Untitled Sermon

Clear Strategy

Strategy for the Pandemic John 14:13 Philip’s says, “show us the father” – His view was that if he could see God, in the physical it would prove his existence. Somebody this morning feels like Philp. They looking for God in the mist of COVID-19. They need God to show up in the Physical. They want to just see God in the mist, they want God to be in their presence. Philip was looking for a dramatic experience. Philip was seeking the spectacular and the dazzling, the physical and visible—some sign that God is—that He actually exists. How many ask for the dramatic experience and the spectacular sign?

Philip felt that a dramatic experience with God—that seeing God—would calm their troubled hearts and solve their problems …

of strife and division (see notes—Jn. 14:1–3; Lu. 22:24–30)

of betrayal and desertion (Jn. 13:18f)

of denial (Jn. 13:38)

of ignorance and misunderstanding (Jn. 1:36; 14:5)

Thought 1. What an indictment against men! Men often say, “Jesus is not enough. More is needed. Jesus was a mere man; He could not be the Son of God. Perhaps He was a son of God in the sense that He was the best man who ever lived, but no more.” Such men walk through life being blind to the great love of God.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro. 5:8).

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Co. 4:4).

“[Men] having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ep. 4:18).

1. We must have a clear Strategy. We need to make sure our circumstances or experiences are not blinding the existence and presence of God. We can not fasle believe that God is a Magical concept and that he is going to swoop end and shake his wand and everything will disappear. As Christian we do more than walk by faith, we also trust into his promises.

2. (14:9) Jesus Christ, Revelation: the revelation was astounding—Jesus was the full embodiment of God. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” When a man sees Jesus, he sees a Person

a. who is the very nature of God

b. who is the very character of God

c. who is the very substance of God

d. who is the very perfection of God

e. who is God in all of His perfect Being

3. Jesus Christ is not the same Person as God the Father, but He has the same perfect nature. Jesus Christ is God the Son. Therefore, the person who has seen Jesus Christ has seen the Father in all the fulness of the Father’s nature—that person has seen in Jesus the very embodiment of perfection, the perfect embodiment of Being, both perfect love and perfect righteousness. “He that seeth me seeth Him that sent me” (Jn. 12:45). “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (Jn. 14:7). “All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you” (Jn. 16:15).

4. (14:10) Jesus Christ, Deity—Words of—Revelation: the clear evidence that Jesus was the embodiment of God is threefold.

a. God’s presence was proof that Jesus was the embodiment of God. God was in Jesus, and Jesus was in God. This can be called the mutual Indwelling Presence of God and Christ, each dwelling in the other. This simply means that each has the nature and being, the Spirit and Mind, of the other. Each has the Presence, the very Being and Spirit, of the other dwelling within Him—perfectly.

b. Note the point Jesus was making. The proof that He was the embodiment of God, that He was the One who came to earth to reveal God, is clear: God’s presence is not only with Him; God’s presence is in Him. He Himself is God. He Himself—His Person, His Being, His nature, His character, His love, His care, His just dealings, all that He is—revealed exactly what God is. Note also that Jesus asked Philip a question: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?” “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30). “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (Jn. 10:37–38). “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (Jn. 14:10–11). “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (Jn. 14:20).

5. (14:11) Jesus Christ, Deity—Belief: the clear challenge is forceful—believe the claim of Jesus. He was the embodiment of God. He was in the Father, and the Father was in Him—perfectly. Jesus was the One whom God sent into the world to show men who He is and what He is like. Jesus Christ was the revelation of God to man, who came to the world to show man that God is “the Father,” the Father who loves and cares, forgives and executes justice. The challenge is to believe Jesus …

a. believe in Him as a Person, as the Son of God Himself

b. believe in His claim, that His testimony and witness to Himself is absolutely true

If a person has difficulty believing His claim, then he should look at His works: believe Him because of His phenomenal works; do whatever is needed to secure the evidence, but believe and accept His claim (see DEEPER STUDY # 2, Believe—Jn. 2:24).

“But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me” (Jn. 5:36).

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4).

“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me” (Jn. 10:25).

“But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (Jn. 10:38).

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (Jn. 14:11).

1. Jesus Christ, Works: note the purpose for the Lord’s works—to stir the belief that He is the Son of God (Jn. 10:38; 14:11; Ac. 2:22).