Relief and Refreshment
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· 8 viewsIn this passage, Jesus provides us with three ways that you can find relief from your burden and refreshment for your soul
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Transcript
Text: John 14:1-3
Introduction
Good evening
It wonderful to see each and everyone of you here with us tonight
As you probably could tell, pastor is not here with us tonight
He was feeling a little under the weather today Lord willing, he will be back with us this Sunday
I encourage each of you to be praying for him tonight and to continue to pray for him
Speaking of prayer - tomorrow we are having a Day of Prayer
This time it will be a City-Wide Day of prayer
Doors will be open at 7am - 7pm
I encourage you to invite some people and join us as we pray
There’s much to be praying for - city, state, country, needs in our church, etc.
If you will, please open your Bible’s to John 13
We’ll be specifically looking at John 14:1-3 tonight, but we’ll begin in chapter 13
(Q) How many of you would agree with the statement, Every problem demands a solution?
This is true in your personal life, in a business, in your workplace, in the church, in a state, country, and across the world
I think we are all well aware of the fact that in life, problems arise
We’re equally aware of the fact that when a problem arises, there is a need for a solution
(Q) But where do you turn to for a solution?
Medical: Turn to a doctor
Financial: Turn to a financial advisor
Work: Turn to the boss
And so on…
Here’s the point: When it comes to the issues of life, people turn to a variety of things for a solution
(Q) But where or who do you turn to for relief from your burdens and refreshment for your soul?
You know what I mean by that?
The inner turmoil that you experience at times
The burden that weighs you down and can cause you to be anxious and restless
We all have faced, are facing, or will face times or circumstances such as this in our lives
In John 13, we find that the disciples of Jesus Christ faced such a thing
The setting here is the upper room, where Jesus shared the last supper with His disciples
This evening, unknown to His disciples, would be the end of Jesus’ ministry and the final hours of His life
As He sat and ate with them, He revealed to them that one of His followers would betray Him
If this betrayal wasn’t alarming enough, Jesus said in John 13:33 (look with me - READ)
Jesus was describing here His imminent departure
Now, if you stop and consider everything the disciples experienced while walking alongside of Jesus for three years, the significance of Him no longer being present in their lives is realized even more
They witnessed Him perform miracles
They sat under His leadership and teaching
They observed Him confront error
They were recipients of His love, mercy, grace, and even rebuke
They had a deep affection for Jesus, so to hear Him say that He would no longer with them disturbed them greatly and left them troubled
They were troubled because they did not know what the future held for them
(Q) Have you ever been there?
Their troubled hearts is evident by a series of questions that were asked immediately following this news and that was recorded in ch. 14
The disciples were clearly in a saddened, bewildered state, and in need of relief
This brings us to John 14:1-3
Aim: Tonight, let’s look at three ways that you can find relief from your burden and refreshment for your soul
READ John 14:1-3
Trusting in God and His Word (v. 1)
Jesus began by telling His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (Don’t let your heart be troubled…)
When He said “troubled,” He was describing an inner agitation or distress Jesus’ instruction was in the shadow of an upcoming event - a crisis to them, His death
This reminds us that troubled people need peace and affirmation and Jesus providing that in this passage
To emphasize His instruction He commanded them to believe in Him
Again, He said in verse 1, “ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
The word “believe” means “to have faith in” or “trust in.”
The object of faith in picture here is God - “You trust in God….”
Faith needs adequate grounding
Jesus stated the fact that His disciples had trust in God, but He continued on by urging them to also trust in Him
This was not something that was beyond their ability to do, after all, they knew that He was in fact the Son of God
In Mark 8:29, Peter identified Him as the Christ In John 1:1 - “the Word…was with God… was God”
In John 6:68-69, again, Peter confessed that He was the holy one of God
Then, in John 20:28, Thomas identified Jesus as God
There are many places in Scripture that affirm Jesus’ deity
Here’s the point, Jesus told His disciples to place their trust in Him
Notice, Jesus did not encourage them to trust in the world and any power, person, or position found therein - He told them to trust in Him…but why?
