An “Aha Moment”
Notes
Transcript
An “Aha Moment”
An “Aha Moment”
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
This is one of those “A Ha” moments…
The lightbulb just came on - it clicked...
The Lord has been with his disciples…
The Last supper is just finished
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Satan has entered into Judas, and the disciples are still being taught in these final hours...
They do not understand what the Lord has communicated to them, and they begin to question among themselves, but the Lord, knowing that he has but a short time, explains himself to them...
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
In the scriptures, we find many “Aha” moments...
Rich Man
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, being rich has it’s rights and responsibilities… Wealth and blessings of wealth give unique opportunities to bless society - not socialism, but the ability to care and contribute to the:
Cause of Christ
Community of Christians
Commission to reach the Lost
Care for the less fortunate
This rich man was blessed in this life, and lived for himself - yet took no thought for the afterlife...
vs 22-23 - death of the 2 men in this story...
Can you imagine the “Aha” moment when Lazarus died...
It’s true...
the Bible is true, The Messiah, the Lamb of God - Jesus - the Savior of the world
Can you imagine the Rich man...
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
It’s true...
Heaven / hell
God / satan
Good / Evil
Eternity...
It’s not a party...
There are no friends...
The darkness, the fear, the separation, the torment, the pain, the ETERNALITY OF ETERNITY...
Hell is real...
The rich man is still burning in hell...
Aha moment...
Heaven and hell
Reckless Man
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
He had everything - now (but he didn’t know it)
He wanted everything - now - he demanded it
He spent everything
He lost everything and everyone...
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Aha moment...
He came to himself...
Awakening
Awareness
Action
Praise God for the Aha moment - coming to himself...
we can only help those who want help
we can only get help when we want help...
Awakening - coming to ourself -
Awareness - where am I and why
Action - what do I have to do to change it...
I will arise and go to my Father...
O blessed be God -
For every wandering reckless one - there is a heavenly Father that Loves you and is willing to lovingly receive you back
Religious
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Repentant
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Aha moments are not as rare as we would think...
Aha...
I’m a sinner
In need of a Savior
I am a steward of the belongings of the Lord
I am to live a sanctified life
“Aha”
An “Aha” Moment
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Proclaimed Profession
vs. 29-30
Now you speak plainly - vs 29
Now we are sure - vs 30
Now we believe
Jesus felt their belief was presumptuous - “…Do ye now believe?” vs 31
Proposed Persecution
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
These 11 men will all go to the grave as martyrs for the Savior...
in a few short minutes they will be scattered from the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane
In a few short hours they will save their skin and deny knowing the Lord Jesus
In a few short days they will seek refuge in hiding - away from the mob and masses that crucified the Lord Jesus
In a few short weeks, 7 of the 12 will be back on the shore of Galilee seeking out a source of sustenance.
Persecution
Pressure
Problems for the profession of their faith
If we will not live for our faith, we surely would not die for it...
Proclaimed Profession
Proposed Persecution
3. Promise of Peace
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In the world… ye shall have tribulation...
In me… ye might have Peace...
Notice:
Tribulation was a given
Peace was an option...
It was available - but it was not guaranteed...
Just a few moments ago...
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
my joy MIGHT remain in you
your joy MIGHT be full...
Promise of Peace
Premise of Peace
Possibility of Peace...
Peace, in the midst of the storm
Peace, in the middle of:
testings
Trials
Temptations
Peace in a world of
Turmoil
Tragedy
Torment...
Peace is Available...
AH....
Oh....
I See.......
You - Jesus...
The Son of God....
Have made a way for mankind and Me - to experience life - life eternal...
Aha...
That Aha moment...
Jesus - God
Jesus - the Son of God
Jesus - God in the Flesh...
Jesus… the God of Heaven and Earth...
The God of Salvation...
The God of the sinner
The God of the seeker
The God of the Saint...
Jesus - God...
wants to be a part of your life...
Desires to hear your profession of faith
Warns us of persecution
Promises us - in spite of the turmoil in the World, He proposes to us the Promise of Peace...