26-0125p - Detailed Summary

Mike connects the scripture reading to the morning lesson on respecting Christ’s authority, reminding the audience that Jesus spoke with remarkable authority, astonishing the people. The morning message highlighted Christ’s demonstrated power over nature, demons, and through his healing touch, as well as his ability to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. These examples illustrated the tangible exercise of his divine authority during his earthly ministry.

Mike transitions to John 12:48-50, reading the passage where Jesus declares that whoever rejects him and his words will be judged by those very words on the last day. Jesus emphasizes that he has not spoken on his own authority; rather, the Father who sent him commanded what he should say and speak. He affirms that this command leads to everlasting life, and thus he speaks exactly as the Father directed. Mike recalls an introduction from the morning about a man who dismissed Jesus' teachings as mere "opinion" when confronted with them by a brother. In contrast, Jesus consistently stated throughout his ministry that he came to do the Father’s will, underscoring that his words and actions were not his own but divinely directed.

Although the Gospels record only a portion of what Jesus said and did, everything he spoke carried absolute truth and came directly from the Father’s command, not personal opinion. Mike stresses the sobering reality from John 12 that rejecting Jesus' words means facing judgment by them in the last day. He ties this back to Matthew 28:18, affirming that Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, meaning no one can dismiss his teachings without facing eternal consequences. Mike reviews the evidences of Christ’s authority seen in his miracles, demon expulsions, forgiveness of sins, and ultimately his fulfillment of the Father’s will through his death on the cross, burial, and resurrection. Even on the cross, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those crucifying him, demonstrating his enduring authority to forgive sins, which he continues to hold today.

Christ did not seize this authority; it was given to him by the Father after his obedience, including going to the cross. Therefore, people must listen to and accept what he says rather than attempting to correct or dismiss his teachings. Mike revisits the earlier anecdote about the man who called Jesus' words "his opinion," countering that Jesus explicitly stated the Father commanded his speech. He warns against the tendency to dislike certain teachings and change them, as seen in the historical emergence of denominations where people altered biblical instructions to suit preferences. To reinforce obedience, Mike reads John 14:23-24, where Jesus teaches that loving him means keeping his word, resulting in the Father and Son making their abode with the believer. Conversely, failing to keep his words reveals a lack of love for him. Importantly, Jesus reiterates that the words heard are not his own but the Father’s who sent him, making love for Christ inseparable from obedience to these divine commands.

Mike addresses the common practice of some who claim to follow only "the red letters" (Jesus' direct words in certain Bibles), illustrating the limitation of this view. He reads John 15:26-27, where Jesus promises the Helper—the Spirit of truth—who will come from the Father (sent by Jesus) to testify of him. The disciples, having been with Jesus from the beginning, will also bear witness. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and will guide the apostles, testifying about Jesus and his teachings. This guidance ensures that the Spirit’s work continues the revelation of Christ’s will beyond the Gospels themselves.

Mike explains that the books from Acts through Revelation were written under the Holy Spirit’s direction, as the Spirit testified of Christ. He cites 2 Peter 1:20-21, noting that no prophecy of Scripture arises from private interpretation or human will; instead, holy men of God spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit. Mike also references 2 Peter 3:15-16, where Peter acknowledges Paul’s epistles as Scripture, even though some parts are hard to understand and are twisted by the unstable to their destruction, just like other Scriptures. This confirms that Paul’s letters, Peter’s writings, and the Gospel accounts all fall under the same Holy Spirit inspiration as the Old Testament. The entire New Testament, therefore, reflects what Christ wants believers to know, conveyed through the Spirit of truth who testifies of him, making the color of the ink irrelevant—only the content matters.

In conclusion, Mike emphasizes that the words recorded in the New Testament, guided by the Holy Spirit, represent Christ’s authoritative will for his followers. He extends the invitation, urging anyone needing to dedicate or rededicate their life to Christ—through belief in him, repentance, confession, baptism for the remission of sins, and faithful living—to respond. He invites those needing the prayers of the church for any reason to come forward as well. The sermon closes by calling the congregation to respect Christ’s authority by obeying what he commands, followed by the singing of the invitation song.