Because of who He is
We just saw from four passages that Jesus was not only fully man, but fully God
This means that He is truth He won’t misguide you or mislead you - contrary to His nature
Because of what He knows
He is omniscient - all-knowing He knows what tomorrow holds - we do not
ILLUST: We’ve seen this illustrated time and time again in the last year when statements were made about what would happen in the future only to find out that what was said ended up being false
This won’t happen if you look to God and His Word
Because He is the source of salvation (verse 6)
He is the way He is the truth He is the life
Because He is the true source of peace (v. 27 - READ)
The world offers fleeting peace, or that which can only provide temporary escape
ILLUST: Bandaid on something that needs deep surgery
Christ provides lasting peace
Peace:
…Experienced deep within …that is not dependent upon your environment or circumstances …that provides unquestionable confidence that your life is in God’s hands
Because of what His Word can do
Psalms 19 is an incredible passage that describes for us how God has revealed Himself to us - through Creation and in His Word
In verses 7-13, David lists 6 benefits of God’s Word (I’m just going to read them to you:
v. 7: Its sufficient for all the needs of your spiritual life
v. 7: God’s Word is reliable and shows what happens when people obey or disobey God
v. 8: God’s Word is medicine for our soul and brings joy/happiness
v. 9: God’s Word directs our lives morally and doctrinally into the light of God
v. 11: As we spend time in His Word, our reverence for Him and hatred of sin increases
vv. 12-13: We learn that what God says about right and wrong is trustworthy and reliable
Here’s what happens…when you trust in God and His Word, you remove your focus off of yourself and your present circumstances and in turn place it upon God
The first way you can find relief from your burdens and refreshment for your soul is by trusting in God and His Word…a second way is by
Maintaining an Eternal Perspective (v. 2)
In a way, this gave meaning to His departure
Jesus was not simply leaving His disciples, rather He was going to prepare a place for them
This is further understood by looking at two phrases in v. 2:
“In My Father’s house,” which is heaven
The place where this preparation was going to be provided
“if it were not so, I would have told you.”
This provided words of certainty
These two phrases solidify not only the reality of heaven, but that they too would have a place there reserved for them
The disciples were troubled and had their eyes on the present moment and the soon departure of Jesus Christ, therefore they lacked an eternal perspective
Rather than looking to what their future held, the disciples were distressed about what they would not have at this current moment
If we’re honest, that’s easy to do - we get captured in the moment and lose sight of the bigger picture
ILLUST: The disciples were so focused on His departure, they missed the significance that His painful death would bring - salvation
Sometimes, we have to go through moments of discomfort but don’t lose sight of the broader picture
Jesus was determined to lift their eyes from the present and to get them to look at the future and its glorious realities
The Bible tells us that we are pilgrims in this world
We may own homes, property, gadgets, positions, and so on, but our citizenship is not here on earth, but in Heaven
Comforting words…Just as we are passing through so are the circumstances and problems we face
When you maintain an eternal perspective, you begin to look at life differently
Rather than only looking at the immediate events you begin to view things from the paradigm of what God is doing in your life now
What you may be going through may not be pleasurable or preferred, but let me encourage you not to dwell on it
If you want to find relief from your burdens and refreshment for your soul, first of all, trust in God and His Word…Secondly, maintain an eternal perspective, and the final way is…
Remembering Christ’s Promised Return (v. 3)
READ v. 3
Jesus told His disciples that He was preparing a place for them, but the phrase I want to draw your attention to is at the beginning of v. 3 “I will come again and receive you unto Myself.”
This is a promise Jesus gave which provides us assurance of two things:
Jesus’ promised return
We have been studying 1-2 Thess for the past several weeks…
One of the things Paul addressed when writing to the believers is their misunderstanding of things to come
They fell for the false teaching that they had missed the Rapture and were living in the tribulation time period
Paul sought to calm their fears by ensuring them that they next event they were to look to was Jesus’s return - the Rapture
When He returned, the dead in Christ would rise first, then all the believers who were alive would experience exactly what Jesus told His disciples here in verse 3 - they would go to be with Him
Their determined destiny
The believer’s destiny is certain, and nothing can ever change that
Whether a believer dies or is alive when Christ returns, we are Heaven-bound
Jesus’ disciples may have been deeply saddened at the news of His soon departure, but the declaration that Christ was going to prepare a place for them and that He was going to return for them could provide them with the strength they needed to whatever was ahead
Regardless what you’re facing, if you shift your focus upon Christ’s promised return, it can provide you with great hope, peace, and comfort
Conclusion
If you’re hear tonight, and you are anxious, worried, troubled, uncertain of your future, John 14:1-3 is a wonderful passage that you can look to for relief from your burdens and refreshment for your soul
Trust in God and His Word Maintain an eternal perspective Remember Christ’s promised return
Pray