What Do We Do With Jesus? Choosing Faith Over Approval

Devotional

Day 1: The Unavoidable Question of What to Do with Jesus

We all encounter moments where the presence and claims of Jesus demand a response. He does not always fit neatly into our plans or our culture, and His very existence can cause a holy disruption in our lives. This is not a question we can indefinitely postpone or delegate to someone else. It is a personal and pivotal decision that every individual must eventually face. The choice to receive or reject Him is one that will define our eternity. [41:42]

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
(Matthew 27:11-14 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been trying to avoid making a definitive decision about Jesus, and what would it look like this week to move from avoidance to a conscious choice?

Day 2: The Danger of Pleasing People Over God

There is a constant tension between the approval of others and our obedience to God. When we prioritize the opinions of people, we often find ourselves compromising our convictions and silencing the truth we know. This people-pleasing posture can quietly cost us our purpose and peace, as we live for an audience that will not be with us in eternity. Choosing to fear God rather than man is the path to true freedom and integrity. [01:04:15]

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
(Proverbs 29:25 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life right now are you sensing a disconnect between what you know God wants and what you feel pressured to do by others? What is one practical step you can take to align your actions with God’s truth instead of others' expectations?

Day 3: The Invitation to Transformation, Not Comfort

A genuine relationship with Jesus will always involve challenge and conviction. He invites us not into a life of comfortable complacency, but into a process of ongoing transformation that shapes our mindset, lifestyle, and beliefs. If we never feel the gentle pull of the Holy Spirit calling us to change, we should carefully examine the direction of our walk. This holy discomfort is a sign of God’s active work within us. [51:44]

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
(Isaiah 5:20 ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your thought life or daily habits have you become comfortable, yet sense the Holy Spirit might be inviting you to grow? How can you create space this week to listen for His direction in that area?

Day 4: God Whispers While the World Shouts

In the midst of life’s noise and pressure, God is still speaking. His voice may not always be the loudest in the room, but it carries the clarity of truth and conviction. He often uses unexpected means and people to deliver His warnings and guidance to our hearts. The key is to cultivate a sensitivity to His Spirit so we can discern His whisper over the world’s shouts. [58:56]

And the Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
(1 Kings 19:11-12 ESV)

Reflection: When you consider the various influences and voices in your life, which ones most often drown out God’s voice? What is one way you can intentionally quiet the noise to better hear His whisper today?

Day 5: He Has Not Washed His Hands of You

No matter how many times we have failed, compromised, or chosen poorly, Jesus has not given up on us. His mercy is renewed every morning, and His commitment to our redemption remains steadfast. He is not like us; He is not the leaving kind. We can come to Him with our weariness and our failures, confident that His hands are still extended in grace and transformation. [01:03:36]

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

Reflection: Where do you need to receive the truth today that Jesus has not washed His hands of you? How does accepting His relentless grace change the way you approach Him with your struggles and shortcomings?

Sermon Summary

A congregation receives practical instructions for an upcoming weekend and a reminder that logistical cooperation matters as the church grows. A recent revival week is described as a momentum that continues into the present worship service, with altars opened now for anyone carrying burdens to release them and receive from God. Matthew 27:11–26 anchors the reflection, focusing on the moment Pilate asks the crowd, “What shall I do with Jesus?” The account of Barabbas and the crowd’s choice frames a larger question about allegiance: will people choose what feels comfortable or what requires surrender?

Pilate emerges as the central figure, not for ignorance but for paralysis. He recognizes Jesus’ innocence yet bends before the pressure of the crowd, passing responsibility, seeking compromise, and finally washing his hands. That pattern exposes a spiritual danger: knowing truth without courage, trading conviction for approval, and allowing public opinion to dictate moral choices. The crowd’s demand for Barabbas illustrates how culture often prefers immediate comfort and familiarity over costly transformation. Yet the narrative also reveals grace: the one who deserved death goes free because the innocent one receives punishment — a raw picture of substitutionary mercy.

