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October 18, 2022 10:00 am
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Andy George
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With that process for a few moments, a method that we vetted over the last couple weeks talking about the chains that hold us back and we started with week when we start talking up a chain of condemnation. How we at times will allow shame and guilt to set in, and really hold us from being all that God really has us to be and we get shame to those things we could change to comparison which we talked about last week how often times comparison is is a very slippery slope when it comes to compromising, and so we compare our life and rates coveting what the neighbors have it creates conforming to the ways of this world.
It creates confusion about our role and God's role in this morning title and also take some nursery today. The titles break in the chain of the crowd and again I think that was a very common message because this is probably one of the ones that affect all of us on a very regular basis. As we look out upon social media. We look out upon the culture we look upon the news outlets. We look in our neighbors in our schools, coworkers, and there's always a crowd somewhere. Whether this is one or two people around us, whether it's an entire organization or the entire social media network. There's a crowd and I was gonna tell you that often times the crowd is polar opposite of the cross. This is true, we see that the crowd often times is a direct opposition to the cross of Christ. So how then do we as Christ followers not allow the crowd to truly chain us in all different directions, but instead how do we push forward in Christ this morning only give us two things that the chains do in our life and into responses to it as we close out this morning before someone remarked chapter 7 starting verse 46 to 52 and is a great passage of Scripture that shows a great picture of the crowd versus the one calling out in the middle of the crowd and how it directly impacts where we are today.
A very similar to where the crowd is consciously trying to dictate a response to the cross of Jesus in Mark chapter 10 verse 46 to 52 is is and they came to Jericho.
And as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd barred Emmaus a blind beggar, the son of Timmy us was sitting by the roadside.
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say Jesus son of David, have mercy on me, and many rebuked him, telling her to be silent, but he cried out all the more, son of David, have mercy on me and Jesus.is a call and they call the blind man say to him, take heart, get up, he is calling throwing off his cloak.
He sprang up and came to Jesus and Jesus said to him very interesting question we want to do for you as it is, did know that he was blind in his answer would be like to see. But Jesus asked him the question I find often that Jesus asked us questions.
By the way, almost rhetorical, wanting us to answer. We only do for you. The blame incident because it is that the cousin Rabbi which indicates somewhat of a faith in Jesus, Rabbi, let me recover my site and you said him go your way, your faith has made you well and immediately recovered his site and followed him on the way before going to the points in some context I will have time for the slit. I want us to notice something Jesus says, go your way, your faith has made you well as you notice that barred Emmaus's way was Jesus's way you said get out your faith. You should go ahead and go your way about, as will my ways your way to follow you.
Now I need to get up and actually follows the business to get up and just go a different direction. The exit gets up and says not, I'm following you following you some context around this passage for small Jesus disciples. Why were they heading to Jerusalem with her head in there for the Passover.
This is towards the end of Jesus ministry this the last miracle that the book of Mark records before he is captured and crucified. So Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, knowing by the way that he is going there to be crucified. He said that Jericho. This is the Jericho, the one with the walls came down and they built a new Jericho for the old Jericho, which is why one text in the gospel says that they were leaving Jericho valences they were entering Jericho is not a discrepancy of Scripture. They're both true, there is the old Jericho new Jericho and Jericho of this time was beautiful as the second major city in the region and in the area. Jericho is only about 17 or 18 miles east northeast of Jerusalem. So they're on their way to it is about 6 miles to the river Jordan work bends in Exodus, get a regional context or Spence Jones said it this way. They said that that this is Jericho to Jerusalem is a very hilly region and it supposes that it was upon the rocky heights overhanging the city with the Lord's temptation took place so kind get a regional geographical or sensation he fasted 40 days in the wilderness and at one point seen bringing to a high place and he overlooks the entire region and city.
