Whitehall Baptist Church
September 13th | John : Jesus is God | John 7:1-13

      • Hebrews 10:24–25KJV1900

      • Romans 15:13KJV1900

      • Psalm 115:1KJV1900

  • To God Be the Glory

      • Philippians 4:4KJV1900

  • Rejoice
  • His Mercy Is More

      • Psalm 103:12KJV1900

  • Since Jesus Came into My Heart

  • JOHN 7:1-13 | DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY

    EXPLANATION: Around 6 or 7 months had passed by from the end of John 6 and the beginning of chapter 7.
    We know because chapter 6:4 points to the Passover in the spring, and John 7:2, tells us they were preparing for the feast of tabernacles which took place in the fall.
    The other three Gospels walk through many of the events that took place over that span of time.
    Jesus casts out a demon from a daughter of a lady and casts a demon out of another man’s son.
    He heals a deaf man.
    He does another feeding of 4000 with seven loaves.
    He gives a blind man sight.
    And amongst a number of other things, Jesus’s transfiguration on a mountain takes place, which Peter, James, and John all witness.
    In the midst of all these things, Jesus calls out the religious Jews on their twisting of the Scriptures, and they are furious about it and are seeking to kill Him.
    But in the midst of all of these things taking place, we get a glimpse into an often unfamiliar part of the story of Christ.
    We get a glimpse into His family.
    ILLUSTRATION: How many of you grew up in a Christian home?
    Who grew up in a home that you would say wasn’t a Christian home?
    I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home
    I’ve shared before that I began to go to church nine months before I was born.
    I grew up in a home that went to church when the doors were open
    A home that encouraged me and my siblings to live lives for God.
    But even in a good solid Christian home, we weren’t perfect.
    None of us come from perfect Christian homes… because we all come from homes full of sinners!
    EXPLANATION: If you didn’t grow up in a Christian home that believed in Christ, I’ve got great news… you’re in good company
    Because that’s very similar to the family that Jesus grew up in.
    It was time for the Feast of Tabernacles and that was supposed to take place in Judea.
    Now John tells us that during those past 6-7 months Jesus had avoided Judea because the Jews were looking to kill Him
    John 7:1–2 KJV 1900
    After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
    Just as a side note, I love the play on words John uses here in v.1
    Last week we mentioned in John 6:66
    John 6:66 KJV 1900
    From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
    Jesus had a following that numbered in the thousands that claimed to be his “disciples”.
    But when Jesus didn’t just give them food but instead challenged them with truth…
    He told them they needed to receive Him,
    The people were no longer interested in truth… they just wanted the benefits of Jesus.
    And so in v.66, they walked away from Jesus and walked no more with Him.
    And look at what John says that Jesus did after this in v.1…
    Jesus kept on walking when others stopped walking with Him.
    This wouldn’t be the last time this parting of the waters with His followers would take place.
    When Jesus was in the garden and the crowd showed up to take Him, Matthew 26:56
    Matthew 26:56 KJV 1900
    But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
    Jesus knew what it meant to not quit even when everyone else does!
    And now John pulls back another layer of this refusal of Jesus.
    We find that Jesus’s own brothers rejected who Jesus was.
    John 7:3–5 KJV 1900
    His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.
    His brothers had the same level of belief that those who had been a part of the feeding of the 5000 had.
    Back in John 6:28, those followers told Jesus
    John 6:28 KJV 1900
    Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
    “Show us how to do your tricks so we can do them to.”
    They wanted Jesus to perform some more miracles for them.
    Now, here are Jesus’s own brothers taunting Him with the same thing…
    John 7:3 KJV 1900
    His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
    “Why don’t you go up to Judea so those disciples of yours can see those works that you can do.”
    In v.4, they mock Him and tell Him He should be doing His tricks for all the world to see…
    And v.5, tells us why they were saying these things to Jesus…
    They didn’t believe in Jesus.
    APPLICATION: It’s not easy to try to honor God in a home that isn’t following Christ.
    We live in a broken world with a lot of broken and hurting homes.
    The very first institution God set up wasn’t the government and it wasn’t the church.
    The very first was the home.
    And it was the responsibility of the father of that home to protect his wife and lead her to obey and honor God.
    But from the very beginning, Satan sought to destroy that relationship between Adam and Eve and God.
    And he hasn’t stopped trying since.
    John 10:10 KJV 1900
    The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
    Friend, God wants you to have a home that honors and pleases Him.
    He desires for you to have peace in your home and to pursue and follow Christ.
    But unfortunately, often times there is conflict and resistance to the teachings and principles of God’s Word.
    Sometimes there is all out resistance and opposition to Jesus.
    But in the midst of the opposition and mocking that Jesus was facing look at how He responded

