Donate

Only Jesus

GregLaurie.TV

January 3, 2021

27:29

Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie teaches the simple yet life changing message of the Gospel.

Closed captions

Only Jesus

Show timecode

Hide timecode

♪ This is the day wherethe lost are found ♪
00:00:00.623 --> 00:00:04.360
♪ What can you give whenthe angels are singing ♪
00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:08.565
♪ This is the day
00:00:08.565 --> 00:00:11.234
♪ The day when life begins
00:00:11.234 --> 00:00:14.771
- There's a story now beforeI read some Mark chapter nine,
00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:18.641
when Peter definitelysaid the wrong thing
00:00:18.641 --> 00:00:22.512
at the wrong time this happened.
00:00:22.512 --> 00:00:24.814
When Jesus was transfigured,
00:00:24.814 --> 00:00:27.750
where he shined likethe sun with Moses
00:00:27.750 --> 00:00:30.720
on one side andElijah on the other
00:00:30.720 --> 00:00:33.656
this happened on themountaintop and then they had
00:00:33.656 --> 00:00:36.759
to descend down to a valleyfor a rude awakening.
00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:40.597
And I think if wewould have our,
00:00:40.597 --> 00:00:42.165
way as Christianswe would always,
00:00:42.165 --> 00:00:44.100
live on the mountaintop
00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:46.336
we would always be in astate of perpetual blessing
00:00:46.336 --> 00:00:49.939
in good times and perfecthealth and no conflict.
00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:53.443
But those times on themountaintops prepare us,
00:00:53.443 --> 00:00:57.547
for what is awaitingin the valley.
00:00:57.547 --> 00:00:59.682
And when I say the valley.
00:00:59.682 --> 00:01:01.251
I'm talking about thehardships of life,
00:01:01.251 --> 00:01:03.686
the reality of lifeand we're gonna
00:01:03.686 --> 00:01:05.989
talk about thatnow in this text,
00:01:05.989 --> 00:01:09.025
let's look at Mark chapter nine,
00:01:09.025 --> 00:01:11.594
I'm reading from thenew living translation
00:01:11.594 --> 00:01:14.764
and here's what we see.
00:01:14.764 --> 00:01:16.266
Jesus went on his head,tell you the truth.
00:01:16.266 --> 00:01:18.902
Some standing hereright now will not die
00:01:18.902 --> 00:01:21.738
before they seethe kingdom of God,
00:01:21.738 --> 00:01:23.339
arrive in greatpower six days later,
00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:26.176
Jesus took Peter, James and John
00:01:26.176 --> 00:01:28.444
and led them a highmountain to be alone.
00:01:28.444 --> 00:01:31.881
As the men watchJesus was transformed.
00:01:31.881 --> 00:01:36.753
His clothes becamedazzling white
00:01:36.753 --> 00:01:39.055
far whiter than any earthlybleeds could make them.
00:01:39.055 --> 00:01:42.759
And then Elijahand Moses appeared
00:01:42.759 --> 00:01:45.261
and began talking with Jesus.
00:01:45.261 --> 00:01:47.096
Peter explained, it'sgood that we are here.
00:01:47.096 --> 00:01:50.567
Let's make threeshelters as memorials.
00:01:50.567 --> 00:01:53.136
One for you, one forMoses and one for Elijah.
00:01:53.136 --> 00:01:56.172
Don't miss this first,
00:01:56.172 --> 00:01:57.407
He said this becausehe really didn't know
00:01:57.407 --> 00:01:59.776
what else to say forthey were all terrified.
00:01:59.776 --> 00:02:03.413
Then a cloud overshouted them and a voice
00:02:03.413 --> 00:02:05.381
from the cloud said, "Thisis my dearly beloved son
00:02:05.381 --> 00:02:09.118
listen to him," suddenlywhen they looked around.
00:02:09.118 --> 00:02:12.388
Moses and Elijah weregone and they saw
00:02:12.388 --> 00:02:15.592
only Jesus with them,you might underline
00:02:15.592 --> 00:02:18.628
those two words only Jesus.
00:02:18.628 --> 00:02:20.663
And they went backdown the mountain
00:02:20.663 --> 00:02:22.332
and he told themnot to tell anyone
00:02:22.332 --> 00:02:24.334
what they had seenuntil the son of man
00:02:24.334 --> 00:02:26.402
had risen from the dead.
00:02:26.402 --> 00:02:28.238
So they kept it to themselves
00:02:28.238 --> 00:02:30.139
but they often ask each other
00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:32.242
what it meant when hesaid rising from the dead.
00:02:32.242 --> 00:02:36.246
This transfiguration, thismoment where Jesus shined
00:02:36.246 --> 00:02:41.251
like the sun is ata significant point
00:02:42.418 --> 00:02:44.687
in his earthly ministryit's at the half way,
00:02:44.687 --> 00:02:48.291
point of a verydifficult journey.
00:02:48.291 --> 00:02:51.060
So Jesus came back to the cradle
00:02:51.060 --> 00:02:53.529
and he's lookingforward to the cross.
00:02:53.529 --> 00:02:56.399
And he's giving toPeter, James and John
00:02:56.399 --> 00:02:59.369
a glimpse of gloryor a taste of heaven.
00:02:59.369 --> 00:03:02.438
We could call it a previewof coming attractions.
00:03:02.438 --> 00:03:05.708
Like here, what hesays, verse one,
00:03:05.708 --> 00:03:07.410
I tell you the truthsome standing here
00:03:07.410 --> 00:03:09.879
right now will not die
00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.080
before they seethe kingdom of God,
00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:13.349
arriving in great power.
00:03:13.349 --> 00:03:14.517
So the transfigurationwas a sneak peek
00:03:14.517 --> 00:03:18.087
of what is to comefor all of humanity.
00:03:18.087 --> 00:03:21.691
When Christ returns one day
00:03:21.691 --> 00:03:23.893
