“Jesus Said” Introduction http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=130958&Page=1 What Jesus said about God’s Glory Adapted from the series, “Jesus Said” by Michael Wiley http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=130959&Sermon%20What%20Jesus%20Said%20about%20God%E2%80%99s%20Glory%20by%20Michael%20Wiley

1. “Jesus Said”
Adapted from a Michael Wiley sermon
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonI
D=130958&Page=1

2. Author Steven Scott said, ―If Jesus is who
He claimed to be, then everything He said
must be fully, absolutely true!‖
I think it was Josh McDowell who first said,
―Jesus is either Lord, Liar, or Lunatic.‖

3. The fact that we even have them says
something. His personal ministry only lasted
3 years. He was betrayed by a Disciple who
thought he was innocent, convicted on
trumped up charges. He was then crucified
on a cross between two convicted felons.

4. As far as we know, He wrote nothing down,
except one time in the sand, and we don’t
know what He wrote. We received His
words from His followers, whom were
scattered during His death, but changed
their tune after he walked from His grave.

5. John ends his account of Jesus life by
saying, There are many other things that
Jesus did. If every one of them were written
down, I suppose the whole world would not
have room for the books that would be
written.
John 21:25 NET

6. In them, we find not just a man Jesus, we
find The Christ, God the Son, our Redeemer
& Lord. Christianity is more than simply
following words of a great teacher.
Christianity is about experiencing that
teacher so much it changes our whole
being. Our lives change so we begin to
imitate, resemble, act like Jesus. As we
study His words may we all find Jesus so
real and awe inspiring we conform to Him
more than ever before.

7. His words bring Freedom.
John 8:31NET Then Jesus said to those
Judeans who had believed him, "If you
continue to follow my teaching, you are
really my disciples 32 and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free."

8. Jesus is separating the crowd here. He is
not pitting believers against non-believers,
He’s separating people who say they are a
follower of Christ, but do not prove it by
action with those who’s life shows they are a
Christian. We can’t really say it nicely or
politically correct.
Jesus is also pointing out that His teaching
is Truth.

9. Don’t forget, ―If Jesus is who He claimed to
be, then everything He said must be fully,
absolutely true!‖
Knowing the truth will set you free. ―The
truth will set you free‖ is a pretty popular
quote.
Jesus is not saying any truth will set you
free, although some truthful things may
bring us a bit of liberation. He’s is saying,
―My truth will set you free from the power of
sin and death.‖

10. His words help us weather the storms of life.
There is a great story in the books of
Mathew & Luke (6:47-49) that kids learn in
Sunday school early on.
Matthew 7:24 NET "Everyone who hears
these words of mine and does them is like a
wise man who built his house on rock.

11. 25 The rain fell, the flood came, and the
winds beat against that house, but it did not
collapse because it had been founded on
rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words
of mine and does not do them is like a
foolish man who built his house on sand. 27
The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds
beat against that house, and it collapsed; it
was utterly destroyed!"

12. 28 When Jesus finished saying these
things, the crowds were amazed by his
teaching, 29 because he taught them like
one who had authority, not like their experts
in the law.
Note in the story, both men hear the same
words. Both have the same opportunity to
build their house on a firm foundation.
But only one, the wise man, did. His house
(not unlike the foolish man’s house in
appearance) was built on the teachings of
Christ.

13. It withstood the storms of life.
The foolish man built his house on his own
wisdom or the world’s philosophers, and in
times of storm his house crumbled to the
ground.
24 "Everyone who hears these words of
mine and does them is like a wise man who
built his house on rock.

14. Let’s let Napoleon Bonaparte answer this.
"The Bible contains a complete series of
acts and of historical men to explain time
and eternity, such as no other religion has to
offer. If it is not the true religion, one is very
excusable in being deceived; for everything
in it is grand and worthy of God. The more I
consider the Gospel, the more I am assured
that there is nothing there which is not
beyond the march of events and above the
human mind.