    V.6-7, JESUS FOCUSED ON GOD’S PLAN

    John 7:6–8 KJV 1900
    Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
    EXPLANATION: Two times in 3 verses Jesus says something important: “My time is not yet come”
    The question could be asked, what time is he talking about.
    Is it the time where Jesus shows all the world Who He is, like His brothers were mockingly telling Him to do?
    Is it the time to perform some more miracles for everyone to see?
    The answer to what He is talking about is found back in v.1, John 7:1
    John 7:1 KJV 1900
    After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
    Jesus knew that to go into Judea the way His brothers were telling Him would have been to sign His own death warrant.
    And while Jesus was obviously willing to die… it wasn’t time yet.
    And Jesus was focused on following God’s plan and doing it on God’s time.
    Jesus would go on to tell them in v.8, John 7:8
    John 7:8 KJV 1900
    Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
    He told them it isn’t time for me to go to the feast YET
    And then John 7:9-10
    John 7:9–10 KJV 1900
    When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
    After His brothers had left, God gave Him the go-ahead to go to Judea.
    He was focused on God’s plan on God’s time.
    ILLUSTRATION: I’ve determined that my focus on God’s plan and timing ought to be comparable to my children’s focus when they are watching something on TV.
    We don’t let our kids spend a lot of time watching tv or playing video games.
    In fact, the only game system our kids have is a cheap Chinese knockoff that allows them to play the original greats like Super Nintendo Mario.
    But every once in a while, we will turn on a movie or tv show for them, and when we do… they are glued.
    Sometimes we have to remind them to blink because they are so focused in.
    If I stand in front of them, the only thought going through their minds is “dad please move so I can see.”
    APPLICATION: You know, that’s how we should be when it comes to focusing on God’s plan and timing for our lives.
    We should be glue to it… focused on it.
    And when something gets in the way, we should be looking to get things back in the order they should be ASAP.
    Jesus didn’t allow Himself to get led off track by family that wasn’t seeking Christ…
    And it’s your responsibility to keep things in the order they ought to be.
    What does the Biblical order of priority look like?
    Let’s get real practical for this morning:
    First: God
    I’m a child of God first
    How’s your personal relationship with Christ?
    Do you know Him as your Savior?
    If not, that’s where you need to start.
    Do you spend time with Him each day?
    Bible reading and prayer
    Isaiah 1:18 KJV 1900
    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
    Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900
    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
    Are you faithful to the place He loves
    Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900
    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
    It’s like they tell you on the airplane… you have to put the mask on first before you can help anyone else.
    Second: Family
    If you’re married, that is your spouse
    If you have kids, they come after your spouse.
    And don’t get those backwards
    There are a lot of marriages that fall apart because we are more focused on being dad and mom than we are on being husband and wife.
    What your kids need to see more than anything is a dad who loves their mom like Jesus loved His church.
    And a mom who respects and honors their dad and doesn’t put him down like they see in Hollywood.
    Genesis 2:24 KJV 1900
    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
    You don’t become one with your parents involved
    You don’t become one together and sneak your kids in.
    It is you and your spouse!
    And then parents, lead your kids to love and follow God.
    I want to say something without hurting your feelings today, but I already told you this was going to be practical.
    It isn’t the responsibility of the church to raise your kids to love God.
    It’s yours.
    Now, we do our very best to come alongside and provide resources and tools to help you.
    But parents, it is your responsibility to lead your family to love God.
    Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900
    And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
    Friend, that verse needs to be more than just a plaque on a wall!
    It should be the intentional direction of your life.
    Dad’s, don’t settle for your wives being the spiritual leader in your home.
    If you don’t know God’s Word, seek to learn.
    Be honest with you kids or your spouse if you don’t know something… and then go find the answer through careful study of God’s Word.
    One day, you will give an account of how you led your family!
    And I want you to be able to give account with joy!
    If you are a son or daughter here still living with your parents, your responsibility after your relationship with Christ is clear in Ephesians 6:1-2