as King of Kingsand Lord of Lords,
00:03:23.893 --> 00:03:26.095
it's sort of like what we used
00:03:26.095 --> 00:03:28.197
to see when we went to movies
00:03:28.197 --> 00:03:29.999
remember when we actuallywent to theaters?
00:03:29.999 --> 00:03:32.669
And they would playall those trailers
00:03:32.669 --> 00:03:34.871
for all the upcoming films.
00:03:34.871 --> 00:03:36.839
And a lot of times the bestbits were in the trailer.
00:03:36.839 --> 00:03:39.942
Sometimes it trailer wasbetter than the film itself.
00:03:39.942 --> 00:03:43.212
Now there are sometrailers set I've seen
00:03:43.212 --> 00:03:44.881
that I knew were notonly bad trailers
00:03:44.881 --> 00:03:47.383
but the film itself was bad.
00:03:47.383 --> 00:03:49.986
I don't wanna namenames but "Cats" anyway,
00:03:49.986 --> 00:03:53.222
we'll move on andit's interesting,
00:03:53.222 --> 00:03:55.124
it's a film about cats.
00:03:55.124 --> 00:03:56.359
Cause you know, Idon't love cats,
00:03:56.359 --> 00:03:57.927
all that much, Idon't hate them.
00:03:57.927 --> 00:03:59.329
I just think dogs are better.
00:03:59.329 --> 00:04:00.930
We all know that's true.
00:04:00.930 --> 00:04:01.864
Don't we? Anyway, moving on.
00:04:01.864 --> 00:04:03.966
So here is Jesusbeing transfigured
00:04:03.966 --> 00:04:06.836
before them andMoses and Elijah,
00:04:06.836 --> 00:04:09.439
are right next to him.
00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:10.773
Now, this is the amazingthing he's shining.
00:04:10.773 --> 00:04:13.476
So brightly have you everlooked directly at the sun?
00:04:13.476 --> 00:04:17.146
I highly recommendyou do not do that
00:04:17.146 --> 00:04:20.083
but who would not be amazed
00:04:20.083 --> 00:04:23.286
at such a displayof glory and if that
00:04:23.286 --> 00:04:26.022
wasn't enough to seeshining like that.
00:04:26.022 --> 00:04:28.891
They have Mosesand Elijah show up.
00:04:28.891 --> 00:04:31.694
But listen to thiswe think the miracle
00:04:31.694 --> 00:04:34.263
is Jesus shined like the sun.
00:04:34.263 --> 00:04:36.466
That's not the miracle,
00:04:36.466 --> 00:04:37.867
the miracle isJesus did not shine
00:04:37.867 --> 00:04:40.370
like the sun all the time.
00:04:40.370 --> 00:04:42.739
Remember he was God,God walking among us.
00:04:42.739 --> 00:04:47.443
And when he walked among us,
00:04:47.443 --> 00:04:48.978
he did not void hisdeity but he did veil it
00:04:48.978 --> 00:04:53.983
as the Christmas songsays veiled in flesh,
00:04:55.184 --> 00:04:57.954
the Godhead see,hail incarnate deity,
00:04:57.954 --> 00:05:01.457
Jesus never ceased to be God.
00:05:01.457 --> 00:05:03.593
He always was God
00:05:03.593 --> 00:05:05.361
but he sort of restrainedthat glory from showing.
00:05:05.361 --> 00:05:10.233
I mean, it would havebeen kind of hard to hang
00:05:10.233 --> 00:05:11.768
out with him if he wasshining like the sun
00:05:11.768 --> 00:05:13.970
all of the time becauseit's hard to hide light.
00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:18.207
Isn't it? Going backto movie theaters.
00:05:18.207 --> 00:05:20.309
If someone pullsout a cell phone
00:05:20.309 --> 00:05:22.478
and they're checkingtheir messages
00:05:22.478 --> 00:05:24.680
or looking at theirsocial media feed
00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.016
when the movie's playing youreyes are immediately drawn
00:05:27.016 --> 00:05:29.819
from this screen to the phonebecause you're drawn to light.
00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:33.790
It's hard to hide light.
00:05:33.790 --> 00:05:36.325
And Jesus is just shining.
00:05:36.325 --> 00:05:38.194
Like the sun, he couldhave done that at will.
00:05:38.194 --> 00:05:41.464
When they came to arrest himin the garden of Gethsemane,
00:05:41.464 --> 00:05:43.900
he could just turn on the light
00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:45.568
and their faceswould have melted
00:05:45.568 --> 00:05:47.236
like that scene from"Raiders of the lost ark."
00:05:47.236 --> 00:05:49.639
Remember that scene, butno, he didn't do that.
00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:52.642
He bailed thatlight from showing.
00:05:52.642 --> 00:05:55.678
So the miracle is not thathe shined like the sun.
00:05:55.678 --> 00:05:58.648
The miracle is thathe didn't shine
00:05:58.648 --> 00:06:00.082
like the sun all thetime and who is with him
00:06:00.082 --> 00:06:03.186
it's Moses and Elijahtalking with Jesus,
00:06:03.186 --> 00:06:07.657
now Moses and Elijahoccupy unique positions
00:06:08.891 --> 00:06:12.361
in the old Testament.
00:06:12.361 --> 00:06:14.130
The Bible speaks of thelaw and the prophets.
00:06:14.130 --> 00:06:16.766
You couldn't find abetter representative
00:06:16.766 --> 00:06:19.001
of the law than Moses.
00:06:19.001 --> 00:06:20.870
The great law-giver whoreceived the 10 commandments
00:06:20.870 --> 00:06:23.706
from God on Mount Sinai.
00:06:23.706 --> 00:06:26.008
And you couldn't finda better representative
00:06:26.008 --> 00:06:28.478
of the prophets than Elijah,
00:06:28.478 --> 00:06:30.780
the miracle workingprophet who called fire
00:06:30.780 --> 00:06:33.649
down from heaven andstopped it from raining.
00:06:33.649 --> 00:06:37.119
And they're having a discussion.
00:06:37.119 --> 00:06:39.088
Now here's an interesting thing.
00:06:39.088 --> 00:06:41.090
How did Peter, James andJohn know it was Moses
00:06:41.090 --> 00:06:45.127
and Elijah wasMoses standing there