15. Even the impious themselves have never
dared to deny the sublimity of the Gospel,
which inspires them with a sort of
compulsory veneration. What happiness
that Book procures for those who believe it!"
…In every other existence but that of Christ
how many imperfections! From the first day
to the last He is the same; majestic and
simple; infinitely firm and infinitely gentle.

16. He proposes to our faith a series of
mysteries and commands with authority that
we should believe them, giving no other
reason than those tremendous words, 'I am
God.'

17. "I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ
is not a man. Superficial minds see a
resemblance between Christ and the
founders of empires, and the gods of other
religions. That resemblance does not exist.
There is between Christianity and whatever
other religions the distance of infinity...

18. Napoleon expressed the following thoughts
while he was exiled on the rock of St.
Helena. There, the conqueror of civilized
Europe had time to reflect on the measure
of his accomplishments. He called Count
Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can
you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The
count declined to respond. Napoleon
countered:

19. "Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar,
Charlemagne and I myself have founded
great empires; but upon what did these
creations of our genius depend? Upon
force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon
love, and to this very day millions will die for
Him…I think I understand something of
human nature; and I tell you, all these were
men, and I am a man; none else is like Him:

20. Jesus Christ was more than a man. . . . I
have inspired multitudes with such an
enthusiastic devotion that they would have
died for me…but to do this it was necessary
that I should be visibly present with the
electric influence of my looks, my words, of
my voice. When I saw men and spoke to
them, I lightened up the flame of self-
devotion in their hearts…

21. Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the
mind of man toward the unseen, that it
becomes insensible to the barriers of time
and space. Across a chasm of eighteen
hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a
demand which is beyond all others difficult
to satisfy; He asks for that which a
philosopher may often seek in vain at the
hands of his friends, or a father of his
children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man
of his brother.

22. He asks for the human heart; He will have it
entirely to Himself. He demands it
unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is
granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and
space, the soul of man, with all its powers
and faculties, becomes an annexation to the
empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in
Him, experience that remarkable,
supernatural love toward Him.

23. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is
altogether beyond the scope of man's
creative powers. Time, the great destroyer,
is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame;
time can neither exhaust its strength nor put
a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes
me most; I have often thought of it. This it is
which proves to me quite convincingly the
Divinity of Jesus Christ."

24. Whatever else one may say in response, it
is difficult to explain this away as mere
eloquence. In fact, it was to counter mere
eloquence and such artificial power that
Napoleon said what he did. With
unbelievable insight, he saw how Jesus
Christ conquered. It was not by force, but by
winning the heart.

25. God’s Glory
“Jesus Said”

26. John 11:32 NET Now when Mary came to
the place where Jesus was and saw him,
she fell at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if
you had been here, my brother would not
have died." 33 When Jesus saw her
weeping, and the people who had come
with her weeping, he was intensely moved
in spirit and greatly distressed. 34 He
asked, "Where have you laid him?"

27. They replied, "Lord, come and see." 35
Jesus wept. 36 Thus the people who had
come to mourn said, "Look how much he
loved him!" 37 But some of them said, "This
is the man who caused the blind man to
see! Couldn't he have done something to
keep Lazarus from dying?" 38 Jesus,
intensely moved again, came to the tomb.
(Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed
across it.)

28. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied,
"Lord, by this time the body will have a bad
smell, because he has been buried four
days." 40 Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you
that if you believe, you would see the glory
of God?" 41 So they took away the stone.
Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I
thank you that you have listened to me.

29. 42 I knew that you always listen to me, but I
said this for the sake of the crowd standing
around here, that they may believe that you
sent me." 43 When he had said this, he
shouted in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come
out!" 44 The one who had died came out,
his feet and hands tied up with strips of
cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Unwrap him and let
him go."

30. I want to focus on what’s stated in verse 40.
John 11:40 NET Jesus responded, "Didn't I
tell you that if you believe, you would see
the glory of God?"

31. In the Bible, Old and New Testaments, glory
is usually seen in God’s Presence, Honor, or
Power.
God’s Glory was revealed to the Israelites
as He provided for them (His Power) and
went with them in the cloud by day and fire
by night (His Presence).
Psalm 19:1 NIV The heavens declare the
glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands.

