Our Invisible Coat (Everythings Gonna Be Alright)

Introduction- The Shawshank Redemption

In the feature film The Shawshank Redemption, Ellis “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman) tells the story of Any Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins)- a successful young banker who is wrongly convicted of murdering his wife in 1947 and sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms at Shawshank Prison. Andy endures confinement year after year while maintaining his hope for freedom.

Red is a hardened but somewhat repentant convict resigned to spending the rest of his natural life behind the gray prison walls. When Red first sees Andy arrive at Shawshank, he takes an immediate disliking to the tall, slender banker. According to Red, Andy looked weak- “like a stiff breeze would blow him over.” In fact, Red gambled that Andy would be the first of the new prisoners to break down. Surprisingly, Andy survives his first tormented night at Shawshank with his sanity intact, and not long afterwards, he meets Red in the prison yard for the first time.

As Andy strolls away from his conversation with Red, he stoops to collect a pebble from the dusty prison grounds; the bright sunlight seems to transform his drab prison uniform into casual wear. Red reflects in a voice-over: I can see why some of the boys took him for snobby. He had a quiet way about him- a walk and a talk that just wasn’t normal around here. He strolled like a man in the park, without a care or a worry in the world. Like he had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place.

There is a way we can live like Andy Dufresne- an innocent man placed in difficult circumstances, shielded by a mysterious peace. God can be our peace, our invisible coat shielding us from trouble.

A coat is typically an outer garment for the upper body, worn by either gender for warmth or fashion.

Coats keep you warm

Coats keep you dry

Coats cover what’s on the inside

Transition To Body- Troubled Hearts of Jesus’ Disciples

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:4–6 ESV

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Troubled- to cause acute emotional distress or turbulence—‘to cause great mental distress.’

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ταράσσω

to cause inward turmoil, stir up, disturb, unsettle, throw into confusion

John 11:33 ESV

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

Body- Insulated by promise of the

Holy Spirit’s Mediating Provision

John 14:15–17 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Helping Presence of the Holy Spirit

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 12.19 παράκλητος, ου

(a title for the Holy Spirit) one who helps, by consoling, encouraging, or mediating on behalf of—‘Helper, Encourager, Mediator.’

to act as intermediary agent in bringing, effecting, or communicating

Romans 8:26–28 ESV

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Eternal Presence of the Holy Spirit

Truth Presence of the Holy Spirit

Dwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 85.55 μένω; ἐμμένω; ἐπιμένω; καταμένω

to remain in the same place over a period of time—‘to remain, to stay.’

Father’s Loving Presence

John 14:18–24 ESV

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Life Giving Presence

Life & Have it More Abundantly

John 10:10–11 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Loving Presence

1 John 4:19 ESV

19 We love because he first loved us.

Manifest Presence

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 28.36 φανερόω; ἐμφανίζω; φαίνομαι; φωτίζω; φανέρωσις, εως; φωτισμός, οῦ

to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail—‘to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation.’

1 John 1:2–3 ESV

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Son’s (Jesus’) Comforting Peace

John 14:25–31 ESV

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Jesus’ Assurances

Holy Spirit’s Help as a Teacher

Holy Spirit’s Help to Remember

Jesus’ Will Return

Confidence to Face Tomorrow (Rise let us go from here)

Transition To Close- Encouragement In Christ & Through The Word of God

C. S. Lewis, known for his Chronicles of Narnia, wrote in his other work “Mere Christianity”:

God made us; invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it wold not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirit were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in your own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

John 14:18–20 ESV

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Words of the Holy One, the True One

Revelation 3:7–8 ESV

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Behold I Stand at the Door

Revelation 3:20–22 ESV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

John 14:23 ESV

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Proverbs 3:1 ESV

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

The LORD is My Helper

Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

God Gave Us a Spirit Not of Fear

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Even though I Walk through the Valley

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The LORD is my Light & my Salvation

Psalm 27:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

You Keep Him in Perfect Peace……

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Peace I Leave With You; My Peace I Give to You!

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

And we know for those who love God…

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Close- Born of His Spirit

Everything’s Gonna Be Alright by Al Green in 1987 from his Soul Survivor album

Don't let this world mislead you Don't you ever go astray Trust in God's word and believe it 'cause it will never pass away We'll see Him in his glory riding on the clouds of joy Greeting us with open arms and peace forever more

I know that everything is gonna be alright He's coming back Like he said he would Yeah yeah, it's gonna be alright He's coming back For the true and good

Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect communion, perfect delight,

visions of rapture now burst on my sight.

Angels descending bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest.

I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]

When Jesus’ Soul Was Troubled

John 12:27–32 ESV

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

If I Be Lifted Up……

John 3:14–15 ESV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so Loved the World

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.