Final Words (2)
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Final Words
Final Words
Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for joining us this morning both here in person and online. As always, I am humbled to think I get to get up here and share with you what God has put on my heart each week.
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We are contiuing our journey to Easter as we look at some of the final words of Jesus and his High Priestly prayer.
Please open you Bibles, phones, tablets, papyrus to John 16.
Have you ever heard the the quote “Knowledge is power.”?
It is attributed to Francis Bacon a English philosopher and statesman form the 1500s.
The idea is the more you know the more you will be prepared.
Sometimes we think we know but we don’t
“The horse is here to stay” - told to Henry Ford
“Don’t bring gatlin guns” to to General Custer
“Invade Russia in the winter” - told Hitler and Napoleon
“There is no future in cinema” - told by Warner Bros
12 publishers said “Harry Potter books will never selll.”
“Television won’t last because people wont have time to sit and stare at screens.”
The problem in this world is opinions are changing, situations are changing, so who we trust.
People listen to what they want to hear and follow the things that make them feel better.
That rarely works and usually causes more pain and strife than we were expecting.
How do we get through a chaotic world without losing it?
As Jesus is closing out His time with the disciples, knowing what is coming He is trying to prepare them and remind them of truth.
Last week we were told Joy is available and we find it in trusting Him.
This week we are told in this broken world of uncertainty we can have:
Peace in Troubled Times
Peace in Troubled Times
Please stand with me as we read the most trustworthy words and the ones that can change everything.
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Let’s pray
Peace in Troubled Times
Peace in Troubled Times
So many times the things we think we know are the things we don’t.
Here is Jesus and the disciples in an upper room celebrating Passover.
There is energy in the air all through the room and Jerusalem.
They had entered Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowds.
Everyone knew something major was about to happen, everything was going to change.
Messiah was here, Romans would be out, Israel back to its glory.
What they thought and what was true were very different.
Jesus has been trying to prepare them, but are they listening.
Are they understanding?
The Lord will make things clear if we are paying attention.
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
The Lord will make things clear if we are paying attention.
Jesus’ main mode of teach up until now was the use of parables, and examples.
He use figures of speech like the good shepherd, vine and branches.
He did symbolic things like washing the disciples feet.
Ever know someone who can’t take hints?
I am terrible at it. My wife is always trying to tell me things discreetly and I am what?
They are not getting it, so Jesus says no more.
I am going tell you straight up so listen up, be ready.
We struggle also. That is why James said:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The Lord will make things clear if we are paying attention.
The first thing was Joy and prayer and they struggled understanding that.
Now he comes back to praying.
Prayer is central to our faith
26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
Prayer is central to our faith
That day - refers to coming of the Holy Spirit.
Remember the promise.
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.
Prayer is central to our faith
We have direct access through the Spirit and confidence through Jesus’ name.
It is not our name or any other name that has the authority of Jesus’ name
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Prayer is central to our faith
Let’s talk about praying in His name for a moment.
This isn’t some magical formula to get what you want.
Name it claim it idea.
to ask in Jesus’ name is to ask “for His sake” or in line with his purpose.
His purpose was to bring the Father glory and redeem the world.
No wonder when taught us to pray it starts with:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
Why can we do this? Because He loves us and in return we love Him.
How do we love? By living His way not ours.
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.
Next Jesus reminds them:
Jesus is who He said He is.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Jesus is who He said He is.
Make no doubt that Jesus not only was, He also proclaimed he was the eternal Son of God.
No question of Deity.
John put it this way:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is who He said He is.
He was the perfect substitution for our sins, because He was perfect.
Fully God fully man.
There is no debate or compromise on this.
I love how Josh McDowell used to put it.
He is either a liar, lunatic, or He is who he said He is.
People are not going to die and be tortured for a lie or a crazy person. Not for 2 thousand years.
We take Him at His word or we don’t take Him at all.
Saying it is not believing, living it is believing.
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
Saying it is not believing, living it is believing.
The disciple all of the sudden say : “oh we get it”.
But do they?
They have been with them 3 years but theyn were still looking for the wrong kind of Messiah.
They wanted a ruler of the land over a ruler of the hearts, and Jesus knew it.
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
Saying it is not believing, living it is believing.
Their mouths said they believed and maybe even their hearts, but when it came down to it they ran away.
How often do we get a word from the Lord, and tell ourselves not me, not right now.
How much do we miss by running away due to fair or a lack of confidence?
Jesus tells the disciples and us what is coming very clearly.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Trouble always comes, but peace is available in its midst.
It is not if we have trouble, it is when.
We live in a broken world.
Broke things like to break things.
There is an energy and movement in our church right now.
It is exciting, but please don’t think we don’t have any enemy who is not excited.
Our enemy does not want a Gospel centered motivated church raching out to its community and world.
Trouble and trials will come, but our Lord is bigger and already ready for them.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Trouble always comes, but peace is available in its midst.
Nothing can stop God’s plans when we do it by His will and His way.
Peace in Troubled Times
Peace in Troubled Times
Listen I know the world is crazy right now. Well crazier than usual.
Christ is still on His throne
If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble. -Thomas Watson
Peace in Troubled Times
Peace in Troubled Times
Peace only come in knowing Christ, praying according to His will, living according to His word, and trusting in His plan.
Where are you today in all of this.
Are you ready for trouble. Don’t look for it. It will come on its own.
When it does though may our proclamation be:
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Let’s pray.