00:06:45.127 --> 00:06:47.029
with 10 commandments and wasElijah calling fire down.
00:06:47.029 --> 00:06:49.832
I don't think so, did theyhave little name tags?
00:06:49.832 --> 00:06:52.535
Like you get whenyou go to an event
00:06:52.535 --> 00:06:54.437
and you don't haveto write your name?
00:06:54.437 --> 00:06:55.605
Hi, my name is Moses.
00:06:55.605 --> 00:06:57.607
No, I don't think so.
00:06:57.607 --> 00:06:59.075
But somehow Peter,James and John
00:06:59.075 --> 00:07:01.644
were able to recognizethat that was Moses
00:07:01.644 --> 00:07:04.313
and Elijah on eachside of Jesus,
00:07:04.313 --> 00:07:07.283
which shows that in glory
00:07:07.283 --> 00:07:09.852
we're gonnarecognize each other.
00:07:09.852 --> 00:07:12.855
Sometimes peopleask the question
00:07:12.855 --> 00:07:14.457
when we get to heavenwill we know one another?
00:07:14.457 --> 00:07:17.260
And my response is, do you think
00:07:17.260 --> 00:07:18.761
you'll be more stupid inheaven than you are on earth?
00:07:18.761 --> 00:07:22.865
You'll know more inheaven, not less.
00:07:22.865 --> 00:07:25.434
And so the answer is yes
00:07:25.434 --> 00:07:27.303
you will know oneanother in heaven.
00:07:27.303 --> 00:07:29.772
And here's also a reminder
00:07:29.772 --> 00:07:31.274
that the Bible teaches therewill be a bodily resurrection.
00:07:31.274 --> 00:07:35.511
What does that mean?
00:07:35.511 --> 00:07:36.712
It means that ourbody, our personality
00:07:36.712 --> 00:07:39.682
everything that weare we'll live again,
00:07:39.682 --> 00:07:43.085
that means that you will seeyour loved ones who have died
00:07:43.085 --> 00:07:46.122
in faith and have gotteninto heaven before you again
00:07:46.122 --> 00:07:49.692
but there'll bein a perfect state
00:07:49.692 --> 00:07:51.627
and you'll pick upwhere you last left off,
00:07:51.627 --> 00:07:55.298
when Jesus was crucified.
00:07:55.298 --> 00:07:58.000
And then he roseagain from the dead.
00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.969
He greeted the discipleswith the words,
00:07:59.969 --> 00:08:02.238
peace be with you almost like,
00:08:02.238 --> 00:08:03.606
Hey guys, how's it going?
00:08:03.606 --> 00:08:04.540
Whoa! You're Jesus risen.
00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:06.943
But he sort of picked upwhere he last left off.
00:08:06.943 --> 00:08:09.745
And that's how it will be
00:08:09.745 --> 00:08:11.013
when you see yourloved ones again,
00:08:11.013 --> 00:08:13.282
because they're notonly a part of your past
00:08:13.282 --> 00:08:16.085
they're also a partof your future.
00:08:16.085 --> 00:08:19.555
What an amazing sight.
00:08:19.555 --> 00:08:21.390
This must have beenconsidered this fact.
00:08:21.390 --> 00:08:23.326
Moses at this moment have beendead for around 1400 years.
00:08:23.326 --> 00:08:28.331
And Elijah had been gonefor around 900 years
00:08:29.465 --> 00:08:32.268
but here they are together.
00:08:32.268 --> 00:08:34.904
And they're having a discussion.
00:08:34.904 --> 00:08:36.872
What were they talking about?
00:08:36.872 --> 00:08:38.808
Luke's gospel fillsin the detail here
00:08:38.808 --> 00:08:41.877
about their conversation.
00:08:41.877 --> 00:08:43.412
Luke chapter nine verse 31says, "They were speaking
00:08:43.412 --> 00:08:46.449
about his exodus from this world
00:08:46.449 --> 00:08:49.585
which was about to befulfilled in Jerusalem."
00:08:49.585 --> 00:08:53.022
I'm sure Moses had quitea few things to say
00:08:54.190 --> 00:08:56.359
about an exodusbecause when we go
00:08:56.359 --> 00:08:59.428
to the book of Exodus,which means departure.
00:08:59.428 --> 00:09:03.633
It's a story of how God usedMoses to lead the Israelites
00:09:03.633 --> 00:09:07.770
out of the of thebondage of Egypt,
00:09:07.770 --> 00:09:09.972
through the wilderness,through the parted red sea
00:09:09.972 --> 00:09:13.442
and into the promise land.
00:09:13.442 --> 00:09:16.012
And you remember asa part of that story
00:09:16.012 --> 00:09:18.080
God's judgment came uponthe firstborn of Egypt.
00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:21.784
And the Lord toldMoses to instruct
00:09:21.784 --> 00:09:24.654
the Jewish peopleto take a lamb,
00:09:24.654 --> 00:09:27.356
slay the lamb, andapply the blood
00:09:27.356 --> 00:09:29.959
on the top and on thesides of their doorposts.
00:09:29.959 --> 00:09:32.762
And God's judgmentwould pass over.
00:09:32.762 --> 00:09:35.364
And that is still celebratedtoday, as the Passover feast.
00:09:35.364 --> 00:09:40.369
And so this is allgonna be fulfilled now
00:09:41.504 --> 00:09:44.140
because everythingthat Passover lamb
00:09:44.140 --> 00:09:46.042
was pointing to isfulfilled in Christ,
00:09:46.042 --> 00:09:49.512
Christ was gonna go diefor the sin of the world.
00:09:49.512 --> 00:09:52.081
He would fulfill the factthat he would be the lamb
00:09:52.081 --> 00:09:55.484
of God who would takeaway the sin of the world
00:09:55.484 --> 00:09:58.621
and his blood would be shedfor the sin of all of humanity.
00:09:58.621 --> 00:10:03.492
Remember he broughtthis topic up earlier
00:10:03.492 --> 00:10:06.362
at a place calledCaesarea Philippi
00:10:06.362 --> 00:10:09.131
and Peter thought hehad lost his mind.
00:10:09.131 --> 00:10:11.801
And Peter began to rebuke Jesus.
00:10:11.801 --> 00:10:13.636
When he talked abouthis impending death
00:10:13.636 --> 00:10:15.638
saying, that's crazyyou can't do that.
00:10:15.638 --> 00:10:18.441