A quieter voice interrupts the frenzy: Pilate’s wife brings a dreamed warning, demonstrating that God often whispers through unexpected channels while the crowd roars. That contrast underscores the call to discernment and to give weight to whispered conviction rather than the loudest opinion. The altar invitation narrows the response to two unavoidable choices — receive Jesus or reject him — and urges present action: either surrender to painful growth or continue yielding to external pressures.

Finally, the service broadens into practical care as a nursing-home ministry prepares to bring gifts and presence to residents. The piece ties public faith to private compassion, urging that genuine ministry reaches those who cannot come to church. The closing charge calls for daily responses to Jesus, reminding that mercy renews each morning and that life transforms when allegiance shifts from people-pleasing to devotion.

Key Takeaways

1. Choose Jesus over crowd approval When culture loudly demands compromise, choosing Jesus requires deliberate resistance to popularity. The crowd that pressures toward easy choices rarely carries the weight of eternal consequences; aligning with Christ may cost comfort but protects purpose. The decision to prioritize divine truth frees the soul from the tyranny of transient applause. [64:15]
2. People-pleasing betrays spiritual conviction Fear of rejection or reputation often muffles what the conscience already knows to be right. People-pleasing trades obedience for temporary peace, and that trade corrodes destiny because heart posture determines outcome. The courage to honor God first preserves integrity and opens space for Kingdom fruit. [65:16]
3. God whispers through quiet warnings Divine direction sometimes arrives as a subtle dream, a soft conviction, or the counsel of someone close. Listening for those small, steady prompts prevents the soul from being swept by the loudest voices; spiritual sensitivity values whispered correction over applause. Heed the quiet, for it often anticipates calamity. [58:56]
4. Respond to Jesus: receive or reject Encountering Christ forces a binary response — ongoing openness or continued resistance. Surrender invites discomfort and repeated failures but also steady transformation; rejection yields temporary ease and long-term loss. The altar is an immediate place to choose, and daily renewal keeps the choice active. [76:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:19] - Parking & Weekend Logistics
[26:06] - Revival Momentum & Altar Invitation
[39:39] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:11–26
[41:42] - The Question: What Do We Do With Jesus?
[42:43] - Pilate Between Crowd and Conviction
[49:19] - The Barabbas Choice Explained
[58:56] - Claudia’s Dream: A Quiet Warning
[76:25] - Call to Respond: Receive or Reject
[91:00] - Nursing-Home Ministry & Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 27:11–26 (ESV)
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified.” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Observation questions

What question did Pilate ask the crowd, and how did they respond?
What did Pilate’s wife warn him about, and how did she receive this message? [58:56]
How did Pilate try to avoid making a clear decision about Jesus? [44:37]
What did the crowd choose when given the option between Barabbas and Jesus? [49:19]

Interpretation questions

Why did Pilate, who knew Jesus was innocent, still give in to the crowd’s demands? [48:05]
How does the story of Barabbas being released instead of Jesus illustrate the gospel? [50:37]
In what ways can the “noise” of culture today pressure people to compromise what they know is true? [57:00]
Why do you think God sometimes speaks through quiet warnings (like Pilate’s wife’s dream) instead of loud, dramatic signs? [58:56]

Application questions

Where in your life are you most tempted to seek people’s approval over honoring what you know God is saying? [01:04:15]
When have you tried to “compromise” with God—giving partial obedience instead of full surrender? What was the result? [47:10]
Is there a situation right now where you’re hearing God’s quiet whisper but also feeling the pressure of others’ opinions? What would it look like to obey the whisper? [58:56]
How can you actively choose Jesus over comfort in your daily decisions—especially when it feels costly or unpopular? [51:28]
What’s one step you can take this week to move from “knowing the truth” to “standing courageously” for it? [57:55]
Who are the “Claudias” in your life—people God uses to speak truth to you? How can you cultivate humility to listen to them? [01:00:19]
In what practical ways can you extend mercy and care to those who are often overlooked, like the nursing home residents mentioned? [01:32:13]

