to help you understand just what happened in you heart right now. You see close by there's JC and Rian, they're here to give you a Bible and a Bible study guide.

If you'll take a minute and go that direction you'll get these tools of information, you'll be back with your friends in a minute.

Church will give you give them a big hand as they go that direction.

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