You're a Disciple ... Watch Out!

So I've got a story to start off with, and that is that my boys were showing great interest in football all of a sudden.

They wanted to play all the time, they'd play in the backyard, and so Bridget started doing some due diligence of finding some leagues for us to play in.

And so she she kind of showed me what she found and she basically said, Hey, I think we should sign them up for this i-9 sports.

And we went with i-9 sports because for me, it is like the low, lowest, like least pressure on the kids.

It's like it's fun, it's for the kids to have like enjoy it, to learn some things, but it's like low pressure, and that's what I wanted because I did not want to get in a fight with the family, with the parent, because a six-year-old dropped a football and they thought it ruined their chance of them joining the NFL.

I mean, so I was like, that's what I want.

And so my kids are learning football, and so we were there a couple of weeks ago, and the coach has all the players there.

I walk up, and the coach says, All right, kids, I've got a very important question for you.

Who wants to be running back?

And none of the kids did anything, but Mitchell.

And Mitchell's like, Oh, me, me, me, me, me.

I pick me.

I want to be running back.

I want to be running back.

So the coach says, All right, Mitchell, do you want to be running back?

He said, Yes.

What does it even mean?

What does it even mean?

So today's the title of the message is You Are a Disciple, Watch Out.

Because I think there are times when we looked back and all of a sudden a pastor said, Do you want to follow Jesus?

And we said, Yes! I want to follow Jesus.

What does it mean?

We had that moment of like, wait a second, now what?

What am I doing now?

And I'm sharing that because there are some certain pressures, spiritual pressures that we experience, and we are all disciples that believe in Jesus.

And when we believe in Jesus, there are some spiritual pressures that come up against us, and that's what we will talk about today.

So, in doing so, we're going to look at Judas, Peter, and then the story of Mary when Mary anointed Jesus' feet.

And so we'll explore those three areas.

And in the Bible, there's not a ton of information on Judas.

Judas is one of the 12 disciples, and it's always referred to as Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus.

And we can look at that and be like, oh, what it was Judas thinking, like, Jesus?

He betrayed Jesus?

How did he come on?

And we can look down and be like, what was what was going on with Judas?

That he had to go mess everything up.

And so we we can look at him like that, of like, what was going on?

And so there's actually been several like fictional books on Judas, of like what was going on in the psyche of Judas?

What was going on in this mind, in this heart, what was happening and all of that.

And I think there's this passage that actually pulls back the curtains and let us see kind of what was going on with Judas.

And so that's what we will explore today.

And so we are going to be looking in Matthew, uh, I'm sorry, John 12 and in Matthew 26.

So if you want to be ready, you can be ready for Matthew 26.

But we'll start in John 12.

And the first point is letting Satan in.

Judas let Satan in to his heart.

And so we will explore that.

Judas, I mean John 12, starting uh verse 1, it says, Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was was where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he, being Jesus, had raised him from the dead.

There they made him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of Spicenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair.

And the house was filled with the fragrance of oil.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray him, said, Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?

This specific story is told in Matthew, Mark, a little bit in Luke, and then in John.

So we're going to kind of go through a couple of them to see how they thread together because each one of them gives some unique details.

Mark 14 actually says, and he criticized her sharply.

And talking about how Judas criticized her sharply for anointing her feet.

Picking up the story in Matthew 26 says, But when Jesus was aware of it, he said to them, Why do you why do you trouble the woman?

For she has done a good work for me.

For you have the poor with you always, but me you do not have always.

For in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it for my burial.

Assuredly I say to you, whenever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.

So basically, let me give you what's happening in the story.

Lazarus dies.

Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave.

They're having a nice dinner now with Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Marsa.

And they're gathered around.

Think about like just amazing conversations that you would have with Lazarus right after he'd been raised from the dead.

I mean, you come up with some pretty fun questions for him.

So then you're sitting there and you're talking to him.

And then Mary, think about how she's so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy and excitement eating with her brother.

So she goes and gets one pound special oil of spike nard and anoints Jesus' feet.

Judas sits there and thinks, why is she doing that?

Think of all of the good that she could do with that.

You know what?

I better go tell her.

And then Jesus will probably tell me what a great disciple I am and how incredible I am, and just like, thank you, Judas.

