The Prophesy Fulfilled Signs of the Coming Cross & the King’s Kingdom – Chapter 16 &17 A Right Relationship Brings leads to a Righteous Revelation

SIGNS OF THE SEASON…a journey from Labor Day to Christmas Describe the “signs of the season” we’ve been entering since Labor Day? Why are “signs” important? What do they tell us? The bottom line questions are… Do we obey them? Do we heed them? Do we change our behavior because of them?

WEATHER FORECASTING FOR THE SAILOR… THEY KNOW THE SIGNS! He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Sailors know from sunset and sunrise what’s “on the horizon”…COMING THEIR WAY! “RED SKY AT MORNING, SAILORS TAKE WARNING. RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT!” W E SUNRISE W E SUNSET

DEMAND FOR A SIGN Matt. 16:1-4 “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.” What can we tell about the Pharisees and Sadducees hearts from this passage? What does Jesus mean by the “sign of Jonah”? What are the signs during these current time as it relates to the King & His Kingdom?

THE SIGN OF “SUNBEAM” (good bread vs. bad bread) Matt. 16:5-12 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Is Jesus saying there is “bad” yeast? Explain? What “bread” has Jesus fed you? What “bread” has the world tried to feed you?

Good Cells and Bad Cells Cells are the building blocks of life! All living beings are made up of cells. Some of them are made up of only one cell and others have many cells. The adult human body is made up of about trillion cells. Cells are amazing and do many different things depending on how they are programmed. Some cells carry oxygen to parts of our body. Other cells defend against invading bacteria and viruses. There are cells that transmit signals through out the body like the signals from your eyes to your brain while reading this. Some cells can convert the food into energy. There are thousands of jobs that cells can do. Cells also make other cells in a process called cell division. There are good healthy cells and then there are bad, unhealthy cells! What is “Cancer”?

THE SIGN OF REVELATION & A FUTURE CHURCH Matt. 16:13-20 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Who do you say that Jesus is? What does Jesus reveal to the apostles, and specifically Peter, regarding the coming Kingdom? Have you ever given someone the keys to your house ? For what reason? How do you know?

THE SIGNS OF THE SANDHEDRIN Matt. 16:21-23 How clear was Jesus in his disclosure about his death? What was Peter’s reaction? What was Jesus’ response? What did he mean by his “Satan” reference? From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law [SANHEDRIN], and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

SIGN OF THE CROSS Matt. 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. What does it mean to “deny yourself and take up your cross”?

THE SIGN OF TRANSFIGURATION Matt. 16:28-17:9 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

THE SIGN OF ELIJAH Matt. 17:10-11 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Ref: Matt 11) What are the parallels between John and Elijah? They both called God’s people to repent They both challenged the leaders of the day They both witnessed the power of God descent from Heaven They both were pursued by God’s enemies They both doubted and wondered if God had other plans They were both encouraged by God to stand firm in their faith and “listen” to God’s still voice. God still had work for them…to proclaim God and serve Him.

THE SIGN OF A HEALING & MOVED ROCK Matt. 17:14-21 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” …Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” …and stones

THE SIGN OF BETRAYAL, DEATH…& RESURRECTION Matt. 17:22-23 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.