"Lifted Up!"
(A Message to the Multitude)
(Preached Sunday Evening, July 12, 2020)
Ministers of God who lead the assembled congregations of the Lord Jesus Christ today, in large or small gatherings, I beg you: permit the preaching of the Word of God, today, to be given freely.
Members of the church, you who the world perceives to be examples, to be a witness of what a true follower of Christ should be, for these few moments, please: lay aside your tradition, your denominationalism, and all that you are used to having and to hearing done… in church.
Multitudes of the world, to those of you who have come out of curiosity, or to satisfy a nagging interest in your heart, or perhaps you are listening or reading this message out of simple politeness to the one who invited you to come: to you especially and to all we ask for your patience and for your pity upon a speaker who must and will attempt to speak of things, and particularly of someone, that I am so very unworthy to speak.
Allow this very brief message then to begin, not with words composed by us but rather inspired by God, taken from the pages of the Word of God, and daring to record then and declare to you now a heavenly interaction on Earth: of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all converging together before the eyes and ears and souls of men.
Hear then, and believe… this!
“And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.’
“Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.’
“The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, ‘An angel spake to him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:23-33)
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:32-33)
I. It is he!
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
A. God the Father testified!
“Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12:28)
B. God the Spirit testified!
“The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.” (John 12:29)
C. God the Son testified!
“Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.” (John 12:30)
II. It is he that has been lifted up!
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
A. He took your sins away up there!
“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” (John 12:27)
B. He took your judgment away up there!
“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31)
C. He took your death away up there!
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:32-33)
III. It is he that draws all men unto him!
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
A. You are drawn to his glory!
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” (John 12:23)
B. You are drawn to his power!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)
C. You are drawn to his life!
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:25)
D. You are drawn to his honor!
“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:26)
OUTLINE:
“Lifted Up!”
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
I. It is he!
II. It is he that is lifted up!
III. It is he that draws all men unto himself!
WORSHIP:
Hallelujah, What a Savior! (178)
His Name’s Yeshua (Presentation: Messianic Jewish Folk Song with Lyrics)
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