Today’s message summary of April 23, 2017 from Pastor Gus Brown:
The world we live in tries to captivate you as to what it wants you to see. The movies, the news, the rallies all want to convey something for you to see. With all of this, recognize that Jesus wants you to see Him through it all.
God will guard your heart in order for you to see what He knows that you are to see. We are easily distracted by the matters of life, and as a result, the main purpose of focusing on Jesus Christ. Focusing on Him and giving the matters of your life to Him will show you that He is there to take care of all of those things.
We can be easily distracted. One of Jesus’ disciples was that way. When Jesus was arrested, the other disciples reacted to what was happening by fleeing, as well.
What you are to see in all of this is that Jesus taught them that there will be distractions:
Matthew 16:21 (NIV)
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
God brings you along one step at a time to allow for progression, but He does not allow you to know more than what is necessary. With his disciples, He held back information until it was time for them to know and understand what would happen. He relayed to them that He would remain present with them.
In another statement, Jesus told the disciples a little more about what would happen:
Matthew 17:22-23 (NIV)
When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
He once again reminds them that he will die but will be raised–come forth from the grave.
Matthew 20:17-19 NIV
Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!
Here was a little more information, but note the emphasis in all statements that “he will be raised to life!”
Matthew 26:21 (NIV)
And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
Now the word of betrayal comes back to where the disciples were. Note that we betray Him when we don’t follow Him or teach our children the Word. It happens more that we would care to admit.
Jesus was questioned around the table, “Surely not I, Lord? (Matthew 26:22)”
He never publicly states who will betray him (never uses the name Judas). He knows who he is, but the others do not know.
John 13:18-19
I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats My bread has raised his heel against Me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
Only by the grace of God are you able to overcome the flesh, and all temptation, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable–who can understand it? I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.
John 2:24-25
Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for He Himself knew what was in man.
In time, God will always show you what you have need of. Don’t rush Him or have Him share something that you’re not ready for or even equipped to hear. He knows how much you can bear and He protects your heart.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 