Supposedly this is where this happens in this area in this region. Jericho this time is known for its palm trees is known for its gets that it's a beautiful city. Unfortunately, now it's almost deserted area now barred Emmaus or something interesting that also deserves context not is region where they are wise going barred Emmaus for the first time in the gospel of Mark is noted as the first one to call Jesus the son of David is great significance in that son of David is a title that the Old Testament prophets noted that the son of that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David a son of David would come, but also represents somewhat of a political statement at the same time and what's interesting is that is the first time that Mark records somebody Sanders. Yet Jesus doesn't correct them. He allows it to go is Jesus is knowing what is nearing is knowing that his name and his purpose is now infiltrated into knowledge the disciples, but beyond the disciples barred Emmaus calls him Rabbi which indicates some knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah and some faith that he is who he says is so put this in context, it's not uncommon for a rabbi to travel Natalie with his disciples, but as they would travel they would gather a large crowd you saw this happen throughout the Gospels use our walking talk with disciples and all these people, why is that one because people recognize whether they believed he was Messiah or not. People recognize that Jesus was indeed a rabbi and so wherever he went he would draw a crowd of disciples his own but also other people that would just want to hear his teaching, and so this is what's happening he's traveling he's teaching is talking the crowds are forming the Crowther following him there, about 18 miles away from Jerusalem.
He knows that in just a short time is get a salary Passover that one of them is going to betray him. He's going to go to the cross.
All of this is in the very near future and out of the crowd is a blind beggar on the side of the room blind beggar who can only hear the commotion find out somehow that it's Jesus that is coming and thinks himself.
This is a shot I have this is that I have an opportunity right now because the shout out. Son of David, have mercy on me was interesting.
I just describe the crowd to you in the crowd is made up of disciples. The crowd is made up of people who are following Jesus to hear the teachings of God merely of the Old Testament this point, and that very crowd turns the blind beggar and tells him to be quiet is it to tell the blind beggar the Jesus Rabbi were falling doesn't have time for somebody like you is amazing how the crowd likes to say those things, maybe even the people like you. Why would Jesus have time for somebody like you. Why would Jesus son is and isn't God busy enough as it is, is balancing the entire world there are more issues at hand.
Why do you think Jesus was suffering this of the cross and there.
The town is gotta be quiet you two quick things about what the chains do or change of the crowd the first one is this right this time. Being chained to the crowd causes the temptation to please the crowd, an indication that you and I are saying to the crowd at large is that you and I now have a temptation to please the crowd barred Emmaus a great example if barred Emmaus one of the please the crowd that he would never shout out a second time and how often does the crowd cannot dictate our response to the cross and the Jesus glaciers chapter 1 verse 10 it says for MI now seeking the approval of man or of God, and I would say that that's a fair question for all of us to wrestle with this morning.
I love you to wrestle with the question is your life about seeking the approval of humanity or is it about seeking the approval of God is the crowd matter more than the cross or am I trying to please men.
If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. In other words, if you and I spent all our time trying to please the crowd.
We will not be able to be a servant of God to the very time that our community needs us in our schools need us and your neighbors and your family need you and the Christ that you have it. We spent our time trying to please and fit in with the crowd the rock in a servant to serve God in the room and ask chapter 5, verse 29 Peter and the apostles answered the crowd who were telling them to leave and remain silent in the steps Sharon about Jesus.
The response was we must obey God rather than men and I would ask the same question is our response to the grout crowd. I'm sorry that you feel this way. I'm sorry that you believe this way but I have to believe God and I have to obey God rather than the crowd is a few things that the crowd does her job is down under temptation to please others.
The crowd has different convictions than you have the convictions of the crowd are not the convictions of his cross.
I love this time a year.
The time a year when seasons change the weather's changing time a year when Alabama loses on Saturday, making way for delousing to be the number one football team Internation's a great time a year.
Love love so much of the fall, but also hated because at the same time that all the things I love football, hockey, baseball playoffs on about this will happen in them. Assume assume it is all on ESPN eight probably channeled whatever but at the same time the snow starts to happen. Oh, all the political commercials are vapid after the first one I was done I saw the first one pop up on like here we go here we go that's an indication the convictions of the crowd and leaving example discredits it so very in our face all the time and is the one that sees me leading the charge at the moment most the courses I've been seeing right now I've been don't vote for this candidate because they want to ban abortion, don't vote for this candidate because they are pro-choice and want abortions to be legal, like everyone, I see it's like those two things happen and I watched it unfold.