It's about time somebody told Mary this.

So then Mary gets uh Judas goes over and starts harshly criticizing Mary.

Harshly, getting onto her, and starts putting a guilt trip on her.

Then Jesus says, Judas, what are you doing?

Why are you getting onto her when you're in the wrong?

She's right, you're wrong, she's doing something that's great, and you're being a jerk.

And not only that, this story will now be told throughout the whole world for the rest of all of time.

This story will be told.

That's probably how Judas heard it.

Judas heard, like, here I am trying to help you, God, help you, Jesus, and now you're going to get onto me, and I'm going to get spanked in front of everybody here?

Right?

That's what's happening.

So then Judas could imagine that the hurt that he might have felt in that moment.

And suddenly he goes.

And let me read the next scripture.

It says, Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priest, and said, What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?

And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

So from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

From what time?

From that time.

So one of the most key, influential words, I believe, in this scripture is actually the first word, it's then.

It's the Greek word tate, and it means at that time, in that moment.

So here you have Jesus getting onto him in front of everyone.

And what happens?

In that moment.

Not then some time passed, then something happened.

In that specific moment, Judas went out looking to betray Jesus.

He goes out, what happened?

I think in that moment, he got his feelings hurt.

He got his he it hurt him when that happened.

Luke 22, verse 3 says, Then, in that moment, Satan entered Judas.

Luke 22:3

In that moment, Judas comes from the word Judah, which means praise of the Lord.

Judah was meant to be one that praises the Lord.

Yet he becomes the one that betrays Jesus.

What happened?

I believe in offense sat down in it, set in his heart, and he allowed that to rule his heart in that moment.

That there's an offense there.

We have to be careful about.

I think Judas had had that moment of like a kid that's just like, oh fine, I'll show you.

I'm gonna run away or something.

He got mad.

So Parker, whenever he was toddler stage, he would just two things he hated.

He hated to be told no, and he hated to be corrected.

And I remember there would be times in a grocery store or something, he would ask for something.

And all of a sudden we're like, no, Parker, you can't have that.

We're saying that for his good, oftentimes.

And then he would just, this would be his response, drop to his knees and start slamming his head on the concrete immediately.

And we'd have to run and sweep him up and pick him up to stop him.

Because we're like, no, no, stop doing that.

But I think he had that.

You know what?

I'll show you.

If I'm if I'm interpreting in his little mind, I think he thought, well, if you don't love me enough to give me this, I'll show you.

I'll get you.

And that's what I think Judas did.

I think he Jesus corrected him for his own good, and he had that moment.

Well, I'll show you.

I'll get you.

That's it.

I'm just gonna go tell them that they they will give me money for you.

When um years ago I started working here at Gateway and I was on the facilities and maintenance team.

And it was in one of our previous buildings, I was cleaning a build, I was cleaning the building, but there was my job to set up the rooms before events happened.

And so I had this little piece of paper that would guide me in how to set the room up, and I nailed it.

It was really good.

I mean, chairs were measured out perfect, it was awesome.

And then somebody came in, they looked at the room, and it wasn't what they had wanted, even though the paper said differently.

And then all of a sudden they came and they started getting on to me, just harshly criticizing me like Judas did, harshly criticizing me.

And then they walked over, they go back in the room, and somebody said, Hey, you know who that maintenance guy in the that that's Pastor Robert's son.

They came back as this beautiful angel.

Hey, I just I want to tell you I love you and what a good job you're doing, and I just think everything amazing is just it's awesome.

And I thought, no, I saw your true colors.

You can't do that.

Stop that.

Well, guess what?

An offense settled into my heart.

And then I'm walking around with an offense, and God has to come knocking on my door and say, Isn't it something that when you make a mistake, you want everybody to give you grace?

You want everybody else to have understanding you had a hard day, but as soon as somebody else does, well, how could they?

Why did they do that?

It's time to forgive, James.

It's time to let it go.

It's time to forgive.

And God walked me through that.

So point number one is letting Satan out.

Point number two is keeping Satan out.

And for this, we we're gonna look at Peter.

So Peter's one of the disciples.

Peter is like the captain, foot in the mouth.

He is always open mouth, insert foot, constantly.

And at one point, Jesus actually says to Peter, get behind me, Satan.

