U-turn (Day 15) Jesus faces the Sanhedrin | Pr Joel Vijay

I Church, Joel here from Melbourne. Welcome to day fifteen of U turn

and I hope that it has been good for you thus far. Some of

us you're just claiming you passed halfway mark in this fasting and praying and you're

saying breakthrus, thank you Jesus. And we're gonna learn. We're gonna learn

how not just to pray for breakthroughths, but how we can overcome breakdowns.

And Matthew twenty six, verse fifty seven to sixty eight teaches that and we

can learn from that. So one of the things that we can observe is

while Jesus had his followers, he also had his share of haters and that

led him to face the Sanhadrin as Supreme Counsel or the High Court. So

he had his own fair share of people who disliked him and they wanted nothing

more of him. So if, yeah, if you're following Jesus, I

want you to know, don't be surprised. You will face opposition, but

you know what, Trouble might arise from those who are on the journey with

us. Trouble might come from those who are close to us. But you

know what, Jesus says, take heart, for he has overcome the world,

so he has made us overcome us claim that say, I am an

overcomer today. Amen. So firstly, I want us to take note that

there's power of having a good and consistent testimony. That's the first point.

There's power in having a good and consistent the first sea consistent testimony. And

Matthew twenty six, verse fifty nine and sixty gives us some context here.

Let me read that with you. It says here, now, the chief

priests, the elders, and all the counsels sought false testimony against Jesus to

put him to death, but found none. So while the councils sought false

testimonies, they struggled to find any. Isn't that amazing His testimony, jesus

testimony was so good. It was so hard to find a false witness.

So this can only prove that Jesus was the real deal. He was consistent,

he walked the talk. Wow, that's something that we can learn right

that. Yes, people are watching us, and some might watch from a

distance, like Peter who was one of the followers. But you know what,

let's be consistent. Let's go forth with not just the good news,

but with a good testimony. Let's be consistent in our walk as we are

with our witnessing Amen. Secondly, secondly, I hope you're catching this is

let's observe how Jesus responded to his haters. Okay, let's not call them

haters. Let's find a less harsh language. Let's call them difficult people.

Okay, so think about it. The son of Man, who was also

the son of God, could have zapped them into pieces. But you know

what did Jesus respond. His response was he held his peace. He said

nothing in this sense. So that's something that we can learn. Point number

two is to be calm and have great self control. Be calm and have

self control. And that's point number two. Remember the time that he was

in a boat in the middle of a sea where the disciples facing the storm.

What was Jesus doing? He was sleeping? Yep. How calm is

that? So how do we deal with difficult situations, storms and accusations.

No, I'm not suggesting that we fall asleep in difficult situations, but hey,

you know what we can learn to find rest, to be silent,

and to trust that God is in control. And recently I was reminded that

just like a physical health check at the doctors often involves examining the tongue that

make you stick out your tongue, and then they use a little stick and

they try to see what's going on with your physical condition. Hey, you

know what I thought to myself. Hey, our spiritual condition is often revealed

through how we use our words in our tongues. How am I speaking?

How are my words? How's my language? How's my response? So instead

of lashing out, maybe it's time to learn how to live, instead of

cutting people off. Let me ask the Holy Spirit. Let's ask the Holy

spirits, help Lord, help me with self control. Let's learn to bless

and pray for those who curse or bare false witness against us. Amen,

let's move on to the third point to take note of. And I'm sure

that Jesus was aware. Are you ready? Here we go. Even if

there's a crowd of false witnesses against you, Remember there's a cloud of witnesses

above you. And Hebrews twelve one to two serves as a great encouragement and

reminder. It says here, let me read that for you and with you.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of

witnesses. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnatches,

and let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that

was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has

sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Wow. So

while we might face false witnesses, let's focus instead on the cloud of will

witnesses in heaven cheering us on. They're just probably saying, hey, come

on, press on, and let's just continue on. Let's be consistent again,

have that good testimony. Let's keep calm. Let's remember that Heaven is

with us, the cloud of witnesses with us. So don't allow distractions,

don't allow disappointments, don't allow difficult people or even debt to derail us.

Let's press on with the upward call of God in our lives. Let's go

into the last point right now, fourth and final insight for today. I

was just reminded lately there was Taylor Swift holding a concert here in Melbourne,

and one of her favorite songs is shake it off and yes, while Taylor

Swift sings to us shake it off, what Jesus was doing was he stood

firm. He wasn't shaken, but he stood and was what confident in his

calling. That's still the last of final see here he was confident in his

calling. He is the son of God. People might have all sorts of

things to say about you, but you know what, I know who I

am. I know who I am in Christ. I'm confident that God has

called me. And some of you might be asking, well, that's Jesus,

he is the son of God. But what about my calling? Allow

me to read and declare one Peter two nine over you says here, but

you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his

own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out

of darkness into his marvelous line. Wow, what amazing God we have.

No matter what people might say about you, they might want to even cancel

you, but you know what, God has got a calling over your life.

Know that you are called. You are special. And what should we

do? We should continue? We should press on. That's a bonus point.

Continue on, press on and proclaim his praises. Amen. So I'm

just going to do a quick recap, which is to be consistent number one

and have a good testimony, Be calm, and have self control number three.

Remember the cloud of witnesses above you, chearing you on. And finally,

be confident in your calling. Amen. Allow me to close us in

prayer together. Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us how to face

difficult scenarios, difficult situations, and even difficult people. Help us, Holy

Spirit, to be consistent in living a good testimony, to keep calm,

to be in self control, and remind us again and again, or Heavenly

Father, that you rule, that Heaven rules, and you'll reign above every

other. Name. Lord, keep our eyes on you and give us the

strength to shine for you so that many more will come to know you.

In Jesus' mighty name, we ask and pray a man Amen, God,

bless you have a great day and week ahead.