MOVING, GOING, OR STANDING?

Does your spiritual elevator go up? JOHN 6:60-67

Before we get to the issue of tonight’s study, here is the deal: Jesus as recorded in John 6:41-59 is explaining that He is the bread WHICH CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, VERSE 41. He explains in verse 54 that WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. THIS CONFUSED A LOT OF FOLKS. NOW WE GET TO THE MAIN PART-our message tonight. Let’s look at verse 60 and following:

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?

62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

They chose not to follow Jesus because they did not understand that they and we must rely on Him for our spiritual life sustaining nourishment. If we think about the elevator concept, it applies here. Many people today in their Christian walk are still on the ground floor. They for whatever reason cannot grow or keeping with the elevator theme go further in their spiritual walk or get to a higher floor. Sometimes, people push the emergency button if the elevator stops or starts moving too slow. Some Christians reserve the option in their mind to overrule God, and the Bible in any matter or course of action by pushing that emergency button and running from God much like so many of the disciples did. By doing that they can choose only what pleases them, or whatever is less of a requirement. I will not claim to know the will of God in every instance, but I don’t see God blessing that kind of behavior.

Our own desires keep us from moving closer to Christ, a lot of times, friends and even our own family members keep us from the cross.

Here’s a few quick examples:

Too many allow family to keep them from going to church and S/S. When the baby is sick why does the whole family including both grandparents and two sets of aunts and uncles have to stay home to administer medication? It’s not like that on Monday. I HAVE A SONG THAT PROVES THIS AT THE END.

Not here, but I have heard people say that they couldn’t come if there wasn’t a nursery for the children. I realize the comfort and the convenience that is there in having the nursery, but that should not be an issue. The nursery should not be the deciding factor of your faithfulness to church. The children do not hinder from planning your vacation. They don’t keep you from going to Wal-Mart. They don’t keep you from going to the lake on the week-ends. They don’t keep very many from going to little league baseball or football. Don’t allow your family to prevent you from being a disciple.

There will be a whole lot of hell filled with people who let their family hinder them from getting saved.

 We focus too much on the natural world and we do forget that we serve or are supposed to serve a very supernatural God.

65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

If we think back to how we each one met Jesus and more to the point, realized our need for Him, it’ll come to us that someone told us about the cross, sin, and our need for God.  A.W. Tozer said, “The impulse to pursue God originates with God.” We search and look for God because He is always drawing us closer using others to share and tell about His love and Grace. He wants us back. A LOT of people say only a certain number of people can be saved or a certain denomination, but the Bible clarifies and repeats time after time that God does not want anyone to perish.

As with close, Jesus asked and I do believe is still asking today in verse 67, “Will you also go away?”

Each day we carry the cross as He told us to. This world, the very creation has turned its back on the Creator. What will we do? We must remember we have others watching our footsteps daily. Will we follow Christ or stay on the ground floor of the spiritual elevator?