This is Thou Art
Text: Luke 3:21,22; Matthew 17:5
Luke 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
In our texts today I want you to notice a subtle but important difference between them. In Luke the bible records God the Father as speaking to Jesus, and in Matthew the bible records God speaking about Jesus.
Hence the title of this message: "This is; Thou Art."
We have a fundamental need to have both of these statements said to and about us.
Illus: (Have one of my sons stand with me.) There is a fundamental difference of me looking directly into my sons eyes and saying, "You are my beloved son," and if I were to put my arm around him and say to you, "this is my beloved son."
One is a private declaration, one is a public demonstration. You need, and God wants to give us both private assurance of, and a public demonstration of His love for us.
1. Thou art My beloved son.
Thou art My beloved son is a private declaration of God’s love for you.
Everyone has a fundamental need to know that God loves them, and that if they die they will go to heaven. It will add faith to your prayers, hope to your darkest hour, and the love we all so desperately need to have a fulfilling life.
The bible tell us to be ready for in an hour we think not our Lord will come for us. It is not enough to think you are saved or to hope you are saved. We have a fundamental need to have heard God say, thou art my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased.
2 People in contrast: Luke 12:19-20, Psalms 35:3. One spoke to himself the other prayed God would assure him. In Luke the rich man speaks to himself about building new barns and tells himself what a great job he has done in life.But God called him a fool and said that night his soul would be required of him.
By contrast in Psalms 35:3 David prays, "Say to my soul, ’I am thy salvation.’" Tis a wise thing in deed to be sure that you are sure. It is not enough to tell yourself you are saved and all is well. You need a personal communication from God that you are saved. The bible says that His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Don’t have an "I think I’m saved," but press in for an "I know I’m saved."
God personally spoke to and assured Abraham of his salvation: Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward. If you are saved God will assure you of it, if you are doubting don’t rest until you have assurance.
2. This is My beloved son.
This is My beloved son, is a public declaration of God’s love for you.
Let me illustrate that from the film and book the wizard of Oz. There were 3 characters that were missing something in their life: The scarecrow needed a brain, the tin man a heart, and the lion courage.
Dorothy:(Speaking to the lion) Your Majesty, If you were King, you wouldn’t be afraid of anything?
Lion: Not nobody, not no how!
Tin Man: Not even a rhinocerous?
Lion: Imposserous!
Dorothy: How about a hippopotamus?
Lion: Why, I’d trash him from top to bottomamus!
Dorothy: Supposin’ you met an elephant?
Lion: I’d wrap him up in cellophant!
Scarecrow: What if it were a brontosaurus?
Lion: I’d show him who was King of the Forest!
All Four: How?
Lion: How?
Courage! What makes a King out of a slave?
Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage
If I Only Had the Nerve
Yeh, it’s sad, believe me, Missy,
When you’re born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve.
But I could show my prowess,
be a lion not a mou-ess
If I only had the nerve.
Here is how the lions problem is solved:
As for you, my fine friend, you’re a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger you have no courage. You’re confusing courage with wisdom. Back where I come from, we have men who are called heroes. Once a year, they take their fortitude out of moth balls and parade it down the main street of the city and they have no more courage than you have. But they have one thing that you haven’t got - a medal. Therefore, for meritorious conduct, extraordinary valor, conspicuous bravery against Wicked Witches, I award you the Triple Cross. You are now a member of the Legion of Courage
Thus a public recognition by others for bravery, emboldens him.
The scare crow is given a degree which is all he is said to lack. Again this is outside recognition.
Now for the tin man, in search of a heart:
Back where I come from, there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds. They are called phila-, er, er, philanth-er, yes, er, good-deed doers, and their hearts are no bigger than yours. But they have one thing you haven’t got - a testimonial. Therefore, in consideration of your kindness, I take pleasure at this time in presenting you with a small token of our esteem and affection. And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.
So in both the Lion, Scarecrow and the Tin man outside recognition is what they needed. All they needed was a testimonial.
How does God show or give us a public testimonial:
A. His Spirit bears witness with us
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
B. He speaks to us and reveals things to us. John 15:15 John 5:20, "The Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing."
C. In ways and means available to Him, He bears public witness to His love for us: 2 Peter 1:17 Meeting needs, conforting, guiding, correcting etc.
Thus a Christian has 3 sources of encouragment about his/her salvation. The first is the personal testimony of God, the second is a public testimony of God, and the third is the direct witness of the Bible.
Close: Do you know that you are saved?
Do you want to live for God is such a way that He will bear public witness of you.