    Ephesians 6:1–2 KJV 1900
    Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
    Obey and honor your parents.
    Now that doesn’t say “obey and honor your parents if you like what they said.”
    There is no contingency… you are commanded to obey and honor your parents.
    “But what if they’re out of touch?”
    “But what if they don’t understand?”
    “But what if I really don’t like it?”
    Young person, God’s Word doesn’t contradict itself.
    You cannot have a right relationship with God if you are rebelling against the parents God has given you!
    We are talking about practical priorities:
    God First, Family Second,
    Third: Your Job
    1 Timothy 5:8 KJV 1900
    But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
    Friend, I’m not trying to be mean here, I’m just telling you what the Bible says… Men, it is your God ordained responsibility to make sure your home is provided for.
    If you don’t provide for your family the Bible says it’s as if you have denied your faith and you are worse than someone that doesn’t know Christ!
    Proverbs 19:15 KJV 1900
    Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
    Proverbs 20:4 KJV 1900
    The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
    We aren’t talking about situations that some people may find themselves in where they are unable to work because of some out of control circumstances
    We are talking about those that refuse to work because they are lazy.
    I’m trying to be kind, and most churches don’t even talk about these things… but we live in a lazy world that expects everything to be handed to them.
    That isn’t the way God intended you to live your life, especially if you are a Christian.
    Christians ought to be the most honest, hardworking people alive!
    But unfortunately some have been lulled into a sleep of slothfulness, and it is doing damage to the name of Christ!
    We could go on and on with these practical priorities, but we will stop with number 4:
    Fourth: Your Service
    Every Christian has been called by God to minister… to serve.
    1 Peter 4:10 KJV 1900
    As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
    2 Corinthians 5:18–20 KJV 1900
    And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
    We will get there soon, but on the night before Jesus would be crucified, John records that one of the final acts that Jesus did was serve His disciples.
    The ones who in a few short hours with betray Him, deny Him, doubt Him, and forsake Him… Jesus served!
    If you are a Christian, you have been called to serve Jesus with the gifts that He has given you!
    So, how are you serving Christ with your gifts?
    If we went through and asked, “how did you serve Jesus this past week?” What would be your answer?
    We aren’t talking about just coming to church… that isn’t serving that’s soaking… you’re soaking in the Word of God.
    But how did you practically serve?
    Friend, Jesus was a perfect man, but He didn’t come from a perfect hom.
    But He didn’t use that as an excuse.
    Jesus Focused on God’s Plan!
    You know the problem is, a lot of good, well meaning people get the order all mixed up.
    Some put their family first, and what they don’t realize is their family is going to suffer because their relationship with Christ isn’t what it should be.
    Some put their job first.
    They justify that they are just providing a good life for their family so it’s ok.
    But when God get’s put on the back burner, then the family doesn’t fit where it should, and everything get’s out of order.
    Now, I also know that we live in a broken world… and sometimes we are the product of broken choices.
    Sometimes those are made by us and sometimes that are made by others.
    And I know sometimes we can’t go back and change things that have happened… but my hope and prayer is we can decide to make changes to move forward.
    I’m not trying to make you angry this morning… I really want to help you .
    I want our church to have strong Christians, with strong families, who are godly workers, and who are willing to serve the Lord!
    EXPLANATION: In the midst of Jesus’s family that rejected Who He was, Jesus chose to focus on God’s plan and God’s timing.
    And don’t miss what it said at the end of v.10, John 7:10
    John 7:10 KJV 1900
    But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
    Jesus showed up to Judea quietly
    So quietly that v.11-13 tell us people were searching around for Him and having a hard time finding Him.
    Now there are a number of reasons John tells us He went to Judea “in secret”
    Obviously the Jews were seeking to kill Him, but it wasn’t His time yet, so He wanted to keep things quiet.
    But another reason is because when He did go, He didn’t do things the way His seemingly mocking brothers wanted Him to.
    He went the way God wanted Him to go.
    Once again, just showing that Jesus always did things according to God’s plan and God’s timing.
    Jesus’s brother’s rejecting Him on this day in Galilee.
    But I want you to get this…

