Promises from Heaven

If you have your bibles this morning please open them up to John 14. John 14 this morning. And please pray with me, as the little ones move to the time in nursery.

I have titled the message this morning, “Promises from Heaven” Just by a show of hands this morning who wants to go to heaven? Alright all hands should have went up this morning. I have met very few people that are not even Christians who want to go to heaven, now there are many misconceptions about heaven, because people want to make heaven something it truly isn’t, and this is because many people outside of Christ are hoping heaven fulfills the life they want to have. Hoping the relationships of the past are restored, and made new. Hoping that heaven is not like here. Hoping that heaven offers them some kind of life that is better than here, where there desires are fully met. I have quoted this before, I can’t remember if it was to Agape or not, but if so hear it again this morning…

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? ”

Many of us want to go to heaven, but don’t know the one who takes us there. To get to heaven you don’t climb this latter, or check off these boxes, or hope the good out-ways the bad, you put your faith, and trust in Jesus. You say I can’t make it there, but you can, and you can take me to this place called heaven where you will be. There is so much we don’t know about heaven but the text today gives us some promises from heaven. And the main Idea I want you to get this morning is this…

The promises of Heaven comes from Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

and to help us understand that main idea I want you to take note of all the promises we see in the text

and the first is this..

Promise #1 Faith defeats fear.

Jesus is verse 1 of chapter 14 says. John 14:1

John 14:1 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Why would their hearts be troubled, well because if you remember all the way back in chapter 13, Jesus himself was troubled, because of the betrayal of one of his disciples, and the death he was about to face. We see his true humanity here.

Also his disciples just got this news that he was going away. The one who had been pouring into their lives was going away. Remember he said you can come later, but not now. And not only that but the one who seemed to be closest to Jesus, that was Peter was going to deny him three times.

Its like Jesus just dropped this bomb in the room and people where now concerned because the life they knew was about to change in an instant, who wouldn’t be concerned in that situation, who wouldn’t have fear, and he says to them just a few words.. Let your hearts not be troubled, believe in God, believe in also in me.

Everyone in this room and listening online has had their hearts troubled by something, had these great storms come into their lives, when you don’t expect it. And for the disciples they did not see this coming, yet because of their relationship with Jesus it should have comforted them because they knew him, and what he could do they should be comforted. If you are just joining us or need reminder. in the gospel of John we seen Jesus do many miraculous things. He Turned water into wine, he healed the lame man. He made just a few fish and a little bread feed the multitudes, he walked on water, he gave sight to man who was born blind, and he raised Lazarus from the dead.

I love what R.C. Sproul says, If any group of men in human history ever had reason to believe that a man was sent by God, it was these disciples who were assembled there in the upper room that night. So the imperative should not really surprise us. Jesus was telling them to act on what they had seen: “Believe in Me.” Faith in Jesus as the Son of God is the basis for preventing one’s heart from being troubled.

I thought of it like this. To have a faith that defeats fear we need to know Jesus personally. And how else can we know Christ personally except through his word.

Remember the theme of the Gospel of John. John 20:30-31

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This book is not just here for us to look at, but to truly experience Jesus in the same way his own disciples did. We don’t have a relationship with a book, we have a relationship with the one this book is written about. To have a faith that defeats fear we need to know Jesus personally. And how else can we know Christ personally except through his word.

So when the storms of life come, and they will come, we can stand firm knowing who Christ is and what he has done. When Jesus left them, there lives didn’t get easier, but faith in him helped conquer the fear they had in this life.

The disciples could over come fear because of the faith they had in Jesus.

and the promises he had given them.

Promise #2 A place for his children.

To give them more assurance after he was going to leave them. He goes and tells them something wonderful. Listen to verses 2 and 3.

John 14:2–3 ESV

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.

Jesus tells them in my Fathers house there is more than enough room for you. Its not an ordinary room either, some translations say mansions and the greek does not really state that is the case, rather its more like a suite. If you have stayed in a suite you know the rooms are a little nicer than other rooms in the hotel, and thats what Jesus is going to give those who are his. He doesn’t give you a tiny place to stay in heaven, but a suite and i am sure that we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like, but we know that he booked it for us.

He paid the price, we dont use our credit card in heaven, because he paid it all on the cross. He went on our behalf so that we could go with him. Heaven is great because Jesus is there, and heaven is heaven because Jesus is there. If we was not there it would not be heaven. The greatest part of going to heaven is not just this dream suite with all the amenities paid by someone else. Its that Jesus is in heaven. He is the greater treasure, and he is going to bring all who are his to heaven.

Which means that we should have the faith to not even fear things like death, because death for the believer is just the start of eternity in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is going to make sure all who are his are going to come with him, he pays the price and he provides the ride.

But that also means that there must be somewhere people go who are not children of God. And that destination is hell. Hell is a real place where people who have not placed there faith in Jesus Christ go. Remember I said Jesus paid the way to make his children go to heaven, but he did not pay the way for those who deny him in his life. Our sin separates so much from God that God himself is the only one who can pay the debt of our sin, and he did that on the cross, and if you believe in him there is a room for you, but if not, your eternal resting place is in hell.

Third thing I want you to write down this morning is this…

Promise #3 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Listen to verses 4-11

John 14:4–11 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. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Jesus effectively is telling them you know the way to where I am going, but they dont understand in the moment. So Thomas is like we don’t know where you are going how can we know the way. Is there some kind of map you are leaving for us. Some kind of directions, can we go to the next town and ask where Jesus went? Give us something here to help us understand where you are going and how we can go to? Its not yet clicking in their mind because they have not experienced the power of the resurrection. They are greatly confused. So Jesus lays it out to them. Look I am the way, the truth, and the life. This is who I am.

