"Answers to Pilot's Question"
Pastor Albert Almore
Last Sunday we ended our conversation by being reminded that He’s not just Lord, but Jesus is King. I want to continue that conversation this morning by looking at John 18:36 this morning where it reads,
“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, MY FOLLOWERS WOULD FIGHTto keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.””
John 18:36 NLT
“Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.””
John 18:37 NLT
““WHAT IS TRUTH?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people…”
John 18:38 NLT
““WHAT IS TRUTH?” Pilate asked…
John 18:38 NLT
That’s a great question, because little did I ever know that LIES and TRUTH live side by side. Don’t take my word for it, let’s look at Proverbs 9 together.
“Wisdom has built her house with its seven columns. She has prepared the meat and set out the wine. Her feast is ready.”
Proverbs 9:1-2 CEV
“She has sent her servant women to announce her invitation from the highest hills: “Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited!”
Proverbs 9:3-4 CEV
“All of you are welcome to my meat and wine. If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps.””
Proverbs 9:5-6 CEV
“Stupidity is reckless, senseless, and foolish. She sits in front of her house and on the highest hills in the town.”
Proverbs 9:13-14 CEV
“She shouts to everyone who passes by, “If you are stupid, come on inside!” And to every fool she says,”
Proverbs 9:15-16 CEV
““Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all.””
Proverbs 9:17 CEV
The thrill. The rush.
“None who listen to Stupidity understand that her guests are as good as dead.”
Proverbs 9:18 CEV
Verses 1-6 is the cry from wisdom—TRUTH. Verses 13-18 is the cry from foolishness—LIES.
LIES and TRUTH live side by side.
Wisdom and Stupidity are neighbors.
Understanding and foolishness are in the same culdesac.
Both are calling out to you. Both are making their appeal. Depending on what state of mind you’re in, at any given time, either can seem right but can be so wrong. Proverbs 14:12 says,
“There is a way that SEEMS RIGHT to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12 NKJV
With wisdom crying out from one side, and with foolishness crying out from the other, we often stand in the middle asking the same question as Pilate…
WHAT IS TRUTH?
This morning, I’ve come to reopen the case on Pilot with a message titled…
ANSWERS TO PILOT’S QUESTION
After careful observation, after consulting with several witnesses, and after encountering my own personal life transformation, I’ve come to the conclusion Pilate that…
📝 HE IS TRUTH.
You want to know what is truth Pilate? Truth isn’t just a matter of facts, Truth is a person! Pilate, you were looking at TRUTH! Pilate, you were talking to TRUTH! Pilate you were in the presence of TRUTH, and you didn’t recognize him.
Before their conversation John 14:6 reads,
“Jesus said to him, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6 NKJV
Jesus is THE WAY to everything you’re searching for. Jesus is the true truth for your every answer. I can personally tell you, you won’t find it in drugs. You won’t find it in parties. You won’t find it in drunkenness. You’ll only find what you’re looking for in Jesus Christ.
📝 Jesus is The Way to JOY, over HAPPINESS. Jesus is The Way to true FULFILLMENT, over APPETIZERS.
Jesus is THE TRUTH. Many things will promise you happiness. Many things will promise you peace, and comfort but they’re lying to you. They’ll over promise and under deliver every time, BUT NOT JESUS. He is truth.
Wisdom says, "Surrender your life to Him, He’s everything we’ve been looking for!”
Then foolishness cries out, "Hey! Come over here. Don’t fall for it. He’s a kill joy. He’s full of rules. He’s full of restrictions.”
Then wisdom speaks up again, "No, He’s full of freedom!”
We know this because of John 8:31…
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
John 8:31 NKJV
“And you shall know the truth, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.””
John 8:32 NKJV
This is why foolishness mimics wisdom. This is why lies live beside the truth.
📝 Satan doesn’t want you to know THE TRUTH, because Satan doesn’t want you FREE.
📝 Satan doesn’t want you to know Jesus, because to know Jesus is to KNOW FREEDOM.
📝 Satan doesn’t want you to have JESUS, because to have Jesus is to HAVE FREEDOM.
“Therefore if THE SON MAKES YOU FREE, you shall be free indeed.”
John 8:36 NKJV
WHAT IS TRUTH? You’re looking at Him!
“And you shall know the truth (JESUS), and the truth (JESUS) shall make you free.””