I have no problem in the front of the church in it and be a part of the church is not enough. We we are pro-life we are not pro-abortion will never move that direction and that's who we are, son.
I hear tell you which way to go to what to do and I'm just painting the picture of the convictions of the world verse to convictions of the cross. You could take that same scenario, you can run it down the list of things that you counselor seen the culture say no, this is our conviction. This is what we believe and how often is what the culture and the world believes I'm just telling you it's it's opposite of what Scripture says and believes, and now you and I are in this position where you gotta make a choice and I gonna worry about what the crowd thinks of me or my you were more about what God thinks of me and I said this before and I know you believe this to. It doesn't matter to me whether whether you think that's true or not I were more about whether God think that's true or not, that the stand before God, not before you one day.
I guess they forgot how I live my life how I lead my family, how I let this church so you better believe I'm not gonna let anyone of you pull me away from that conviction because you are louder and you social media more than I do.
I could care less you say whatever you want to say you're not God and you're not the Scripture. So doesn't offend me at all. Is my convictions are not rooted in what you think of me. See also the crowd does. The crowd has their own truth. We see that play out all the time as well.
Not just convictions but also truth. This is your truth. This is my truth the crowd would say that truth is relevant. The crowd was say that truth is based on your own experience and we would say no. Truth is a person's name is Jesus. The big difference you can see with the with the world and Salic. This is true for it's okay if you believe in God. I don't believe in him and that's my truth okay will your truth is innocent you to hell for me not to be sarcastic or funny but that's where your truth is heading so would like to stand aside and let you go to hell now. There's no way to do that so we keep speaking truth.
But if the crowd starts to influence us, then what happens will be to stop speaking shut down. The crowd has their own agenda and I would say that all crowds have their own agenda. Whatever side you're on theirs their own agenda. Whatever news outlet you like to watch. Guess what, it has its own agenda where social media theme a look at. Guess what, it has its own agenda and we have an agenda my agendas be salt and light in this world. That's my job. My agendas to make Jesus known on the faces plant that's my that's were called to do. The crowd may also come from within. By the way Ecclesiastes speaks about it by being overly righteous, not to be overly righteous. Do you notice the very crowds that were following Jesus with a very crowd crowd until the beggar to be quiet ironic is that were following Jesus we believe in his teaching. We see them do miracles. These amazing gay Jesus he can do anything you be quiet and always immigrate though you just stop talking. Don't bother Jesus with your blindness you got more important things to do what I careful weekly kind act that way to the world where Mensa think there were better than the world were meant to serve the world not meant to be overly righteous when we think that we have all the answers figured out were meant to serve the world to follow the crowd says come follow us.
Jesus has come, follow me very big differences in it because I a come follow us wrong. Going this way and then there's the challenge will then do I please the crowd and just go along with the current order I go against it. Direction go the way of Jesus knows one time early in the Gospels were great crowds were following Jesus, including his disciples, and great this is great crowd so I'm talking tons of people following Jesus. He turns around as they're walking and gives them a very blunt short message about the reality of what it means to follow him, foxes have dens birds have nest, but if you follow me got nowhere to lay your head. Guess what happened. This is the entire crowd left the mixer for the disciples. The crowd loves the follow.
It's easy and love the fall. The current, but the moment that Jesus visited and follow me.
This is what it means. This is countercultural.
This is against the world's against the grain. I'm amazed at how many Christians is folded up and then they start to actually believe what the world believes the slippery slope. I've seen it happen.
People who were drilled in the convictions in God also insert get pulled by the world and pulled by the world and pulled out work and also know you're going to know anymore when you don't know anymore used to know what changed because God didn't change his Bible didn't change his only God rewrote the Bible because he was afraid culture.
So why now. Have you seen people who were standing on God's word, and so sure are now over here say what they've allowed the influence of the crowd to minimize God and maximize humanity love God become smaller in his word to become less and less true because now we have friends and emotions and we look at the world we start questioning and also the slippery slope and you my friend will be accountable for that when you stand before God and he looks at your life in my life. I would much rather have God say well done good and faithful servant.
