A Study of John Sermon 32 Do You Proclaim Jesus? John 7: 1-13 April 8, 2018

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1 A Study of John Sermon 32 Do You Proclaim Jesus? John 7: 1-13 April 8, 2018 I. Introduction A. A Man Named Bob ( Ultimate Book of Illustrations C. Swindoll; page ) 1. It is my opinion that the best evangelistic center in the greater metropolitan Boston area is not a church. It is a filling station in Arlington. It was owned and operated by a man named Bob, who caught the vision early in life that his vocation and his calling were to be welded together. As time passed, his station became known as the place to go for gas, new tires, or other car services. I have seen a half a dozen cars lined up bumper to bumper near two pumps in front of that little station just waiting to be serviced by that man. He has no banners out; no Jesus Saves flags; no signs; no ichthueses; nothing plastered all over the station or in the window; no sign Bring your car to Bob and take your soul to Jesus. He simply did his job. He did it well and people knew that he was in partnership with the Lord. He led dozens of people to faith in Jesus Christ. 2. Are you a Bob? 3. Do you go to work; do you go to school; do you go to Walmart; do you visit with your neighbor, in such a way that your character represent integrity; honesty; trustworthiness; kindness; genuiness and all the other characteristics demonstrated by Jesus? 4. Do people see the light of Jesus in your life to the point that they see Jesus in you? 5. Are you willing to talk to them about Jesus when they come to you seeking Him? 6. Is your lifestyle one that reflects Jesus? 7. Is your lifestyle one that tells people that Jesus is your Lord? 8. Does your speech reflect Jesus? 9. Does your actions reflect Jesus? 10. Does the words that come from your mouth and the actions of your heart reflect kindness; and words that build up not tear down; actions that care and help not hurt? 11. There are many around us that are hurting and are even broken. 12. They need the hope of Jesus. 13. Will Rogers said it this way, So live that you wouldn t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. 14. Could you imagine? 15. How would it be if you had a parrot living in your house? 16. What would it say? 17. You know they only mimic what they hear. 18. Are you proclaiming Jesus in your speech and your actions? 19. Are you a Bob?

2 20. Are you demonstrating lifestyle evangelism? 21. Lifestyle evangelism simply means living your life in such a way that you are living the Good News of Jesus. 22. Lifestyle evangelism is living your life that reflects the peace and hope and salvation that Jesus has given you. 23. Lifestyle evangelism is living your life in such a way that demonstrates the transformed life from the world to the hope, peace, freedom and salvation of Jesus. 24. Are you living like that? 25. Praise God if you are! 26. If not, why not? 27. Are you afraid? 28. Are you insecure? 29. Do you have too many questions? 30. Do you feel ill-equipped? 31. Are you conflicted as to who Jesus is? 32. Friends, the disciples that were with Jesus struggled with these fears. 33. But remaining paralyzed in fear is not the solution. 34. This morning as we continue our sermon series in John, let us explore further this question: Do you proclaim Jesus? II. Sermon A. Scripture 1. John 7:1-13 a. 7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want [a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus brothers said to him, Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. B. Prayer C. Background 6 Therefore Jesus told them, My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not [b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come. 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, Where is he? 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, He is a good man. Others replied, No, he deceives the people. 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

3 1. As you know we stepped away from the chronological order of our sermon series to honor Palm Sunday and Easter. 2. In verse one, the focal passage stated After this or after these things. 3. So what is it exactly that this passage is following? 4. As a reminder, As Jesus delivered His message that He was the Bread of Life, many of those that were following abandoned Him. 5. Henry Blackaby would suggest that this was a crisis of belief. 6. Did they really believe that Jesus was who He revealed Himself to be or did they not believe? 7. Jesus had remained in Galilee because the Jewish plot to kill Him was growing. 8. It wasn t quite the time to proceed with God s full plan that would ultimately bring Jesus to the cross. 9. But that time was soon approaching. 10. The Feast of the Tabernacles was a harvest feast which commemorated the years of wilderness wandering. 11. The brethren referenced probably included: James, Joseph, Simeon and Judas. 12. These brethren perceived that Christ should go to the feast and exert his influences on those in attendance. 13. This was not godly advice. 14. In fact they seemed to have a skewed sense of who Jesus really was. 15. That leads us to our first point. III. Message: A. Which Jesus Do You Proclaim? 1. The disciples speaking with Jesus was struggling with who was Jesus revealing Himself to be and the Jesus that they wanted Him to be. 2. They desired to Proclaim a Power Focused Ruler. 3. Read Verse 4. a. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. John 7:4 4. What kind of advice are these so-called brethren giving to Jesus? 5. They were interested in an earthly king with earthly power. 6. An earthly king with political and military power was appealing to the masses. 7. Since that is what the people wanted, the brethren wanted to give them a Jesus that appeals to their wishes. a. When you give people what they want, they will love you and flock to you. 8. But friends we cannot expect God to transform to what we want Him to be. 9. We must allow God to transform us to what He wants us to be. 10. Do you Proclaim a Power Focused Ruler? 11. Do you try to proclaim a Jesus that non-christians want or do you proclaim the true Jesus as who He is? 12. The true Jesus that addresses what people need repentance of sin, salvation and restoration. 13. The world wants a Jesus that says living in sin is ok.