But here's someonenow that will listen
00:10:18.441 --> 00:10:20.042
to Jesus and understand it.
00:10:20.042 --> 00:10:22.178
Moses understood as did Elijah,
00:10:22.178 --> 00:10:25.915
as they spoke of theseincredible things
00:10:25.915 --> 00:10:28.918
that were about to happen forthis is the reason Jesus came.
00:10:28.918 --> 00:10:33.823
He was born in a mangerand we love to celebrate
00:10:35.024 --> 00:10:37.026
that the beautifullittle baby there,
00:10:37.026 --> 00:10:39.595
but don't forget hecame with a purpose
00:10:39.595 --> 00:10:41.797
and that purpose wasto go to the cross
00:10:41.797 --> 00:10:44.233
and die for the sinof all of the world.
00:10:44.233 --> 00:10:47.103
So this is an amazing moment.
00:10:47.103 --> 00:10:49.171
You don't wanna miss thisJesus shining like the sun
00:10:49.171 --> 00:10:52.341
Moses and Elijah on each side
00:10:52.341 --> 00:10:54.543
talking about his crucifixion.
00:10:54.543 --> 00:10:56.879
And what did the disciples do?
00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.981
What did Peter,James and John do?
00:10:58.981 --> 00:11:00.983
Well, they basicallyfell asleep,
00:11:00.983 --> 00:11:02.218
again Luke fillsin a detail here,
00:11:02.218 --> 00:11:06.122
Luke 9:32 says, Peter and those,
00:11:06.122 --> 00:11:08.591
who were with themwere heavy with sleep.
00:11:08.591 --> 00:11:10.826
And then when theywere fully awake,
00:11:10.826 --> 00:11:12.595
they saw his gloryand the two men
00:11:12.595 --> 00:11:14.897
that stood with him, by the way
00:11:14.897 --> 00:11:17.666
that's not the onlyinappropriate time
00:11:17.666 --> 00:11:20.336
that Peter James andJohn fell asleep.
00:11:20.336 --> 00:11:23.572
They also fell asleep inthe Garden of Gethsemane.
00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:27.409
This is that momentthat Jesus went
00:11:27.409 --> 00:11:29.779
into the garden and prayed.
00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.347
And according to Doctor Luke,
00:11:31.347 --> 00:11:33.215
sweat as it weregreat drops of blood
00:11:33.215 --> 00:11:37.019
and some doctors believe
00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:39.155
that was a firstcentury description
00:11:39.155 --> 00:11:41.257
of what we nowcall hematidrosis.
00:11:41.257 --> 00:11:44.727
And that's a conditionthat when you're
00:11:44.727 --> 00:11:46.362
under intense pressure,you perspire blood,
00:11:46.362 --> 00:11:49.665
not pure blood but your blood
00:11:49.665 --> 00:11:51.400
and your perspirationare mixed together.
00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:54.703
So maybe that's what DoctorLuke was talking about.
00:11:54.703 --> 00:11:57.573
But Jesus had a requestfor Peter, James and John
00:11:57.573 --> 00:12:00.743
which was basically staywith me, just be with me.
00:12:00.743 --> 00:12:04.814
You know, sometimes whena person is suffering
00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:06.882
they don't need a sermon.
00:12:06.882 --> 00:12:08.484
They just need a friendand that's all the Lord ask
00:12:08.484 --> 00:12:11.120
or just just be with me andyeah, we're with you Lord.
00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:14.089
And then he said to themthe spirit is willing
00:12:14.089 --> 00:12:16.292
but the flesh is weak.
00:12:16.292 --> 00:12:17.693
And he comes back tothem after this anguish
00:12:17.693 --> 00:12:19.962
after this suffering,after this prayer
00:12:19.962 --> 00:12:22.131
to the father and theyfell asleep, you know
00:12:22.131 --> 00:12:26.836
sometimes we fallasleep as well,
00:12:26.836 --> 00:12:29.572
heard about a burglarwho was robbing the house
00:12:29.572 --> 00:12:32.241
and he heard a cop car go by.
00:12:32.241 --> 00:12:34.276
So he took cover on the floorand then he fell asleep.
00:12:34.276 --> 00:12:37.947
And the homeownergot up that morning
00:12:37.947 --> 00:12:39.682
and saw this burglar asleep
00:12:39.682 --> 00:12:42.218
on his floor andcalled the cops.
00:12:42.218 --> 00:12:43.786
And they came and wokethe guy up and said,
00:12:43.786 --> 00:12:45.688
buddy this is your wake up call.
00:12:45.688 --> 00:12:48.591
And I wonder ifsometimes in the church
00:12:48.591 --> 00:12:50.526
we need a wake up call.
00:12:50.526 --> 00:12:52.528
I wonder if some of youwatching me right now,
00:12:52.528 --> 00:12:54.763
need a wake up call spiritually
00:12:54.763 --> 00:12:56.732
because you'respiritually asleep.
00:12:56.732 --> 00:12:59.468
That is why in Romans12, via Paul, excuse me,
00:12:59.468 --> 00:13:02.137
Romans 13 the Apostle Paul says,
00:13:02.137 --> 00:13:04.573
it's high time toawake out of our sleep
00:13:04.573 --> 00:13:07.977
because the night is far spent.
00:13:07.977 --> 00:13:10.412
The day is at hand, let'sbe Christ men from head
00:13:10.412 --> 00:13:14.550
to foot and give no chance forthe flesh to have its fling.
00:13:14.550 --> 00:13:19.054
Wake up, it's a wake up call.
00:13:19.054 --> 00:13:21.690
Well, they wake up and there,
00:13:21.690 --> 00:13:23.692
they see Moses and Elijah.
00:13:23.692 --> 00:13:26.629
And of course Jesusand now Peter says
00:13:26.629 --> 00:13:29.431
the wrong thing at thewrong time, Verse six.
00:13:29.431 --> 00:13:32.434
It's good, we are hereand I love this detail.
00:13:32.434 --> 00:13:35.404
That's added, he said this
00:13:35.404 --> 00:13:37.206
because he really didn'tknow what else to say.
00:13:37.206 --> 00:13:40.643