Then look at me and say we used to believe now your way over here. Whether that gets you the second one is this number two being chained to the crowd causes fear and silence again is something we see happening very real time that because were more worried about the crowd we surf on the crowd that would happens that we are now afraid of the crowd and were now silenced by the crowd. I think that the enemy often times doesn't necessarily need to get the church the fall into sin and moral failure. Sometimes all the enemy needs to do is get the churches to be quiet and say nothing.
I think were always looking for the big sin, or the big issue or the the big failure but more times and that the church is just afraid the churches disquiet in John chapter 12 verse 42 to 43 is nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees. They did not confess it. People who would literally believe in Jesus for fear of what the Pharisees would say would not confess that they believe and here's why they're afraid to be kicked out of the synagogue when Jesus comes he he is coming preaching a message that is so contrary to what they were teaching of the time he's calling himself the son of God is teaching them about loving one another is Tammy's he's going down these paths of teachings that is direct opposite of what the Pharisees were trying to do so.
People who believe in Jesus. There were so afraid to be kicked out of the synagogue debate to remain silent in this. Is this for they love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Come on that that is that between the eyes first got check moment. Again, these questions that keep raising is are we more concerned about the glory from people as opposed to glory that comes from God. Matthew 1028 the very strong verse. It's, though, she just recounted versus this is. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul but rather fear him can destroy both soul and body in hell.
That is a very straightforward powerful verse about are you going to allow somebody to influence you that has no control over your soul or are you going to follow the guy that can actually destroy both your soul and your body. Which one do you is more important. Here's what we are afraid of.
Here's what silences us were fear being canceled hate that word so much. I can stand here and that word we see it the last couple years you cancel their cancel. Sometimes because they're stupid and you need to cancel, but were so afraid of being canceled because were standing up for what we believe in the Bible were standing up for the hard things that nobody wants to stand up against her standing up for the right to life for standing up for human sexuality were standing up for honesty and integrity were setting for all these things that the world to some degree actually honors and celebrates and were pushing against the world and were afraid that if we push too hard you cancel hearing get you going get isolated area pushed out were free to be persecuted. Guess what you said you going to persecuted you get all the fear of the world you want to be persecuted.
But Jesus says his own words you will be persecuted on account of me or afraid of it were free to be persecuted where fear being overlooked overlooked for the promotion overlooked for that friendship group overlooks that invitation overlooks that next advance the next income stream, we afraid of it. The next one is work in this when I come don't think there's an age limit, but worth honestly afraid to be made fun of some bigger what are people going to think when they hear that I'm a Jesus become on DC talk, nothing that gets all.
By the way, will people think they hear about fear being rejected rejections. A real feel right or fear that people can reject us because of our beliefs and in all this, by the way, we can well as you come back to the way that we do this matters because Jesus never told us to do this in anger to speak against the world and despite speak against the world and fighting and arguing.
He said to do it in love and gentleness and mercy to how we do this actually matters only give us a an illustration this morning as we get ready to close here and so the people that have the chance. Come on up there every week when using chains and wanting to be just the a real quick visual that I think will help you.
I like visuals and this is a very simple one about the. The crowd think this a we got Ginny appear so this is how the picture I had stretched out this one here is when it's come to my mind since those, praying through preparing these messages was how this visual here of how the chain pulls and how the crowds pull us in different directions and it's really easy, visual right because God has worked for me, like, this way and I so I try to go towards goblet then also I feel this pull from Ken going over. Maybe if you talk to Ken a little bit you'll can the Carolina Fannie's them to get day-to-day.
You know enjoying today so make clinical talk to Ken a little bit you notice of that.
The closer I get to Ken. The list pull from the crowd. There is an amazing L toxic Tennessee non-ionic. I want to follow is my conviction of years of the walking. Also, I feel the pull from from Lee over there legally is a smart guy. He knows his stuff and he doesn't come to see things the way I see them so to me that she coming over here in and chat with Lee for little bit else I get this pull from from Ginny back here.