Could you imagine if somebody that you love say, get behind me, Satan?

Like, a little harsh, don't you think?

Lay off.

Right?

Get behind me, Satan.

So Jesus says to Peter, get behind me, Satan.

Peter's always messing up, always kind of saying something he shouldn't say, and Jesus is always correcting him.

But we're gonna look at this and how Peter did not allow the offense to set into his heart.

Let's look at an example.

Matthew 26, verse 31.

Matthew 26:31

It says, Then Jesus said to them, this is right before Jesus uh goes off and is betrayed and everything.

Then Jesus said to them, All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night.

For it is written, so basically Jesus like, listen, you're all going to stumble because it's the Bible.

And he says, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

The Bible says so.

But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.

That word Galilee, just remember, put that in your back pocket to remember for later.

We're gonna go back to that.

Peter answered and said, I don't care that the Bible says that, not quite, but says, even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.

Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

Peter said to him, Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.

Translation, open mouth, insert foot.

Just happened.

In this same story, when Luke tells it, it says, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.

And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.

I want to point out Satan attempted to pursue both Judas' heart and Peter's heart.

If we are followers of Christ, the enemy will come after our heart.

Because we are designed to change the world for God's sake, and that is the last thing he wants.

And so this is a reminder guard your heart.

I want to show another time that Peter, foot in the mouth, and this is in John 18, verse 10.

John 18:10

And this is right after Judas betrayed Jesus, then the guards, the sold the soldiers come to get Jesus, and this is what happens.

It says, Then Simon Peter, having a sword, while the guards are there, having a sword, drew it, instruct the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.

The servant's name was Malchus.

So Jesus said to Peter, Can I not take you anywhere, nice?

You're always messing things up.

Not quite, a little bit different.

It says, Put your sword into your sheath.

Shall I not drink the cup which my father has given me?

Listen, Peter, I've been talking over and over and over about this cup that I need to drink for my father.

Please stop getting in the way.

Stop messing that up.

He's getting in the way.

He continues to mess up.

He continues to do the wrong thing.

I continue to mess up in life.

We all continue to mess up in life.

But are we going to allow that to taint us, to mess up our heart to where it is not pure?

In Matthew 10, verse 16, it says, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Matthew 10:16

Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as dove.

I used to wonder, now, why do I have to be wise as a snake?

You know, sometimes whenever the Bible refers to an animal, it's talking about a characteristic of the animal, not necessarily that we are supposed to be like snakes.

And so if somebody is referring to my eating style and calling me a pig, it's because I'm probably overeating.

It's a characteristic of the animal.

I don't actually like get on all fours to eat, okay?

I'm not like an actual pig at times.

I can't overeat, though.

So what the Bible is saying here is there's a characteristic.

This word serpent is the word ophis, which means to have a sharpness of vision.

God is telling us to be wise as a snake, which means to have a sharpness of vision.

We are to have a sharpness of vision spiritually, with spiritual eyes, so that we may have a sharpness of vision to see the schemes of the enemy.

Then be harmless as dove.

Well, that word harmless means to be innocent, pure, without a mixture of evil, free from guile and innocent.

We are to be innocent, pure.

That's what Peter did.

Yes, he messed up.

Yes, he said things he shouldn't have said, but he kept his heart pure and he was diligent to do that.

That's our job.

We are to be wise as serpents with the spiritual eyes.

We are to be harmless as dove, free, set apart from evil.

And that keeps us with a pure heart.

So Bridget and I, whenever we first got married, uh you could call me a penny pincher.

Um frugal is a nicer word to use.

And so when we got married, Bridget was on board right there with me, though.

And so we were uh frugal.

And we didn't have TV, we didn't have any luck, like set-aside luxuries, we never went and really watched a movie in the theaters or anything like that.

And so we decide seven years later into our marriage, let's go to a movie theater.

Watch a movie.

That sounds fun.

So we just go to what's was playing, and it was either like Jurassic Park or Jurassic World.

Here's the thing.

If you were there, I'm sorry.

We mess it up for you.

Because there were two things that you would have thought you would have really believed about Bridget and I.

First is you would think that we believe this is a true story.

Secondly, you would believe that we thought we were actually there in Jurassic World.