When you don't know whatto say, don't say anything.
00:13:42.044 --> 00:13:46.415
There's an old verb,not a biblical one
00:13:46.415 --> 00:13:48.484
but it has some truthwhich goes as follows.
00:13:48.484 --> 00:13:51.587
"Better to be silentand thought a fool
00:13:51.587 --> 00:13:54.089
than do open your mouthand dispel all doubt."
00:13:54.089 --> 00:13:57.826
But Peter says, it'sgood we are here.
00:13:57.826 --> 00:14:00.362
That's the operative word here.
00:14:00.362 --> 00:14:02.798
Hey Lord, this isblessing central.
00:14:02.798 --> 00:14:05.935
We love hanging out with you
00:14:05.935 --> 00:14:07.736
and Moses and Elijahbasking in your glory.
00:14:07.736 --> 00:14:11.507
Let's forget all this crazy talk
00:14:11.507 --> 00:14:13.742
about going toJerusalem and dying.
00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:15.744
Let's stay here and nowPeter gets a rebuke,
00:14:15.744 --> 00:14:20.749
not from Jesus but fromthe father in heaven.
00:14:21.917 --> 00:14:24.186
Look at verse seven, thena cloud over shadowed them.
00:14:24.186 --> 00:14:27.690
And a voice from the cloud said
00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:29.491
this is my dearly lovedson listen to him.
00:14:29.491 --> 00:14:33.829
Suddenly when theylooked around,
00:14:33.829 --> 00:14:35.364
Moses and Elijah were gone
00:14:35.364 --> 00:14:37.466
and they saw onlyJesus with them.
00:14:37.466 --> 00:14:40.970
The father stepsinto the conversation
00:14:40.970 --> 00:14:43.305
and effectively says,"Peter, if my son says
00:14:43.305 --> 00:14:47.142
he's gonna go to Jerusalemto suffer and die
00:14:47.142 --> 00:14:50.145
that that's what's gonna happen
00:14:50.145 --> 00:14:51.580
and you need to believe him
00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:53.449
and if he tells you to take
00:14:53.449 --> 00:14:55.551
up your cross and followhim, you need to do it."
00:14:55.551 --> 00:14:58.554
Now, Moses and Elijah aregone and there's just Jesus.
00:14:58.554 --> 00:15:03.559
And that's all weneed, only Jesus.
00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:07.763
It's not Jesus and thelaw and the prophets
00:15:07.763 --> 00:15:10.566
you see animal sacrificesare no longer needed.
00:15:10.566 --> 00:15:15.004
We don't need a highpriest to step in
00:15:15.004 --> 00:15:17.272
and represent usto God any longer.
00:15:17.272 --> 00:15:20.042
Jesus is our high priest.
00:15:20.042 --> 00:15:22.578
Jesus is the lamb of God.
00:15:22.578 --> 00:15:24.747
And because of the deathand resurrection of Jesus
00:15:24.747 --> 00:15:27.516
you and I have openedaccess to the father 24/7.
00:15:27.516 --> 00:15:32.454
You can approachhim through Christ.
00:15:33.589 --> 00:15:36.325
It's an amazing thing,it's Jesus only,
00:15:36.325 --> 00:15:39.561
who's gonna save you^.
00:15:39.561 --> 00:15:40.996
Now Jesus pledgedplus church tradition
00:15:40.996 --> 00:15:44.233
or Jesus plus moral living.
00:15:44.233 --> 00:15:46.168
Not that you shouldhave immoral living,
00:15:46.168 --> 00:15:48.170
but my point is Jesus isthe one who saves you.
00:15:48.170 --> 00:15:51.807
He does work andthen there's a way
00:15:51.807 --> 00:15:54.276
of honoring himand thanking him.
00:15:54.276 --> 00:15:55.944
We want to respond byliving a godly life,
00:15:55.944 --> 00:15:59.014
but it's only Jesus, Jesus only
00:15:59.014 --> 00:16:02.851
because sometimes frankly,friends will disappoint you,
00:16:02.851 --> 00:16:06.655
sometimes even familywill disappoint you.
00:16:06.655 --> 00:16:09.958
But the Bible saysin Proverbs 18:24
00:16:09.958 --> 00:16:13.028
there is a friend thatsticks closer than a brother.
00:16:13.028 --> 00:16:16.598
And that friend is Jesus.
00:16:16.598 --> 00:16:18.767
Listen, friends, come and go.
00:16:18.767 --> 00:16:21.703
But Jesus comes and stays.
00:16:21.703 --> 00:16:24.373
And if you've askedhim into your life
00:16:24.373 --> 00:16:26.108
he's not gonna leave you.
00:16:26.108 --> 00:16:27.576
And he's not gonna forsake you.
00:16:27.576 --> 00:16:29.078
You have his word on that
00:16:29.078 --> 00:16:31.413
because only Jesus canheal a broken heart.
00:16:31.413 --> 00:16:35.250
Only Jesus can give youthe strength to go on when
00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:38.253
it's getting hard.
00:16:38.253 --> 00:16:40.422
As David wrote inPsalm 23, yea though
00:16:40.422 --> 00:16:43.692
I walk through the valleyof the shadow of death.
00:16:43.692 --> 00:16:46.361
I will fear no evilfor you are with me.
00:16:46.361 --> 00:16:50.065
That's how we get throughthe valleys of life.
00:16:50.065 --> 00:16:53.001
That's how we get throughthe storms of life.
00:16:53.001 --> 00:16:55.804
That's how we get throughthe hardships of life.
00:16:55.804 --> 00:16:58.474
We realize we'renot alone and God
00:16:58.474 --> 00:17:00.542
is walking with us through it,
00:17:00.542 --> 00:17:03.178
Shadrach, Meshach andAbednego discovered
00:17:03.178 --> 00:17:05.447
that as they walkedthrough their fiery furnace
00:17:05.447 --> 00:17:08.484
and there was a fourthperson with them
00:17:08.484 --> 00:17:11.453
that the King said lookedlike the son of God.
00:17:11.453 --> 00:17:14.957
I believe Jesus was walking
00:17:14.957 --> 00:17:16.625
with those three youngteenage Hebrew boys.
00:17:16.625 --> 00:17:20.229
And when it's all saidand done, it's only Jesus.
00:17:20.229 --> 00:17:23.265
When you're on your death bed,
00:17:23.265 --> 00:17:25.000
