A Strike At His Identity Series

THREE STRIKES AND HE’S OUT!

A STRIKE AT HIS IDENTITY

EASTER SERIES – 2003

Luke 9:18-27,Matt 16:21-23

INTRODUCTION: Baseball games are wonderful pass-time events. The excitement is sudden, the hot dogs tastes better (even at prices that stop your heart), and there is probably no other sport which so captures the American culture.

Ya gotta love the pitchers, especially when one is in the middle of a no-hitter. He has successfully tossed the ball in such a way that each and every batter at the plate has been unsuccessful in either making contact with the ball or making it safely to a base after contact.

As we approach this Easter season, there is the distinct possibility that we too may be swinging and missing. Not a bat missing a ball, but our lives missing eternity. Jesus spoke on at least three different occasions about His death. He has given us three strikes, three opportunities to see, and understand His true purpose. Why He came, and what He hopes to accomplish. This is the focus of our Easter series this year. You are invited to come along…..

I JESUS ON THE MOUND – LUKE 9:18-21

A A note about prayer

1 Prayer is important before momentous events

2 Prayer is important for the insight of others

3 Prayer is important for our strength to persevere

JESUS IS ON THE MOUND READY TO THROW A “PITCH” HE HOPES WE WILL HIT!

B “Who am I really”

1 Most people believed the time of prophets had ended. Identification as a prophet was a RADICAL idea

a The popular belief of the people may not be the correct belief.

1) Jesus is more than just the greatest of men

b The popular opinion of the people may not be correct

1) Jesus was far more than John the Baptist

2) Jesus was far more than Elijah

3) Jesus was far more than a prophet of old (as radical as that was!)

c What was popular then is popular now

1) Jesus is a great guy

2) Jesus is a great teacher

3) Jesus revealed a lot of important things

4) We can learn a lot by studying the life of Jesus

A FALSE BELIEF THEN OR NOW IS STILL A FALSE BELIEF!

2 The disciples believed differently

a Identified Jesus as the Messiah

b Had incorrect idea of His purpose

c Had an incorrect idea of their future

d The problem with incomplete knowledge

1) Incomplete knowledge of Christ is an instrument of the devil

a) Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

2) Incomplete knowledge only gives us part of the message

a) Luke 9:21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

b) Necessary to proclaim Jesus in light of his DEATH AND RESURRECTION!

(1) Luke 9:22 – Must mean necessary

c) When Jesus speaks of His death He also speaks of His resurrection

II JESUS THROWS THE PITCH – LUKE 9:20 … “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

A The answer is forceful – (you are) The Christ of God

B The answer is profound – (you are) The Christ{the anointed one} of God

1 You have a deliberate mission from God

2 You are qualified for the mission by God

C The answer is personal

1 Jesus asked, “Who do YOU say”

a Our response to Christ MUST be personal

b The only we can attain salvation is personally

c We cannot receive salvation on the coattails of another

WE DO NOT GET SAVED IN A LANDSLIDE – WE’RE TALKING ETERNITY NOT POLITICS!

D The answer determines a mans salvation

III JESUS IS LOOKING FOR A HIT

A Jesus is looking for those who will follow Him

B The cost of discipleship

1 Denying myself

a There is the tendency to indulge ourselves – Always looking for the best deal with the lowest cost

2 Carry the cross

a Cross was a violent form of execution

b Carrying your cross through the city was a symbolic statement

1) The empire was right in its punishment

2) The empire was right and the individual was wrong

3) We are being asked to declare that we were wrong and that Jesus was right!

3 Follow the Lord

a The consequence of not following is loss

1) To forfeit yourself – “to lose what is greatest”

2) Men want what they cannot attain

3) Striving for what we cannot have causes us to lose what is really important

b We do not want to be measured by our convictions, but our accomplishments!

WE LOSE WHEN WE SETTLE FOR WHAT WE WANT RATHER THAN WHAT WE CAN HAVE!

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