Introduction:
People say many things about who Jesus is to them, and they have all together one thing in common, that Jesus is what they want him to be in their life. Here we have the privilege to hear this private conference which Jesus Christ, had with his disciples concerning himself. It was held in the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, on the utmost borders of the land of Canaan northward. There in a remote corner, perhaps, there was less flocking after him than in other places, which gave him the time for this private conversation with his disciples. Are you with me? Note, that Christ is here meeting with his disciples. As He’s teaching them, He asked them a question.
In putting this question about himself, our Lord made a distinction between two classes of people, the (world) and the (saints). “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man am?” These “men” that the disciples talked to, formed their opinion, their judgment of Jesus Christ according to their flesh and blood:
Listen to their conclusions: “Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” A multiform of errors, of options was spoken of, but truth is one. A thousand lies will live together, and they will tolerate each other. In other words, a thousand false gods will stand together in the same place, but if the ark of the true God enters Dagon’s temple, Dagon must come down on his face and be dashed to pieces. Why, because “Jehovah” is God alone, He will not accept a rival. “What does Christ have in common with Belial?” Nothing, absolutely nothing, men thinks so little of Christ, but his disciples think so much of him!
Even in today time, some say as they did then:
• “He is a good man,” others say, “Nay; but he deceive the people.”
• Some say that he is divine, though not actually God.
• Others say that he has become God, though he was not always so.
A third of the company think of him as a divine man. Some agree that his teachings were admirable for the occasions on which he delivered them, but they are somewhat stale and outdated in this advanced age, while others ridicule his teachings as altogether impracticable. The doctrine of flesh and blood concerning Jesus as far as they are concern. So that brings me to my first point.
I. Who Is He, And Who Is He To You?
Some say, He is a luxury and not a necessity. They say;
• It would be nice to join a church and become a child of God, but I don’t have to right now. (Everything is fine, everything’s alright)
• It would be nice to have some of this power of God, but it’s not a necessity, it’s not on my priority list right now. (I got all the power I need, I can do everything for myself)
• It would be nice to have a Christian family, a Bible believing church, but it’s a luxury that I don’t have time for right now. (I need my money, I need my career, I don’t need God right now)
Well let me tell you something:
• When your children are in jail and on death row, say He’s just a luxury!
• You walk down the hospital hallway with your unmarried teenage daughter about to give birth out of wedlock, say He’s just a luxury!
• When you uncover drugs from your child pockets when you wash their cloths, say He’s just a luxury!
• When you watch your kids get married outside the will of God time after time again, (3 or 4 times), like other people do, say He was just a luxury! You don’t have time for Him, you don’t need Him right now, until something happens in your life. Then it will be too late, to late to recover from all those years you thought Jesus Christ was just a luxury!
But there hope! I heard Him say, even thro we left him, He said that; “I will never leave you nor will I forsake you”. He said; “I would be with you even until the end of the world”.
II. Who Is He, And What Is He To You? And you may ask, why is he asking that, I’m glad you ask me, because;
* Some say, God is like a spare tire. They only use him in case of emergencies. This kind of belief is like the spare tire, you know, the worst one on the car. You know what I mean, you put it on and off at will. If this is all you think of about him, you better change it fast, because you won’t get far like that!
* Some say, God is like a disaster relief plan.
• Oh you know them, when their family broken up, and all hell brakes up in your life, then they turn to God!
• When their homes burn down and they lost everything, they say they brought, then they turn to God!
• When you get laid off your job and don’t know where your next meal gone come from, or how you gone pay the bills, then they turn to God!
• When there is sickness in your body and the doctor said you never got well again, or the death angle fall on their family, then they turn to God!
Why, why do we have to wait for a tragedy to strike before we need God. That’s when we believe and turn to God, but why? Because he’s your disaster relief plan, but serving God is much, much more than that. But that’s what we do when we have no other option!
Job offered sacrifice and praises while the sun was shining and when he was in the storm! Will you? Jesus keep telling you that He loves you, and we keep turning our backs on him. Who Is He, And What is He to you?
* Some say, God is like a Santa Claus, who understands sin without concern. God does not overlook our sins.
He doesn’t reward us with a basket of toys in spite of our misbehavior!
He judged sin ultimately in his own Son, and if you will not accept that sacrifice, there is no hope for us to escape the wrath of God! So I ask you again, what is He to you?
Then after you have told me;
• Who is He to you!
• What is He to you!
• Why you should accept Him!
III. Who Is He, And Why you should accept Him! (For Access!)
He has gifts for you, isn’t that just like a Father. But you must find Him well he can be find, let me tell you a secret, He’s even closer then your own heartbeat. All you have to do is what Rom. 10:9 say; (That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved).
Then He will give you something, things like what? Something like Access!
Access to what you may ask? Access to whatever you may need from me.
• Access to the Father!
• Access to Him!
• Access to Blessing!
• Access to Healings!
• Access to Finances!
• Access to the Kingdom of God!
Whatever you need God’s got it! He’ll even give you the keys to heaven, Oh you don’t believe me, Matt. 16:19a say; (And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven).
Who Is He, And What Is He To You!
In Closing:
On Mars Hill there was a statue erected to the unknown God; Paul declared him unto the people. If He were to show himself to you today;
• Would you recognize Jesus?
• Would you know Him for yourself?
• Do you want to know him?
• Would you really like to know him personally?
Then draw nigh to Him, come to Jesus, because he already knows you need him. Why set there in the same position that you are always in, just wondering if your life will get better. When you can come to Jesus right now, and know that your life will never be the same again. Why don’t you come to Jesus, while you still have time.
AMEN!