4 14. They want a Jesus to say that no matter how far away from the will of God your actions maybe, you are free to do it. 15. That s the Jesus that the lost world wants. 16. But what the lost world wants is a lie. 17. Jesus did not come to give the world what they think they want. 18. Jesus came to give the world what they need. 19. He came to be a Spiritual Freer. 20. Read Verse 5. a. 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 21. Do you proclaim the Spiritual Freer? 22. Do you believe Him? 23. Jesus came to free people from sin not shackle them to sin. 24. He came to save people from their sin not to encourage their destruction as a result. 25. God is an encourager, a healer, a comforter, a forgiver of sins. 26. That is what Jesus the Spiritual Freer came to give. 27. Jesus came to provide salvation which is what people desperately need. 28. Jesus came to accept people not to reject people. 29. Jesus came to forgive sin not condone it. 30. Jesus came to share truth not to support the lies of the sinful world. 31. Jesus came to give hope and peace and comfort and rest and eternal life. 32. What Jesus do you proclaim? 33. A Power Focused Ruler that appeals to the wishes and wants of people that leads to their destruction? 34. Or the Spiritual Freer that provides everlasting life? B. Who s Timing Do You Seek? 1. The disciples had a plan. 2. They had things all figured out in their mind. 3. So they proceeded to give Jesus advice. 4. Now isn t that fascinating? 5. What kind of advice do you really think you can give God? 6. You see their plan included what they wanted Jesus to do; how He should do it; why He should do it; and when He should do it. 7. There is a problem with all of this. 8. God calls the shots not us. 9. They were seeking their own timing for Jesus to reveal Himself. 10. Whose timing do you seek? 11. Your Timing? 12. Read Jesus brothers said to him, Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. John 7: How many times have you tried to tell God when He needs to act?

5 15. Sometimes we get to this feeling that your timing is the most important. 16. Friends, while your timing and plans maybe important to you, they are not always the will of God. 17. Verse 5 said that these brothers of Jesus with all their plans didn t even believe in Jesus. 18. They were trying to use Jesus to advance their personal cause. 19. People that focus on their own timing even today can try to use Jesus in a way to advance their personal agendas and fail to seek the will of God. 20. So how do we ensure that we are not pursing Your timing and instead are seeking God s timing? 21. Through dependence of the scriptures and the relationship of prayer. 22. First you need to read, study and know God s word. 23. What does God have to say about the issue that you re are interested, in His Holy Bible. 24. If God has revealed His will in the scriptures about a certain subject, then we must adjust our will to His. 25. Then we need to pray. 26. We need to build a love relationship with God in prayer. 27. As we do this we seek to purge our will from our heart and replace it with God s will. 28. When we seek God s will and we begin to hide it in our heart, it transforms us from the inside out. 29. When we seek to fill our heart with the will of God there becomes less and less room for our will and the world. 30. And when that happens we seek His timing. 31. God s Timing. 32. Read Therefore Jesus told them, My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not [b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come. 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. John 7: Jesus took the time to explain the difference between God s timing and your timing. 35. Just because you want something to happen, doesn t mean that it is God s will or His timing to do it. 36. We must seek God s will and wait for God. 37. Patience to wait on the Lord is tough in a world that demands instantaneous results. 38. Psalm 27:14 shares: 39. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD PSALM 27: Friends are you waiting for God s timing? 41. Christians, are you waiting for the Lord? 42. Is our nation waiting for the Lord?

6 43. Is our world waiting for the Lord? 44. When we wait for the Lord; we seek God s will, adjust our will to His and respond at His timing. 45. Read However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. John 7: The brethren didn t wait for Jesus. 48. They went to the feast without Him. 49. Then God s timing took over. 50. Jesus went to the feast, but He did it in secret. 51. It wasn t God s timing for Jesus to go publicly. 52. God s timing is always perfect. C. Would You and Do You Speak About Jesus? 1. When we are living God s will and seeking His timing we should be sharing Jesus with others. 2. But what stops us from sharing Jesus? 3. Read Verse But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. John 7:13 5. Is fear paralyzing you from proclaiming Jesus? 6. If you struggle with telling others about Jesus, why? 7. Is it fear? 8. Do you feel ill equipped? 9. Do you think someone else would be better at it? 10. Do you feel uncomfortable? 11. Do you feel like you just don t know enough about the Bible? 12. Friends, the truth is clear there is no excuse or reason good enough for us not to share. 13. Why? 14. Because God clarifies it in His word. 15. Acts 1:8 16. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 17. You have the Power of the Holy Spirit. 18. There is nothing greater than the Power of God. 19. And as Christians, God has given us that power. 20. There is no fear or insecurity that can conquer the power of the Holy Spirit. 21. Actually the opposite is true. 22. The power of the Holy Spirit will overcome any obstacle that comes before it. 23. Christians, we must be confident in the promised power of the Holy Spirit. 24. Not only have we been equipped with the power of God, we also move forward in the command of Christ. 25. You have the Command of Christ. 26. Jesus commands you and me to be His witness.