Colossians declares His truth. Colossians 1:15 says,
“CHRIST IS THE VISIBLE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. He existed before anything was created AND IS SUPREME OVER ALL CREATION,”
Colossians 1:15 NLT
“for through him God created everything IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS and on earth. He made the things we can see AND THE THINGS WE CAN’T SEE— such as THRONES, KINGDOMS, RULERS, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him AND FOR HIM.”
Colossians 1:16 NLT
“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, SUPREME OVER ALL WHO RISE FROM THE DEAD. So he is first in everything.”
Colossians 1:17-18 NLT
“For God in ALL HIS FULLNESS was pleased to LIVE IN CHRIST,”
Colossians 1:19 NLT
“and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace WITH EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
Colossians 1:20 NLT
for through him God created everything IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS…
He made peace WITH EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN and on earth…
Earlier we read in John 18:36 says,
"Jesus answered, “MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD…"
John 18:36 NKJV
““WHAT IS TRUTH?” Pilate asked…
📝 HEAVEN is truth.
📝 For the believer, Heaven is HOME.
HEAVEN—A PLACE CALLED HOME.
Hebrews 11:16 tells us this about the HALL OF FAITH saints that went on before us...
“Instead, THEY WERE LONGING for a better country—A HEAVENLY ONE...
Hebrews 11:16 NIV
Hebrews 13:14 clearly tells us...
“For THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR PERMANENT HOME; WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD to a home yet to come.”
Hebrews 13:14 NLT
For the believer, Heaven is HOME.
📝 For the believer, Heaven is the PROMISE.
📝 For the believer, Heaven is the REWARD.
THE PROMISE:
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE you may be also.”
John 14:3 NKJV
THE REWARD:
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be NO MORE death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:4 NIV
📝 HEAVEN is the reward for all of the HELL you went through ON EARTH.
““WHAT IS TRUTH?” Pilate asked…
📝 HELL is truth.
When it comes to hell, be careful that no one deceives you….
“Therefore HELL HATH ENLARGED HERSELF, and OPENED HER MOUTH WITHOUT MEASURE…
Isaiah 5:14 KJV
WHY? I believe Hebrews 11:24-25 sheds light on this…
“Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having THE GOOD TIME THAT SIN COULD BRING FOR A LITTLE WHILE.”
Hebrews 11:24-25 CEV
“choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON;”
Hebrews 11:25 KJV
““Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.””
Proverbs 9:17 NKJV
“But he does not know that the dead are there, That HER GUESTS ARE IN THE DEPTHS OF HELL.”
Proverbs 9:18 NKJV
Hell is truth. One writer notes, "The worst aspect of hell is an eternity of conscious, guilty, shameful, separation from God and all forms of goodness. This state of complete separation from God, is never-ending, inescapable, torment.”
WHY SUCH TORMENT?
““Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS:”
Matthew 25:41 NKJV
WHY SUCH TORMENT? IT WAS NEVER PREPARED FOR YOU. THERE IS NO PROVISION THERE FOR YOU.
📝 HELL IS THEIR DAY.
“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.”
Psalms 37:1-2 NIV
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows THEIR DAY is coming.”
Psalms 37:12-13 NIV
Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
Proverbs 11:21 MSG
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED, BUT RATHER THAT THEY TURN FROM THEIR WAYS AND LIVE. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
Ezekiel 33:11 NIV
““WHAT IS TRUTH?” Pilate asked…
📝 The Truth Of The Entire Matter Is—HE’S COMING BACK.
““Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Matthew 24:29 NLT
“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and THERE WILL BE DEEP MOURNING among all the peoples of the earth. AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MANcoming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30 NLT
“And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and THEY WILL GATHER HIS CHOSEN ONES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”
Matthew 24:31 NLT
“Heaven and earth will disappear, BUT MY WORDS WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR.”
Matthew 24:35 NLT
““However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
Matthew 24:36 NLT
““WHEN THE SON OF MAN RETURNS, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.”
Matthew 24:37 NLT
“In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.”
Matthew 24:38 NLT
“PEOPLE DIDN’T REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 24:39 NLT
““Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
Matthew 24:40-41 NLT
I know wisdom cries out to you from over here, and foolishness cries out to you from over there, CHOOSE LIFE!
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. OH, THAT YOU WOULD CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live!
Deuteronomy 30:19
“Jesus said to him, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.”
John 14:6 NKJV
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
John 11:25 NKJV
“And whoever lives and BELIEVES IN ME shall never die. Do you believe this?””
John 11:26 NKJV
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
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