it's only Jesuswho will save you.
00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.903
And it's only Jesus thatyou will stand before.
00:17:27.903 --> 00:17:31.073
So now they're descendingfrom this mountain
00:17:31.073 --> 00:17:33.242
top this place of mega blessings
00:17:33.242 --> 00:17:37.179
to face a crisis to facea conflict in the valley.
00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:42.184
If you will andthey're gonna realize
00:17:43.285 --> 00:17:45.020
that not only Jesuscan save them,
00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:47.589
but only Jesus can overcome.
00:17:47.589 --> 00:17:49.658
The devil go backto Mark chapter nine
00:17:49.658 --> 00:17:53.162
and I'm gonna readverses 20 to 24.
00:17:53.162 --> 00:17:55.397
So there was a father whohad a demon possessed boy.
00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:59.234
He brought his boyto the disciples
00:17:59.234 --> 00:18:02.771
asking for some helpbut then we're not
00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:04.540
able to help thisman or this boy.
00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:07.342
So our story picks up in
00:18:07.342 --> 00:18:08.610
Mark chapter nine, verse 20
00:18:08.610 --> 00:18:10.679
they brought the boy to Jesus.
00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:13.315
The demon saw Jesus in a once
00:18:13.315 --> 00:18:15.250
held the boy in his power
00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:16.618
and the boy fell to the ground
00:18:16.618 --> 00:18:18.086
was spit running from his mouth.
00:18:18.086 --> 00:18:20.722
Jesus asked the boy's father.
00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:22.524
"How long has hebeen like this?"
00:18:22.524 --> 00:18:24.893
The father said,"Well from the time
00:18:24.893 --> 00:18:26.562
he was a child manytimes it throws him
00:18:26.562 --> 00:18:29.565
into the fire and intothe water to kill him.
00:18:29.565 --> 00:18:32.134
If you can do anything tohelp us take pity on us."
00:18:32.134 --> 00:18:36.038
And Jesus said, "whydo you ask me that
00:18:36.038 --> 00:18:38.941
the one who has faithcan do all things."
00:18:38.941 --> 00:18:40.909
At once some fathercried out and said
00:18:40.909 --> 00:18:42.945
with tears in his eyes,
00:18:42.945 --> 00:18:44.279
"Lord I have faithhelp my unbelief."
00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.716
Powerful story, now we'vecome from the mountaintop
00:18:47.716 --> 00:18:51.553
to the valley and crisis hits
00:18:51.553 --> 00:18:54.289
often after the mountaintop
00:18:54.289 --> 00:18:55.991
there is the valley going back
00:18:55.991 --> 00:18:58.193
to the temptation ofJesus in the wilderness.
00:18:58.193 --> 00:19:00.929
When did that happen?
00:19:00.929 --> 00:19:02.431
That happened after thefather spoke another time
00:19:02.431 --> 00:19:05.667
remember Jesus was baptizedin the Jordan river
00:19:05.667 --> 00:19:08.870
by his cousin,John, the baptizer,
00:19:08.870 --> 00:19:11.873
and the father said,"this is my beloved son
00:19:11.873 --> 00:19:14.643
in whom I'm well pleased,"and the Spirit of came upon
00:19:14.643 --> 00:19:18.046
Jesus in the form of a doveand we read immediately.
00:19:18.046 --> 00:19:21.450
He went into the wildernessto be tempted by the devil.
00:19:21.450 --> 00:19:24.386
So after the dove came the devil
00:19:24.386 --> 00:19:26.455
and a lot of timesafter the blessing
00:19:26.455 --> 00:19:28.690
comes the challenge after theblessing comes the temptation.
00:19:28.690 --> 00:19:32.394
So we should not be surprised
00:19:32.394 --> 00:19:34.229
when those things happen.
00:19:34.229 --> 00:19:35.931
Notice that as Jesus approaches
00:19:35.931 --> 00:19:38.667
this demon possessedboy the devil,
00:19:38.667 --> 00:19:41.003
effectively tightenshis grip verse 20.
00:19:41.003 --> 00:19:44.106
It says the demon saw Jesus.
00:19:44.106 --> 00:19:46.541
And at once held theboy in his power.
00:19:46.541 --> 00:19:50.479
Listen to this when youseek to share the gospel
00:19:50.479 --> 00:19:54.082
with someone, expectsatanic opposition,
00:19:54.082 --> 00:19:58.153
you're entering into a timeof a spiritual warfare.
00:19:58.153 --> 00:20:01.823
Remembering theparable of the sower.
00:20:01.823 --> 00:20:04.326
Jesus said the sower went out
00:20:04.326 --> 00:20:05.627
to sow seeds, some seed fell
00:20:05.627 --> 00:20:07.696
on the roadside andthe birds ate it.
00:20:07.696 --> 00:20:09.464
And he said, these are they,
00:20:09.464 --> 00:20:10.799
that hear the word of God,
00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.167
and Satan comes immediatelyto take it away.
00:20:12.167 --> 00:20:15.237
So the devil attacks whenwe're trying to reach people.
00:20:15.237 --> 00:20:18.206
So this boy was coming closer
00:20:18.206 --> 00:20:20.609
to Jesus and the devilwants to stop him
00:20:20.609 --> 00:20:23.545
from coming his poor father.
00:20:23.545 --> 00:20:25.781
He said his wood sand.
00:20:25.781 --> 00:20:27.049
And he says toJesus in verse 22,
00:20:27.049 --> 00:20:29.551
if you can do anything tohelp us take pity on us.
00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:34.323
And the Lord has avery strong reaction
00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:36.625
to this a good verse,23, Jesus says.
00:20:36.625 --> 00:20:38.927
"Why do you ask me that,
00:20:38.927 --> 00:20:41.163
the one who has faithcan do all things."
