Who Is In Charge?

Matt. 17:1-5

Introduction:

A. A preacher told me of his effort to improve his preaching. He decided to record the Sunday morning service so that he could critique his sermon delivery. The first Sunday of his experiment he came home right after church, sat down on the sofa, and put the cassette in the player. He listened to the opening prayer, the hymns, the announcements, the scripture reading, and then he heard himself begin the introduction of his message. About 30 minutes later he woke to the sound of the congregation singing the invitation song.

B. We are living in a day where when God speaks, many are asleep. I have a book in my library entitled, “The Gagging of God.”

1. Our secular world has dismissed the Lord put themselves in His place. They have decided that everyone is free to make his own religion and Truth.

2. God is God; and we are not is an important lesson.

3. They have forgotten who is in charge!

I. Jesus Is In Charge!

A. Col. 1:16-18 of Jesus

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.

B. Matt. 17:1-5 Jesus over Moses and Elijah

C. Luke 6:46 "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”

D. Matthew 7:24-27 we must listen and do what He says

E. John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

II. The Real Challenge to Jesus Comes From Self

A. Adam and Eve were tempted by the crafty devil

1. The devil lied to Eve, denying what God said

2. Every appeal was to selfish desires (Gen. 3:5,6)

"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

B. Sin sometimes fools us today, appealing to what we desire (1 John 2:15-17)

1. It is ours to obey His commands, not direct his counsels.

2. The cost of obedience is nothing compared to the cost of disobedience.

C. These desires make us want to challenge God’s authority, to assert that we think we are in charge.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has Three Lifelines:

1. Poll the Audience

popular choices are not always right

Ex. 23:2 "You shall not follow a multitude in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice”

Matt. 7:13,14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

Some people think that the church is a democracy; it is not; it is a kingdom, with only one king—JESUS! Only He can make laws.

2. Eliminate the Choices (50/50)

Acts 28:1-5 At Malta, the people first thought Paul a murderer, then they thought he was a god. They were wrong both times.

Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”

3. Ask an Expert Friend

You can go to the wrong expert—some went to Gamaliel, the greatest teacher in Jerusalem for advice,

· Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council

· Paul was educated under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)

· but he did not know the truth as well as the apostles. He did not know what to do to be saved.

Experts can sometimes be wrong!!

Matt. 15:14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

D. I hear people object: “people are more important than rules.”

1. Rules were made for the benefit of people. Rules are important because people are important.

2. Every law of God was given for our “good” for our benefit.

3. Every time someone thinks he can sin against God, he ends up hurting himself (and often others)

4. God’s laws last longer than those who break them.

III. When We Become Christians We Make the Decision to Belong to God

1. 1 Cor. 6:19,20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

2. Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”

3. The real question today and any today is this: “Is Jesus Lord?” Does He really have first place in your life?

4. Col. 2:20-3:4

Conclusion:

1. True spirituality is not judged by the opinions or feelings of others but by whether or not we have listened and obeyed the Lord.

2. Many years ago a very wise brother asked me a question that really made me stop and think: “What Are You Becoming?”

3. The church is going through many challenges and some are desiring changes. Before we decide we must ask:

· what does the Bible say?

· what does God want?

· what are we becoming?