32. Once the tabernacle was built we find God’s
glory above the Ark of the Covenant.
Then again in Solomon’s Temple.
The New Testament continues the story of
the Glory of God as His Presence, Honor,
and Power.
His Glory is Manifest in Jesus Christ – This
brings us back to our story.

33. What was Jesus actually saying to Martha?
John 11:40 NET Jesus responded, "Didn't I
tell you that if you believe, you would see
the glory of God?"
―You’re going to see God’s glory IN ME as I
raise Lazarus from the dead.
In the New Testament Jesus repeatedly
pointed to the father for all He has, His
Glory, Honor, Power, teaching…

34. The first aspect of God’s glory I want to point
out is that Jesus said: ―His glory comes from
God, Is God’s glory.‖
Jesus constantly points to God. When you
pray, ―Our Father in Heaven.‖ In John 17
Jesus says, in his prayer to the father that
everything he has, Everything He gave to
His followers, it all came from God. God had
entrusted His glory and teaching to Christ,
and Christ has entrusted it to us.

35. The Second Aspect of God’s Glory comes
from what Jesus said in:
John 15:1 NET "I am the true vine and my
Father is the gardener. 2 He takes away
every branch that does not bear fruit in me.
He prunes every branch that bears fruit so
that it will bear more fruit. 3 You are clean
already because of the word that I have
spoken to you.

36. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it remains in the vine, so neither can
you unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the
vine; you are the branches. The one who
remains in me — and I in him — bears
much fruit, because apart from me you can
accomplish nothing.

37. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is
thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and
such branches are gathered up and thrown
into the fire, and are burned up. 7 If you
remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you want, and it will be done
for you. 8 My Father is honored by this, that
you bear much fruit and show that you are
my disciples.

38. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself.
Verse three (You are clean) reminds us
Jesus is really talking about ―us‖ the
branches.
Verse eight gives us the second aspect of
God’s glory I want to point out.
8 My Father is honored by this, that you bear
much fruit and show that you are my
disciples.
God’s honored in US…by the fruit we
produce!

39. Real fruitfulness is only determined over an
extended period of time. "Genuine
conversion is not measured by the hasty
decision but by long-range fruitfulness."
(Erdman)
The purpose of fruit-bearing is to bring glory
to God, not man. If people look at our life
and praise us for the glorious fruit,
something is wrong. The whole purpose is
to glorify God. (Guzik)

40. It is impossible to stay in God’s will apart
from His word.
2 Timothy 3:16 NET Every scripture is
inspired by God and useful for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated
to God may be capable and equipped for
every good work.

41. Psalms 119:9 NIV How can a young man
keep his way pure? By living according to
your word.
--- Pray it ---
--- Meditate on it ---
Allow God to speak through it.
Other books are great, but let Scripture
interpret Scripture
Over time God’s word will become ―who you
are.‖
Your decisions, your actions.
Your life will be filled with His grace.

42. Galatians 5:16 NET But I say, live by the
Spirit and you will not carry out the desires
of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that
are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has
desires that are opposed to the flesh, for
these are in opposition to each other, so that
you cannot do what you want.

43. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are
not under the law. 19 Now the works of the
flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, murder, drunkenness,
carousing, and similar things. I am warning
you, as I had warned you before: Those
who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God!

44. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. 24 Now
those who belong to Christ have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If
we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in
accordance with the Spirit. 26 Let us not
become conceited, provoking one another,
being jealous of one another.

45. Did you notice the fruit we should bear by
remaining connected to the vine, Jesus,
when we live by the Spirit?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23a gentleness, and self-
control.

46. How do we live by the Spirit? Do we go
around somber all day, in a trance?
Doth we continually speak hence in a
―Shakespearian,‖ ―King James,‖ dialect?
Do we need to break out speaking in
tongues every now & then, laying hands on
people all the time?
Just how do we live by the Spirit?