    JESUS BROTHER’S DID COME TO JESUS

    EXPLANATION: Throughout Jesus’s earthly ministry, Jesus was mocked by His brothers.
    In Mark 3, they said He was crazy for what He was preaching
    In Matthew 12, they stood outside while He was teaching trying to get Him to come out.
    But maybe the most powerful example of His brother’s rejection of Christ, took place while Jesus was hanging on the cross.
    You see, it was the responsibility of the oldest son to take care of his mother if something happened to her husband.
    And as Jesus hung on the cross, nearing death, when He looked down from the cross, He didn’t pass along that responsibility to one of His brothers… He gave it to John.
    And I think the reasoning seems clear… they still rejected who their brother was.
    But everything changed when Jesus rose from the grave!
    Acts 1:14 KJV 1900
    These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
    Now don’t miss it… Jesus didn’t change His message to win His family.
    He didn’t soften His words or leave God’s plan and timing to appease them.
    That wasn’t what changed them.
    What finally got their attention was the reality and a corrected view of the resurrected Christ!
    Two of Jesus’s brothers would actually go on to write books of the NT… James and Jude.
    One thing that is interesting is how they define themselves in their introduction.
    They could have used the mic drop off all intros, “I am the brother of Jesus.”
    But instead their introductions say much of their changed perspectives:
    James 1:1 KJV 1900
    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
    Jude 1 KJV 1900
    Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
    After everything, they came to Jesus.
    APPLICATION: Friend, when you purpose in your heart to follow God’s plan and God’s timing, it could turn your family to Christ!
    When they see that what you have is real, and you are doing things God’s way, it could turn them to Jesus!
    When you live your life to point others to a resurrected Jesus… it can impact their life for the cause of Christ!
    I’ve heard story after story of people who followed Christ, and God used their life to impact the lives of their family or friends for Christ!
    But the truth is the Bible never guarantees that they will turn to Jesus… it only commands your faithfulness.
    You see, it should be our goal that our life would point others to Christ… But at the end of the story, it isn’t their decision we will give an account for… but rather our faithfulness to God’s plan.
    Romans 14:12 KJV 1900
    So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
    So decide today to spend your life living according to God’s plan and God’s timing…
    ILLUSTRATION: Around 13 years ago, Tressa and I had the opportunity to spend some time in the northeast US.
    While we were up there one of the things we saw in multiple places were lighthouses.
    These giant towers with just a light located at the top of them.
    You know those lighthouses really don’t do anything all that special.
    They don’t change colors… they don’t move around.
    No the thing that makes a lighthouse so unique, is that it is boringly consistent.
    That light at the top of that lighthouse just consistently without fail shines out into the night.
    I guess you could say it just follows the plan exactly as it’s supposed to.
    And it’s up to the ships at sea to determine what to do with that light.
    They can ignore it and end up in catastrophe.
    Or they can allow it to lead them where they are supposed to go.
    But the responsibility of the lighthouse is to just consistently do what it’s supposed to do.
    When the rain and the wind are beating against it, it’s supposed to shine
    When the storms and clouds role in, it’s supposed to shine
    When everything is calm and the stars are shining, it’s supposed to shine.
    It just consistently follows the plan… and as it does, others see that light!

    CONCLUSION

    Matthew 5:14–16 KJV 1900
    Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
    Friend, I don’t know what kind of home you grew up in… Maybe it was a Christian home, maybe not…
    I do know it wasn’t your responsibility what you were born into or how you were raised.
    What I do know is it’s your responsibility what you do with your life going forward!
    Your responsibility is to do the things you’re supposed to do…
    Keep your God given priorities in order
    And shine your light into the darkness of our world
    Shine your light into the life of your friends… your family.
    And become boringly consistent as your light for Christ just shines brighter and brighter!
    Ask God to evaluate your situation this morning, and purpose to follow His plan on His time today.
    If there are changes that need to be made, let’s make them.
    If priorities need rearranged, let’s rearrange them.
    Let’s follow Christ’s example and follow God’s plan on God’s time today!

      • John 7:1–2KJV1900

      • John 6:66KJV1900

      • Matthew 26:56KJV1900

      • John 7:3–5KJV1900

      • John 6:28KJV1900

      • John 7:3KJV1900

      • John 10:10KJV1900

      • John 7:6–8KJV1900

      • John 7:1KJV1900

      • John 7:8KJV1900

      • John 7:9–10KJV1900

      • Isaiah 1:18KJV1900

      • Matthew 6:33KJV1900

      • Ephesians 5:25KJV1900

      • Genesis 2:24KJV1900

      • Joshua 24:15KJV1900

      • Ephesians 6:1–2KJV1900

      • 1 Timothy 5:8KJV1900

      • Proverbs 19:15KJV1900

      • Proverbs 20:4KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 4:10KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 5:18–20KJV1900

      • John 7:10KJV1900

      • Acts 1:14KJV1900

      • James 1:1KJV1900

      • Jude 1KJV1900

      • Romans 14:12KJV1900

      • Matthew 5:14–16KJV1900

Whitehall Baptist Church
whitehallbcmt@gmail.com
406.285.1003
http://wbcmt.org
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