7 27. A witness tells other about what we see and experience. 28. Are you telling others about the power of God and His transforming salvation in your life? 29. Friends this is Christ s command. 30. It is not an option it is an obligation. 31. And with such a charge and command given to us, we move forward with the authority of Jesus. 32. We are God s ambassadors and we have His authority. a. Read Matthew 28:18-20 b. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28: You have the Authority of Jesus 34. As you go about your life, are you speaking about Jesus? 35. Don t let fear paralyze you. 36. Speak about Jesus, and share about what He has done for you. 37. You have the power of the Holy Spirit. 38. You have been given a command from our Lord to witness for Him. 39. And He, with all authority, has given authority to you to do it. 40. Do you proclaim Jesus? D. Invitation 1. Sometimes people struggle with proclaiming Jesus because they struggle with wanting to proclaim themselves and their own desires. 2. Some desire to use Jesus as a power play to get what they want. 3. But Jesus did not come to deliver man s wants. 4. Jesus came to supply our needs. 5. He came to provide us everlasting salvation. 6. Do you know and proclaim Jesus as the Spiritual freer? 7. For some they struggle with their will and their timing as opposed to seeking God s will and God s timing. 8. Some struggle with waiting on the Lord, because they want to move with their own agenda. 9. The only agenda that matters is God s agenda. 10. Are you proclaiming Jesus in your speech and actions? 11. God has given us power. 12. God has given us the command. 13. God has given us the authority. 14. Are you proclaiming Jesus in your life; the way you live, your attitude, your thoughts and in your speech? 15. We have a Lord that came not to give us the thing we think we want. 16. Jesus has come to give us a solution to our needs and salvation for eternity. 17. Will you proclaim Jesus today? 18. Prayer - Invitation Hymn

8 A Study of John Sermon 32 Do You Proclaim Jesus? John 7: 1-13 April 8, 2018 Scripture For the Bulletin: But no one would say anything publicly about Him for fear of the Jews. John 7:13 Sermon Notes for the Bulletin: A. Which J Do You P? 1. Power Focused R a. John 7:4 2. Spiritual F a. John 7:5 B. Who s T Do You S? 1. Your T? a. John 7: God s T? a. John 7:6-9 b. John 7:10 c. Psalm 27:14 C. Would You and Do You S About J? 1. John 7:13 2. If you s with telling others about Jesus, why? a. Acts 1:8 (1) You have the P of the Holy Spirit (2) You have the C of Christ c. Matthew 28:18-20 (1) You have the A of Jesus

9 A. Which Jesus Do You Proclaim? 1. Power Focused Ruler a. John 7:4 2. Spiritual Freer a. John 7:5 B. Who s Timing Do You Seek? 1. Your Timing? a. John 7: God s Timing? a. John 7:6-9 b. John 7:10 c. Psalm 27:14 C. Would You and Do You Speak About Jesus? 1. John 7:13 2. If you struggle with telling others about Jesus, why? a. Acts 1:8 (1) You have the power of the Holy Spirit. (2) You have the command of Christ. b. Matthew 28:18-20 (1) You have the authority of Jesus

10 A Study of John Sermon 32 Do You Proclaim Jesus? John 7: 1-13 April 8, Read: No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. John 7:4. The sermon used the term Power Focused Ruler to describe the Jesus that people wanted Jesus to be. Who did the disciples in this passage, want Jesus to be? What do those in the world today want Jesus to be? 2. Verse 5 revealed that His brother/disciples did not believe in Him. What does that truly mean? 3. The sermon used the term Spiritual Freer as to the God given reason Jesus came. What is meant by the term Spiritual Freer? 4. Read John 7:3-10. The sermon explored Your Timing verses God s Timing. How do we get focused on our own agendas and desires to do things on our own time table rather than God s? 5. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD PSALM 27:14. How do we remain strong, take heart and wait for the Lord? 6. How do we ensure that we are not pursing Your Timing and instead are seeking God s Timing? a. Bible b. Prayer 7. Do you speak about or proclaim Jesus in your daily life? How do we do it? 8. People with Jesus found it difficult to speak about Jesus: But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. John 7:13. Why would this stop them? 9. What prevents us from speaking about Jesus? 10. Explain the following as to why we can speak about Jesus, and share about what He has done for us: a. You have the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) b. You have been given a command from our Lord to witness for Him. (Acts 1:8) c. And He, with all authority, has given authority to you to do it. (Matthew 28:18-20)