Sermon Clips

I have great news for you. Jesus has not washed his hands with us yet. He's not give up. He's not he's not done. I've I've been done before. Have you ever been done before with somebody or something? You're like, that's it. I'm out. I'm over. I'm I can't handle this. I'm going home. My phrase I use is the I'm I'm out of grace. I'm out. That's it. He hasn't washed his hands yet, but he will require you to respond. There's no way out of it. And you only respond one of two ways. We don't really get a assortment of responses. It's either to receive or reject. That's it. [01:15:44] (50 seconds) #JesusNotDone

The crowd in all of their work to cancel the words of Jesus Help give us one of the purest illustrations of the gospel message because the murderer, the guilty man went free when Jesus took his place. And if the murderer can find freedom and mercy when Jesus takes his place, then, there's really nothing that you and I can do that cannot be freed from, given mercy, and grace when Jesus steps in and takes our place. [00:50:37] (35 seconds) #GraceForSinners

And Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He said it multiple times but the crowd got louder and louder, not more truthful, louder. Volume doesn't equal truth ever. Culture has always tried to redefine truth, has always tried to rewrite morality, has always tried to replace conviction with comfort, and when Jesus shows up to confront the culture of the crowd, they'll always try to silence him. We're living in a world now where truth is offensive. Biblical values are outdated. Conviction is labeled as hate but hear me, just because the world rejects it doesn't mean god has removed it. [00:56:53] (50 seconds) #TruthOverNoise

A lot of times you waste your time responding to your haters. Well, they need to hear my side. Do you think it's gonna change or is it trying to make yourself feel better? If you wanna make yourself feel better, go right ahead. Maybe you'll have a few minutes of peace but the reality is, if you know you're right, you don't have to defend yourself. So, Pilate washes his hands but thank god, Jesus didn't wash his hands with Pilate and he didn't wash his hands with me and he hasn't washed his hands with you. [01:02:54] (34 seconds) #LetTruthStand

Every time you choose people over god, you release something destructive into your life. Compromise, fear, insecurity, and when you release that into your heart, you push away purpose and calling and truth. The things that will hold you and give you strength to move on. People pleasing cost you more than you think. Pilate thought he was preserving the peace but history remembers him as the person that had the authority to release Jesus and was too scared to do so. The crowd that pressures you today will not be standing with you tomorrow. [01:10:47] (46 seconds) #ChooseGodNotPeople

Thank god Jesus doesn't say, you know what? I'm done. I've done everything I can do. That's what Pilate did. That's it. I can't handle this anymore. I'm out of here. Jesus didn't do that to Pilate. He didn't do it to Barabbas. He didn't do it to Simon Peter. He didn't do it to the thief on the cross. He's hadn't done it to Lloyd. He's not done it to you. He's not washed his hands yet. Why? Because he's not the leaving kind. He's not the hand washing, giving it up, turning away kind. He's not walked away. [01:03:29] (28 seconds) #JesusNeverLeaves

So, what do we do with Jesus? It's wild to think that we let the words of others, good or bad, decide our relationship with Jesus. If you've been hurt by the church, by ministers, Christians, and that's what's pushed you away from Jesus? I'm so sorry that that happened. I truly am. But also understand that you're still living to please them. Because every decision you're making about Jesus is based around them. So you may not like that, but your actions and your thoughts are showcasing why life still revolves around them. [01:14:31] (61 seconds) #FaithBeyondHurt

We live in those world today where we try to satisfy Jesus. We try to honor Jesus while also trying to satisfy and honor the world and you cannot live in both worlds. You cannot serve two masters that's in the Bible. You will either be against the culture of the world or you will be against Christ. It's one or the other. Crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him. Before Twitter ever existed, before there were hashtags, before there was public outrage, before there were signs on the side of the road because that mattered. There was crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him. [00:56:10] (43 seconds) #OneMasterOnly

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What Do We Do With Jesus? Choosing Faith Over Approval

Devotional

Day 1: The Unavoidable Question of What to Do with Jesus

Day 2: The Danger of Pleasing People Over God

Day 3: The Invitation to Transformation, Not Comfort

Day 4: God Whispers While the World Shouts

Day 5: He Has Not Washed His Hands of You

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

What Do We Do With Jesus? Choosing Faith Over Approval

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