Because a dinosaur would jump out and we'd be freaking out.

It was crazy.

These dinosaurs coming out of the everywhere.

We were blown away by the sound, everything.

Here's what I realized.

For so long we were away from that that we had basically, before when we were watching movies, we had basically become desensitized.

But now that we've gone so long, we've actually become overly sensitized.

Sometimes we can be like Judas and become so jaded, so offended, so desensitized because we have an offense that we're actually missing what God's trying to do in our life.

We're actually not even able to be sensitized to the things that the Lord's doing right there around us.

So we must be careful that we do not become so jaded that we're desensitized to the Lord.

So the you keep Satan out by keeping offenses out and keep a pure heart.

So point number one was letting Satan in.

And Satan comes in when you leave an open offense in your life.

Point number two is keeping Satan out.

You keep Satan out by keeping offenses out and a pure heart.

So now, point number three, kicking Satan out.

And we are going to talk about kicking Satan out because some of us may have an offense, like I did.

Where we have this open offense in the heart, and it's time to say no more to the enemy.

The enemy may be using that against us.

So, this is Mark 16, verse 7.

Mark 16:7

This is right after Jesus had been raised from the grave, then the ladies go to see the tomb, and he wasn't there, but there was an angel of the Lord there.

And this is what it says it says, but go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to into Galilee.

Listen, that's what I said to hang on to.

Way before Jesus even died, he said, I'm going to die, I'm going to come back alive, I'm going to go to Galilee.

Go to Galilee.

They should have all already been at Galilee, but they're not.

But the angel of the Lord says, Go to Galilee.

Like he said, remember.

So, but go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee.

There you will see him as he said to you.

So I'm thinking about it.

Why does it say go tell the disciples and Peter?

Wouldn't Peter have just automatically been included into the disciples?

Why did he have to say and Peter?

I believe Peter was feeling pretty bad after denying the Lord three times.

And I think God's saying to him, Go tell Peter.

I'm waiting for him.

I'm there.

No matter how bad we've messed up, no matter how bad it looks, come on.

I'm there.

I'm waiting for you at Galilee.

Just come on.

No matter what's happened, no matter how many times you've denied me, come on.

I'm there for you.

Just keep on coming, Peter.

Don't let that get in the way.

I'm here for you.

That's what God is telling us.

Doesn't matter.

Just come.

Just come.

Humbly submit yourself before the Lord and come to him.

John 20.

Uh, we'll pick up uh actually in 21, John 21, verse 3.

John 21:3

This is one of the times that Jesus came back and revealed himself to the disciples after he'd been raised.

And it says, Simon Peter said to them, being the other disciples, I'm going fishing.

I like Peter.

Like I can relate to that.

Like, you know what?

I'm going fishing.

I've got a lot in my head right now.

I'm gonna go take a break and go fishing.

They said to him, We are going with you also.

They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus said to them, Children, you have any food?

They answered him, Nope.

And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

Don't know why we didn't try the right side of the boat.

So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because the multitude of fish.

Therefore, so the interesting, I'm reading from John, John wrote John.

John refers to himself as the one whom Jesus loves.

Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.

Now, when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garments, for he had removed it, and plunged into the sea.

And then he swims.

But I love how John just throws Peter under the bus one last time.

Because Peter was like, Let's go fishing.

We go to Peter's spot, no fish.

Good job, Peter.

Then Jesus shows up, and Peter puts on his outer garments because Peter's fishing in his undergarments, his underwear, again.

We're telling him.

Then what does Peter do?

He jumps out, he swims to the shore as fast as he could.

Jesus is there with a nice meal he has prepared for them.

And he runs and humbly submits himself to the Lord because he says, Go tell the disciples and Peter, I'm there for you.

I'm there in Galilee.

Jesus says that today.

Come on.

I know we've all messed up.

Just come on.

I just want to be with you.

Just come on.

So then Jesus has this meal prepared.

They eat this meal.

Jesus pulls Peter aside and says, Peter, do you love me?

He said, Yes, Lord, you know I love you.

Feed my lambs.

Peter, do you love me?

Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Tend my sheep.

Peter, do you love me?

Lord, you know all things.

You know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Jesus tells them basically, come, come to me, humbly submit yourself.