00:20:41.163 --> 00:20:44.266
Effectively Jesus is saying,
00:20:44.266 --> 00:20:46.468
what do you meanif I can help you?
00:20:46.468 --> 00:20:50.772
Of course I can don't forget,
00:20:50.772 --> 00:20:53.175
I was just transfiguredwith Moses and Elijah,
00:20:53.175 --> 00:20:56.178
don't forget I walked on water
00:20:56.178 --> 00:20:57.946
and I healed a blind man
00:20:57.946 --> 00:20:59.848
and I raised aperson from the dead.
00:20:59.848 --> 00:21:01.750
If I can of courseI can handle this
00:21:01.750 --> 00:21:05.821
but here's what he's saying.
00:21:05.821 --> 00:21:07.456
You need to havefaith right now.
00:21:07.456 --> 00:21:09.491
It's a very good idea for us
00:21:09.491 --> 00:21:11.360
to remember God's faithfulness
00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:13.395
to us in the past whenwe're facing trouble
00:21:13.395 --> 00:21:17.265
in the moment,because it will say,
00:21:17.265 --> 00:21:20.035
Oh, God's forgotten about me.
00:21:20.035 --> 00:21:21.570
God's abandoned me.
00:21:21.570 --> 00:21:22.771
No, he hasn't, I love how,
00:21:22.771 --> 00:21:24.706
when you read Psalm 107
00:21:24.706 --> 00:21:27.609
it reflects on thefaithfulness of God,
00:21:27.609 --> 00:21:30.212
to the nationIsrael and it talks
00:21:30.212 --> 00:21:33.648
about how the Lord delivered
00:21:33.648 --> 00:21:34.983
them from the ofPharaoh, how the Lord
00:21:34.983 --> 00:21:37.452
fed them in thewilderness with manna,
00:21:37.452 --> 00:21:39.654
how the Lord broughtthem through the Red Sea.
00:21:39.654 --> 00:21:41.890
And then the refrainthat is stated over
00:21:41.890 --> 00:21:44.259
and over again is, oh that men
00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:46.294
would praise the Lordfor his goodness.
00:21:46.294 --> 00:21:48.497
And his wonderful worksto the children of men.
00:21:48.497 --> 00:21:51.233
So they wrote itdown, I encourage you
00:21:51.233 --> 00:21:53.435
keep a journal and write down
00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:55.704
how God has answeredyour prayers.
00:21:55.704 --> 00:21:57.839
And then the next time when
00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.840
you're facing that challenge
00:21:58.840 --> 00:22:00.208
reflect back on God'sfaithfulness to you in the past,
00:22:00.208 --> 00:22:03.879
which will remind you.
00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.013
He will also be faithful to you
00:22:05.013 --> 00:22:06.581
in the present and in the future
00:22:06.581 --> 00:22:09.418
because Jesus isthe same yesterday,
00:22:09.418 --> 00:22:12.554
today, and forever.
00:22:12.554 --> 00:22:14.623
See this man's faith was weak
00:22:14.623 --> 00:22:17.192
because he put hiseyes on his problem.
00:22:17.192 --> 00:22:19.928
Instead of putting them on theLord, the same happens to us.
00:22:19.928 --> 00:22:24.666
When we forget God's word to us
00:22:24.666 --> 00:22:27.302
you see the way youbuild your faith is
00:22:27.302 --> 00:22:29.938
by reading the word of God.
00:22:29.938 --> 00:22:31.373
Faith comes byhearing and hearing
00:22:31.373 --> 00:22:33.842
by the word of God,then you apply it.
00:22:33.842 --> 00:22:36.711
So that's why we needto know the scripture
00:22:36.711 --> 00:22:39.014
and memorize this scripture.
00:22:39.014 --> 00:22:41.249
And then Jesus says in verse 23,
00:22:41.249 --> 00:22:43.819
anything is possibleif a person believes.
00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:47.155
A man have faith right now.
00:22:47.155 --> 00:22:48.957
And I love the honestyof this man statement
00:22:48.957 --> 00:22:52.828
in verse 24 withtears in his eyes,
00:22:52.828 --> 00:22:55.831
he says, Lord, I havefaith, help my unbelief.
00:22:55.831 --> 00:23:00.569
That's an honestprayer, isn't it?
00:23:00.569 --> 00:23:03.004
To just say, Lord, I believe
00:23:03.004 --> 00:23:04.573
but my faith is not perfect.
00:23:04.573 --> 00:23:06.908
And I have unbelief at times
00:23:06.908 --> 00:23:09.511
and we all haveunbelief at times,
00:23:09.511 --> 00:23:12.247
we all have lapsesof faith at times
00:23:12.247 --> 00:23:14.749
we all have momentary doubts
00:23:14.749 --> 00:23:17.085
but this man washonest and guess what?
00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:19.321
Jesus met him more than halfway.
00:23:19.321 --> 00:23:22.624
And he answered the man'sprayer and he healed the child.
00:23:22.624 --> 00:23:27.262
Yeah, it would benice if we could stay
00:23:27.262 --> 00:23:29.130
on mountaintops wouldn'tno more problems
00:23:29.130 --> 00:23:32.033
no more troubles, butwe all have to come
00:23:32.033 --> 00:23:34.803
and live in the valley oflife, the reality of life.
00:23:34.803 --> 00:23:39.274
But God will be withus in those times
00:23:39.274 --> 00:23:41.610
because really thosemountaintops are preparing us
00:23:41.610 --> 00:23:45.614
for reality, it'snot necessarily
00:23:45.614 --> 00:23:49.050
more mountaintops we needin the Christian life.
00:23:49.050 --> 00:23:52.387
It's more day-to-day obediencewhere we're walking by faith
00:23:52.387 --> 00:23:56.958
and not by feeling there iscoming a day in the future.
00:23:56.958 --> 00:24:00.996
When there will beno more temptation
00:24:00.996 --> 00:24:03.131
no more devil, nomore suffering.
00:24:03.131 --> 00:24:06.167
And this is sortof a sneak preview
00:24:06.167 --> 00:24:08.303
of things to come butChrist will return
00:24:08.303 --> 00:24:12.507
