What do you go out to see? (Mathew 11; 7-10)

What do you go out to see? (Mathew  11; 7-10) 

I will tell you one story 

once upon a time There is was king 

And he had a beautiful daughter 

The King wants her to marry a brave man 

So he put out an official notice 

Wanted brave man to marry my daughter 

And many people came to the palace 

And the king brought them all to a lake 

There were many crocodiles in the lake 

And the king said if someone crosses over this lake by swimming, 

 I will give my daughter to him 

But nobody swim. 

That time suddenly one man jump down into the lake 

And swim very fast 

Finally he crossed over the lake safely 

Many people clap their hands for him 

Wow you are so brave 

That time he said to the people  

“Wooosi,  who pushed me unto the lake ?  Almost patay 

Sometimes Satan pushes us down into the lake which has many crocodile 

Then what shall we do? 

swim faster than the crocodile 

do not think of anything but swim ~~~~apo Diyos~~~ 

there is a saying

"Every tribulation is a blessing in disguise."

when we have difficulty,  we can make that difficulty become an opportunity amen 

when we have difficulty, we have a chance for another blessing 

last time when we go to mountain ministry my car was destroyed

and i believe that God will give me fortuner 

today I’d like to share the word of God entitled 

what do you go out to see 

let us open the bible Matt.

 11;7-10 

 As John's disciples were leaving, 

Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: 

"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 

If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? 

No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 

Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? 

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

This is the one about whom it is written: 

'I will send my messenger ahead of you, 

who will prepare your way before you.' 

Father in this precious hour, we pause and gather to -hear your word 

Help us to bring our hearts and minds before you 

Bless your word that will be shared 

And bring forth the harvest you want and desire today. In Jesus name 

Today’s passage Jesus is asking the crowd 

What did you go out to see? 

Verse 7, 8 and 9, Jesus is asking this question 3 times to the people 

What did you go out to the desert to see? 

Here, Jesus is asking, “their object “ 

What is your purpose to go out to see? 

For what reason did you go to the wilderness?

And now Jesus is asking the same question to you and me 

What did you come here to see? 

for What  purpose did you come here in ABC? 

What are you seeing here now 

And what is your answer? 

im here Because my ptr. send here

i have nothing to do in the house

 - this is no purpose

yes im here because God called me 

so after ABC the rest of my life, i will live for His Glory

-this is a clear purpose

You know, this Jesus’ question points out our object 

Diba, when we see something, we see it with particular purpose 

Yes, We need clear sense of purpose when we see something 

If not, we cannot see the main point but we see only the outer boundary 

I mean when we have no purpose 

We cannot see what we have to really see 

but only we see unnecessary things 

It is like this, 

if a ship is going around in the sea without purpose, without direction without destination

We call it drift 

But if a ship is going somewhere in the sea with purpose with destination

We call it sailing 

Are you drifting or sailing? Jesus is pointing out this one 

what do you come here to see?

I mean if you are here without clear purpose that is drifting  and it just waist time

but if you are here in ABC with Clear purpose that is sailing 

Diba? When we go out la trinidad highway, 

there are many jeepnies passing by 

But we cannot ride any jeepney even they stop infront of us 

If we go to magsaysay then we have to ride a jeepney which is going to macsaysay 

If we go to bokawkan we have to ride a jeepney which is going to bokawkan 

It is the same with our lives brothers and sisters 

We need to have a clear purpose of our life so that we can ride the proper jeepney 

Today’s passage, When John the Baptist preach in the desert 

Many people went there 

Some of them were touched with his preaching so they repented and baptized 

But others just go their because of their curiosity 

And they missed the real things to see and see only useless things 

Brothers and sisters 

What is the core of the message of John the Baptist? 

What is his preaching in the desert? 

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

This is his preaching 

We should see what his finger is pointing at 

He is pointing to the Lamb of God who is Jesus Christ 

We have to see Jesus amen 

But many people see other things 

What they see ?

No 1 they see the reeds 

Jesus  says  verse 7; What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind 

There are many reeds in that place where John the Baptist was preaching 

Reed are easily shaken 

Even there is little a bit of wind , the reed would  sway 

It cannot stand firmly but is easily effected by something 

Brothers and sisters are you like the reeds easily shaken by the wind? 

Are you double minded? 

One student didn’t enroll this trimester so I asked him why did you  not enroll 

And he replied I’m still thinking to study or not 

Brothers and sisters why you are still shaking 

Bible says in Isaiah 26;3  

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, 

because he trusts in you. 