But then he pulls him aside and reminds him of his calling.

Reminds him of what he is called to do.

Every one of us in here has a calling by God.

And he says, Come on.

Come on.

Just come to me.

Humble yourself before me.

And now pursue your calling that I've given you.

And when you do, you are kicking Satan out of your life.

You are telling him you have no place here.

You do not belong here.

I am property of the Lord God Almighty, and you don't belong here.

And so when you follow your calling, you pursue Jesus, you submit to him, he can do anything with you.

He's got you.

He's got you.

I want to end with a story, and that is that my grandparents lived in East Texas, and I used to go out there all the time, and they had several acres out there, and so we would go out, and that's like where I would spend lots of summers and loved it.

And so we go out there at one time, and I had these two cousins that were like the roughest, toughest cousins ever.

They were like, you know, a country boy will survive.

These kids were like barefoot, running through thorns all day, didn't phase them.

Just tough little country boys.

And so my grandparents, they had this place which was like this, had this natural spring out of the water.

So it had like this little container in the ground, and it was just always bubbling up fresh, clean water, and then it would flow out of it.

Completely natural.

Ozarka right there on their property.

And so we would go there, especially in a hot summer day, to go drink out of it.

And it would always be so nice and cool water because it came from the earth.

It was so refreshing.

So at that particular time, uh I'm there with my cousins, and every time somebody went to get a drink, I didn't know if I should tell his name in case one day he's watching this and he's like, that's it, I'm coming after you.

His name's Craig.

I may be in trouble.

So Craig would run up and shove people's head in as soon as they go to get a drink.

Every time.

And I was like, I'm not getting a drink.

I do not want that.

And so every time somebody else would go get a drink and he'd run up and shove their head under.

So I was like, no, I'm not getting a drink.

He was like, no, James, just get a drink.

Everyone's, I won't do it.

I won't do it for you.

Just do it.

Just go get a drink.

I was like, nope.

So he's like, just get a drink.

I promise I won't do it for you.

I was like, okay, Craig, don't do it.

I really don't want you to.

So I trusted him.

I go up and I get a drink.

And guess what?

Craig runs up, shoves my head completely under it.

And so guess what I did?

Let me tell you, I was super, super quiet, quiet, shy kid.

Those are the ones you gotta watch out for.

You never know when they're gonna go off.

So I jumped up before I even knew what had happened.

I turned around and just slapped, like punched him right in the face.

And all of a sudden he falls back, lands on a tree, and he's just laying there and he's looking at me crying.

And I think, I'm a dead man.

What have I done?

He's gonna kill me.

And I the only person more shocked than him was me.

I thought, what just happened?

What's gonna what's gonna happen to me?

So all of a sudden he gets up and he runs home.

And so I'm like, what is going to happen?

Something, either he's coming after me, but now he's gonna go tell his parents, now his parents are coming after me.

I've got the whole family against me now.

Uh-oh.

So the next day I see his dad.

And his dad looks at me and says, James, is it true?

Did you punch Craig in the face?

I said, Yes, sir.

He said, That a boy.

He said, It's about time somebody puts that boy in place.

Freedom! I couldn't believe it.

I was free.

Well, guess what?

It's time for you guys to kick Satan in the face.

And to hear your father say, Did you do it?

Well done, good and faithful servant.

It's about time somebody puts him in this place.

It's time that we stand up and we kick Satan in the face and say, no more.

We are not gonna take it anymore.

No matter what.

You have no control, you have no ability in our life.

You are out and we are gonna serve the Lord.

We are gonna be like Peter.

We are gonna fall before him.

We are gonna humble ourselves before him, and we are gonna keep a pure heart with all diligence, regardless, no matter what.

That's what we're gonna do.

That's our job.

Our job is to keep a pure heart with all diligence.

I want to take a moment and pray with you.

So if you could just bow your heads and close your eyes and just ask, Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?

Lord, what is it that you want me to get out of this?

Is there an offense I'm holding on to that I need to let go?

Do I need to ask somebody for forgiveness or do I need to forgive somebody?

Lord, lead me and guide me.

God, we humble ourselves before you.

And we ask you to help us keep a pure heart free from guile, separate us from all sin, God, in Jesus' mighty name.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you very much.