47. live by Thayer Definition:
1) to walk
1a) to make one’s way, progress; to
make due use of opportunities
1b) Hebrew for, to live
1b1) to regulate one’s life
1b2) to conduct one’s self
1b3) to pass one’s life
Strongs: to tread all around, that is, walk at
large (especially as proof of ability);
figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as
a companion or votary):

48. Guzik says in his commentary:
Walk is a common picture of traveling the
"road of life" and making progress upon it.
How are you progressing in life? Also,
many people have a distinct walk, and can
be identified by the way they walk. So, how
do you walk? What can others tell by your
walk? It should be a walk in the Spirit.

49. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
First, it means that the Holy Spirit lives in
you. Second, it means to be open and
sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Third, it means to pattern your life after the
influence of the Holy Spirit.
How does the Holy Spirit influence our life?
First, He reveals His will to us through the
message of the Bible. Second, He
influences us through others who walk in the
Spirit.

50. Third, He influences us through an inner
direction that we become more sensitive to,
and respond to better, as we mature in Jesus.
How can you tell if someone walks in the
Spirit? They look a lot like Jesus! Jesus told
us that the mission of the Holy Spirit would be
to promote and speak of Him (John 14:16-
17, 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-15). When
someone walks in the Spirit, they listen to what
the Holy Spirit says as He guides us in the path
and nature of Jesus.

51. "Life by the Spirit is neither legalism nor
license - nor a middle way between them. It
is a life of faith and love that is above all of
these false ways." (Boice)
Are our lives, our walk, identifying us as
belonging to Christ? Living according to
what The Spirit inspired Godly men to write
in the books of The Bible will identify you as
one of God’s chosen to live throughout
eternity with Him in Heaven.

52. Everything we need to live by the Spirit is
contained in God’s Word, The Bible. 2 Peter
1:2 NET May grace and peace be lavished
on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of
God and of Jesus our Lord! 3 I can pray this
because his divine power has bestowed on
us everything necessary for life and
godliness through the rich knowledge of the
one who called us by his own glory and
excellence.

53. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on
us his precious and most magnificent
promises, so that by means of what was
promised you may become partakers of the
divine nature, after escaping the worldly
corruption that is produced by evil desire.

54. We are willing to try almost anything except
the knowledge of Him. We will trust in the
schemes and plans of men instead of the
knowledge of Him. We will try knowing
ourselves instead of the knowledge of Him.
We need to come to the same place the
Apostle Paul did, when he said, My aim is to
know him, to experience the power of his
resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and
to be like him in his death, Philippians 3:10
NET

55. The Greek word knowledge doesn't refer to
a casual acquaintance. It means an exact,
complete, and thorough knowledge.
Strongs: recognition, that is, (by
implication) full discernment,
acknowledgement:
Thayer Definition: 1) precise and correct
knowledge 1a) used in the NT of the
knowledge of things ethical and divine

56. How do we come to knowledge of Him? It
comes as we learn of Him through His
Word, through prayer, and through the
community of God's people. It is true that
we need God alone, but God does not meet
us only in our "aloneness" but also in the
community of His people.

57. Who called us: This knowledge of God
comes to those who are called. It is
knowledge, but it is not mere intellectual
understanding or intuition. It is the
knowledge that comes by experience - the
experience God's people have of God
Himself.
As well, the word knowledge here doesn't
speak of a casual knowing. It means an
exact, complete, and thorough knowledge.
(Guzik)

58. Set times of prayer. Go to Him in need. Go
to Him in thanks. Pray at all times in the
Spirit.
Start off the day with prayer.
Allow the day to be permeated with Prayer.
End with prayer
Practice Conversational Prayer
A – Adoration
C – Confession
T – Thanksgiving
S – Supplication

59. That is the ―habitual acknowledgment of His
love and presence within us.
You feel God is not present in your life. Do
you long for His glory?
Honor His word, continue in prayer
John 11:40 NET Jesus responded, "Didn't I
tell you that if you believe, you would see the
glory of God?"