Do not be shaken with our situation, 

do not be swayed with our surroundings 

Fix our mind steadfast and trust God who is almighty amen. 

of course , John is not like reed 

John the Baptist was the greatest of Prophets

and as we know that he was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus

and he was not silent but spoke straight forward about Herod Antipas' marriage

so that he was killed 

why? Jesus says  

 "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 

this is an ironical ｅxpression 

so brothers and sisters 

like John, i want all of you to prepare the way for Jesus 2nd coming after ABC amen

even strong wind will come against us we will not surrender 

but continue to serve God , continue to work for the glory of God 

1st Corinthians 15; 58 it says 

Therefore, my dear brothers, 

stand firm. Let nothing move you.

 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 

because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

And your labor will not be vain 

It will reward back to you  

No2 they see fine cloths 

If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? 

Here fine clothes means luxury 

And it represents wealth and honor 

Someone went out to the desert to get something by any chance 

Even Jesus disciples compete for a position 

But Jesus says 

No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 

we know that John's life is very simple 

he lived in the wilderness 

and he wore simple clothes. he wore long coat made by Camel's hair

Such a coat would last for a long time.

John’s food was very simple also. He ate wild honey and locusts

This is the life of John the baptist 

and also Jesus

There is no relation between luxury and Jesus life

Jesus Who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God 

something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, 

he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross 

Someone come to church to get benefit materially or politically 

Someone follow Jesus for luxury 

But that is wrong motive 

Bible says in Proverbs 27; 24 

for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 

1st timothy 6;17 it says 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to  be arrogant 

nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, 

but to put their hope in God, 

who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Brothers and sisters 

What do you go out to see? 

What did you come here ABC 

It is not for luxury life; it is not for wealth or honor that you come here 

But we came here because of Jesus and serving our God amen 

3rd they see a prophet 

Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? 

And Jesus answered, Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

Yes brothers sisters it is not seeing the reed nor fine cloths 

But we should go out to see the prophet 

And from him, we hear the word of God 

Brothers and sisters 

What do you come here to see? a reed or fine cloths? 

If then you came at the wrong place 

We have to see Jesus 

who carried cross for us and bleed blood for us 

and now seated in the right hand of the mighty God and willingly to help us 

we have to see him 

we have to meet him and we have to follow him amen 

so once again don’t forget  our main purpose to come here 

i remember one of our teacher said in the chapel 

we will meet goliath while we are training here 

but we should over come 

we have to defeat him amen?

don’t’s say patay but say pangino-on 

don’t say araiko but say apodios 

fix our eyes unto Jesus and go forward 

Jesus says follow me

and do not follow him with distance

Just a closer walk with Jesus amen 

Deuteronomy 25;17-18

Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt.

When you were weary and worn out, 

they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; 

they had no fear of God.

Amalikites do not attack the Israelite main force (army) 

They attack the one who were lagging behind 

They attack the one who weary and worn out. 

like this, Satan do not attack the one who go forward closer to God

Satan attack someone who are behind and someone who are weary and worn out 

so that Satan compare with lion in the bible(1st peter 5;6) 

Loin do not attack animals mainstream 

Lion attack someone long way from the main group 

when Peter followed Jesus at a distance(mark 14; 54)

he was getting closer to the enemy

and finally he fell into temptation, he denied Jesus 

Malachi 3:7 says

Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.

So if I have wandered off a mile, He has wandered off a mile. 

But if I return, He returns. 

I draw closer, and He draws closer. 

I honor, and He honors.

so do not roam around but go forward unto Jesus 

then we will have a victory 

Draw me close to you  never let me go 

I lay it all down again  to hear you say that I'm your friend 

You are my desire    No one else will do 

'Cause nothing else could take your place 

To feel the warmth of your embrace 

Help me find the way. Bring me back to You 

You're all I want.    You're all I've ever needed 

You're all I want.  Help me know You are near 

Almighty God and heavenly father 

Once again we thank you for letting us gathering here to worship and praise you 

we thank you that you remind us what is our main purpose to come here today 

and father we thank you that you’ve chosen us and called us to train here 

as your worker 

we, therefore , we pray heavenly father 

you will endure us with Your Spirit, and daily increase your gifts in us 

help us to fix our eyes unto you and draw us to close to you everyday 

and use us mightily as your instrument for your glory and kingdom