to this earth andestablish his kingdom.
00:24:12.507 --> 00:24:15.944
Remember when Jesuswas born in that manger
00:24:15.944 --> 00:24:19.047
it was so he could die onthat cross for your sin
00:24:19.047 --> 00:24:22.484
because we're separatedfrom the Lord by our sin.
00:24:22.484 --> 00:24:25.287
Remember Moses andElijah were having
00:24:25.287 --> 00:24:27.722
an in-depth discussionwith Jesus about his death
00:24:27.722 --> 00:24:31.993
and why that was so important.
00:24:31.993 --> 00:24:33.695
And they were encouraging him.
00:24:33.695 --> 00:24:35.530
No doubt on thatday for him to go
00:24:35.530 --> 00:24:38.767
through with this
00:24:38.767 --> 00:24:40.268
think how hard it was forJesus to take the cross
00:24:40.268 --> 00:24:43.638
and carry it to thestreets of Jerusalem.
00:24:43.638 --> 00:24:45.874
After he had alreadyhad his back ripped open
00:24:45.874 --> 00:24:48.243
with a Roman whip andeven more think how hard
00:24:48.243 --> 00:24:51.346
it was for Jesus bear,all the sins of the world.
00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:55.317
See that is what hewas contemplating
00:24:55.317 --> 00:24:57.385
in the Garden ofGethsemane being God.
00:24:57.385 --> 00:25:00.655
He knew what was ahead.
00:25:00.655 --> 00:25:02.257
He knew he would have todig all the corruption
00:25:02.257 --> 00:25:05.060
all the sin upon himself,and he did not wanna do it.
00:25:05.060 --> 00:25:08.830
And that is why he said tothe father, if it is possible
00:25:08.830 --> 00:25:12.100
let this cup pass from me.
00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:14.002
Nevertheless, not my will, butyours be done, but he did it.
00:25:14.002 --> 00:25:18.373
He went on with it andhe accomplished it.
00:25:18.373 --> 00:25:21.910
It died on that cross
00:25:21.910 --> 00:25:23.144
for your sin and Roseagain from the dead.
00:25:23.144 --> 00:25:25.647
Thanks for watchingour TV program.
00:25:25.647 --> 00:25:29.117
And I wonder if you yourselfhave accepted Jesus Christ.
00:25:29.117 --> 00:25:33.388
You know, a lot oftimes people tune
00:25:33.388 --> 00:25:34.689
into programs likethis weren't believers
00:25:34.689 --> 00:25:36.958
and that kind ofchecking it out.
00:25:36.958 --> 00:25:38.426
Maybe you're laughingat it at first.
00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:40.729
Maybe you think it's not real
00:25:40.729 --> 00:25:42.998
but something that's happened.
00:25:42.998 --> 00:25:44.199
And maybe somethingthat's been said
00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:46.868
you've suddenly discoveredyou need Jesus Christ.
00:25:46.868 --> 00:25:49.671
You know, the day I acceptedJesus, let me tell you.
00:25:49.671 --> 00:25:52.607
It was the last thingI planned on doing.
00:25:52.607 --> 00:25:55.243
I didn't plan on becominga Christian that day
00:25:55.243 --> 00:25:57.846
but that was the day thatwas appointed any eternity
00:25:57.846 --> 00:26:01.650
for me to believe in Jesus.
00:26:01.650 --> 00:26:03.318
I wonder if this isnot that day for you.
00:26:03.318 --> 00:26:06.755
You've been eavesdropping.
00:26:06.755 --> 00:26:08.289
You've been checking it out,but now God's speaking right
00:26:08.289 --> 00:26:10.325
to your heart and you realizeyou need Jesus Christ.
00:26:10.325 --> 00:26:13.194
Would you like to haveyour sin forgiven?
00:26:13.194 --> 00:26:16.031
Would you like asecond chance in life?
00:26:16.031 --> 00:26:18.299
Would you like to goto heaven when you die?
00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:20.602
Would you likeyour guilt removed?
00:26:20.602 --> 00:26:22.704
Let's send, it can all happenbecause Jesus Christ went
00:26:22.704 --> 00:26:26.007
to a cross and died foryour sin and then rose again
00:26:26.007 --> 00:26:29.511
three days later and he'll come
00:26:29.511 --> 00:26:30.945
into your life rightnow and be your savior
00:26:30.945 --> 00:26:33.448
and your Lord and the bestfriend you've ever had.
00:26:33.448 --> 00:26:36.484
Let's pray together.
00:26:36.484 --> 00:26:37.786
Pray this after me, Lord Jesus.
00:26:37.786 --> 00:26:41.189
I know that I'm a sinner
00:26:41.189 --> 00:26:43.091
but I believe you diedon the cross for my sin.
00:26:43.091 --> 00:26:46.327
And I'm sorry for that sin.
00:26:46.327 --> 00:26:48.363
And I turned from it now
00:26:48.363 --> 00:26:50.265
and I asked you to come intomy life and be my savior
00:26:50.265 --> 00:26:53.735
and be my Lord and bemy God, be my friend.
00:26:53.735 --> 00:26:58.273
I choose to follow you
00:26:58.273 --> 00:26:59.507
from this moment forwardin Jesus name I pray.
00:26:59.507 --> 00:27:03.712
Amen, if you just prayed thatprayer I want you to know
00:27:03.712 --> 00:27:06.815
on the authority of God's word
00:27:06.815 --> 00:27:08.983
that Christ himself hascome to live inside of you.
00:27:08.983 --> 00:27:11.953
The Bible says thesethings we write
00:27:11.953 --> 00:27:13.588
to you that believe inthe name of the son of God
00:27:13.588 --> 00:27:16.191
that you may know thatyou have eternal life.
00:27:16.191 --> 00:27:19.360
But let me say God bless youand welcome to God's family.
00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:23.598
♪ This is the day
00:27:23.598 --> 00:27:25.700
♪ The day when life begins
00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:29.010

Video Keywords

Greg Laurie

Menu Top

Only Jesus

Only Jesus

Video Keywords

Stay Up to Date With Our Newsletter