We got smile hockey hubby refused to hang out with Ginny. She's a nice person she so nice and so limiting, overhearing, and he would Genesis it in lorries over here lorries over here, Phyllis Pullen and also none of the lorries got say about this issue. We spent our time, just doing this if I don't know over here and he feel the tug over here in the pull, overhearing the pullback here and listen. This is exhausting. Six. This is so exhausting and yet this is how solely people are living your life there just pulled in so many different directions of the crowded and they can never be free to do and be what God has another part of this is nominal choose the following you. I can't follow Jesus.
If I'm worried about Elyse thinking about me over here I can follow views of unconsciously running the can. Every time I got a question about morality Apology is a very time and was on so she needs all this stuff that I can't possibly do and be what God has for me. This wears on you effect this is so exhausting that what happens is a wears on you so much. The ventures go, this is easier to hang out with these guys is easy to hang out back here, there's no pull is no stress that tiresome but doesn't make it right, it doesn't make it true. It's just easier thanks as easily change the got my workout for the day and hope that visual sticks with you on the pull of the crowd in different directions how to get away from the sun to give you the final two points this morning. How we navigate through this that you and I can actually be and do what God called us to the first one is just a reminder that is so true.
Number three is a Jesus will always stop for those who call out to him in the crowd. If you're feeling pulled and tugged the answer is not justified it out by yourself.
The answers to stop for a moment and call to Jesus. That's the answer and I love verse 46 or 49. This is when Jesus starts in Jesus, called to him in the same product total deployments required said take target of his calling you.
In other words, hey, it's your lucky day.
Jesus heard you, and he stopped for somebody like you, that possibly start looking the actual wording in the Greek of how this was.
It's almost like that tone that the crowd had the crowd like all good. We are hoping she is with Soffer. You know the crows like well to lucky day yell loud enough now look what you did, you may Jesus stop the muzzle bill to them. That's kind of the attitude and so he does, he jumps up and he runs to him. He said this well of the holy word of this. We must remember that Jesus is on the way to the terrible cross the last stop is Jerusalem, 18 miles away.
Yet Jesus has time for this poor beggar and I love this last line.
The sun stood still.
Jesus on the way to the cross stocks for a blind beggar on the side of the road. I can went through this little search real quick and I was able who was the Jesus stop for ice on the sea, just that the people Jesus stop for this is not an exhaustive list, but the listen. This he Soffer the Samaritan woman at the well and John for he Soffer, a Gentile woman with the demonized daughter in Matthew 15 he Soffer the women with the issue of bleeding in Mark chapter 5 stops and holds up the house party for prostitute in Luke chapter 7, he stops with a man with a legion of demons in him.
In Mark chapter 5 he Soffer Zaki us tax collector climbs up into a tree to see the stops for children in Mark chapter 10 vertebrates in the beautiful passes work people are bringing their kids to Jesus and Jesus stops and he gives us the less the children he stops for Gerace's daughter in Matthew chapter 9 the stage for the cripple guy will do soda SATA in John chapter 5 stops from Mary.
Soon after his resident John chapter 20 and the list goes on and on and on. The limit is encouraging. Jesus still stops for you today. I have all the things I love about Jesus, probably at the top of the list is just a reminder that he stops working. He doesn't just run ahead and say keep up during a loss in the crowd.
Keep up. I love that. At times he stopped and when purposely to the person Jesus still stops worse than the last one is number four. Going against the crowd and require faith, standing up for what our convictions are and who we are not believes will require faith diversity. Two.
Jesus said him go your way, your faith has made you well. We got faith in Christ we have here in the crowd.
Faith in Christ or fear. The crowd went faith in Christ allows us to stand and to move for we have faith in Christ. We just like Linebarger made us are healed.
We are set free. We are chains are broken. Our site is restored when we choose to follow Jesus, which is the father crowd all of a sudden with mixed convictions in this truth and agendas start the judgment starts if you cancel the persecuted and Anna goes, will we follow Jesus the way across. In Exodus 23 verse two says don't pass a malicious gossip. Don't link up with the wicked person and give corrupt testimony.
Listen, this last part is don't go along with the crowd and doing evil and don't mess up your testimony in a case just to please the crowd. This world needs our testimony of what Christ did in our life. Do not mess up your testimony by following the crowd as of the following