Questions That Will Change Your Life #1

April 25, 2010 MW Stockwell Road MBC
“QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE” series #1/6

QUESTION OF IDENTIFICATION
Matthew 16:13-17

INTRODUCTION:
A. I was always told that there is no such thing as a dumb question, the only dumb questions are the ones that go unasked. We learn by asking questions. Unfortunately some questions are not answerable. The Boston Globe ran the top ten unanswerable questions and here was one of them, “I am nine years of age and have a cat that eats regularly and needs to go on a diet. He also eats mice when he is out. How many calories in a mouse?" Unfortunately, many questions that are asked are answered incorrectly. From time to time Jesus posed questions to His disciples, not because he didn’t already know the answer but because He wanted them to know the answer! The questions in this series, if answered incorrectly, will have great spiritual consequences.

B. Jesus and the disciples are around 120 miles north of Jerusalem in Caesarea Philippi which was a center of pagan religion. This was a beautiful area that was steeped in pagan religion. In ancient time, the city had been called “Balinas”, because it had been a center of Baal worship. Baal was the Phoenician god of fertility and nature. Later, the name was changed to “Panias”, because the Greeks believed that their god Pan was born in a cave in the hills above the city, at the foot of Mount Hermon. Pan was a half-goat, half-man god who was believed to be the guardian of flocks and nature. In fact, the modern name of this ancient city is “Banias”, which is a form of “Panias”. This region had so many different gods and deities it served as a perfect backdrop for Jesus’ question of identification, “but whom say ye that I am?”

C. Jesus used this tragic backdrop of paganism and false worship to cause his men to think about the most vital issue of life. That issue is, “Who is Jesus to you?” This question of identification is one that every man, saved and lost alike, must answer. If you don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior then the answer to the question determines Heaven or Hell for all of eternity. If you are saved then this question is important in determining who is Lord in your life, you or Jesus. This morning we all need to ponder the matter of lordship: who is running your life? Who makes all of your decisions? If you are the one running the show I want to ask you, “How is that working out for ya?” I know me and left to myself to make my decisions I would put me in a mess. However, when we allow Jesus to be Lord in EVERY area we will find the blessed life, Jesus has for us!

D. How will you answer THE ? OF IDENTIFICATION ?

BODY:
I. A RECURRING QUESTION (vs. 13-14)
Note: Jesus begins by asking the disciples of what the popular opinions were concerning His identity. The crowds have had opinions for centuries and this question continues to recur every day. People have always had opinions concerning Jesus! They offered 4 theories concerning who Jesus was…
A. John the Baptist—Because of His Preaching
B. Elijah—Because of His Prayers
C. Jeremiah—Because of His Passion
D. One of the Prophets—Because of His Prophecies

II. A RELEVANT QUESTION (vs. 15-16, Phil. 2:10-11)
Note: Jesus now narrows the question and makes it a more relevant issue. It doesn’t matter what anybody else says YOU must answer this question and you will answer this question. You can delay and dodge but there will come a day of answer. When you boil everything down you can only come to a few logical answers. Which one do you think is correct.
A. He Was a Legend
--completely made up and he never existed. The Bible is full of fairy tails! Impossible to hold this position!

B. He Was a Liar
--a deceiver who made people believe he was something he wasn’t! He lived a lie a pathological liar…not good!

C. He Was a Lunatic
--He was out of his mind to make such claims! Look what the people said…words of wisdom not insanity!

D. He is Lord Phil. 2:10-11
--This will be PROCLAIMED one day!

III. A REVEALED QUESTION (vs. 17, Romans 10:17, John 15:26)
Note: How does one come to this logical personal decision about the identity of Jesus Christ? Notice Jesus’ response to Peter’s declaration! Not by flesh and blood or man’s words and philosophies! This is unveiled to us in two ways!
A. The Revelation of the Word of God

B. The Revelation of the Work of the Spirit

CONCLUSION:
In the end, it does not matter what the public opinion is of Jesus, it your personal answer that really matters.