I have loved the titles of Jesus during our study of John so far. He has said, I am the bread of life in chapter 6. I am the light of the world in chapter 8, and 9. I am the door of the sheep in chapter 10. I am the good shepherd in chapter also in chapter 10. Most recently we saw Jesus say I am the resurrection and the life, but today we see in the text my favorite I am statement I am the way, the truth, and the life.

So in this context there is no map to be found, no google earth or apple maps to use to find Jesus, because he is before the disciples very face, and He is the way. The term the way is really the driving force here in the text. He is the way, not a way, the way. There is no way to God outside Jesus Christ. None whatsoever. All these other religions who claim to get to a sacred place fall short, because they dont have Jesus. Who makes a way to God. Jesus came to make the way, so all who believe in him can have a way. Its a simple as that.

And in the way. There is truth and life, and we have seen that over and over again in the gospel of John. Just as a reminder let me share we you some of these amazing verses.

John 1:14 ESV

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 full of Truth

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

In Jesus life itself rests.

John 3:15 ESV

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

That reality is for all believers.

John 11:25 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Jesus brings life to those who believe him.

One man said, “He so mediates God’s truth and God’s life that he is the very way to God.”

and the truth is no one can come to the Father except though Jesus. Salvation belongs to the Lord. It does not belong to you and I, or any other religion. One can only come to God through Jesus Christ. We don’t all end up in the same place, but we all end up answering to him. Jesus really pushes them in this text and he says hey If you had known me, you would have known my father also, From now on you do know him and have see him. He says look in me and you will know God the Father, you have seen God if you have seen me.

And that wasn’t enough for them, because Philip is like Just show us the Father and it is enough. What did they want a polaroid? I mean come on now, we see it, Jesus is God, the Son of God, but we have a different place in history to see that very thing. And Jesus doesn't bite on that. He says, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me Philip? Whats it going to take for these people to believe this? Its going to take the cross, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will see that more next week.

Jesus is like look. Whoever sees me, sees the Father. ( there is but one God, three persons ) So how can you say, Show us the Father? Jesus words reveal that he is in the father and Jesus works reveal the father is him. His words and works show that he and the father are perfectly aligned with one another. No man did what Jesus did. No one. No one throughout history revealed God to mankind like Jesus, because Jesus is God. He says See it for yourself Philip. Just a little while ago I read some things Jesus did on earth, that the disciples witnessed for themselves, and yet they are still wanting more. Show me one more thing. There is always people who will want one more thing, but Jesus did enough. And if you believe that he did enough on the cross to save you of your sins than you can receive the promises of heaven for yourself, And know that he made a way and a place for you, because he is the truth and the life, and faith he gives can remove all the fear in your life.

Two bits of application for us today that are promises to us, the forth promise is this.

Promise #4 Greater Works, geographically, ethnically, numerically, and spiritually.

John 14:12 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

These greater works are rooted in a few things. One faith. It takes faith in Christ to be able to receive this kind of promise. Two it takes Jesus fulfilling his mission on earth and going back to the father in order for these works to be fulfilled. Jesus had to live a perfect life, had to die on the cross for sinners, and had to rise again and return to the father to make these greater works possible. Without him we would not see these great works.

But how are they greater? Are they greater because we are going to do greater things than Jesus Christ. No we are not going to do those things I told you about earlier. Those signs belong to Jesus to show others that he was the Son of God.

They are greater because disciples of Christ are going to have a larger ministry than Jesus had in his day. Nothing we do is greater than what Jesus did on earth. During my study i found from someone else who said there are four ways that our works will be greater than Jesus, and the first is this..

Our works are greater geographically.

Jesus did his ministry in the context of Israel. His public ministry did not go outside of it. Though it reaches to the North, South, East, and West, but he did his ministry in one place.

His own disciples got to participate is spreading of the gospel to the known world. Reaching thousands of more people than Jesus did during his time.

Today we get to know Christ because of the message of Jesus was brought to us. And we get to share the gospel message to others. Just this week our church online views had people from Oklahoma, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, and even Panama.

Our works are greater ethnically. Jesus ministry was primary to the Jews, shortly after the gospel message was going to the Romans, to the gentiles and eventually would make it all throughout the world.

In 2021 the International Mission Board reported that 93 new people groups were exposed to the gospel, and 592,408 heard the gospel and when you give to this church part of that goes to help reach different ethnic groups around the world hear the gospel message, and that matters, because its estimated that 157, 690 people die without Christ every day.

Our works are greater numerically. The early church started with just a few dozen disciples. But quickly grew to over 3000 in acts chapter 2.

There are over 50000 SBC churches reaching people in every town, every state in this country. God is continuing to add people to his church because faithful people are doing the work, and he is calling them to himself.

Finally, our works are greater spiritually. Jesus saw many people come directly to faith in him, but did not see in person the amount of people that came to Christ as his own disciples did, nor than people like Charles Spurgeon who preached to over 10 million people in person in his life, or Billy Graham who is estimated to preach to 215 million people during his 400 crusades.

I like what one man said, Jesus may have raised the physically dead, but the disciples were able to witness the spiritually dead come to life.

So we see through those four things that God is accomplishing something great on earth, because of what he has done through the people he has redeemed.

Those greater works fits into the mission of this church. We should want to share the good news of Christ to others, because he prepared a place for us, and tells us that we are to do great works.

We should want to figure out a way to educate and equip those in church so we can live for him, and grow into his likeness. And to be the church and encourage one another.

One more thing today and its this. Second application fifth promise

Promise #5 God answers prayers.

John 14:13–14 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Notice how God answers prayer. Its not God give me what I want, its God be glorified through this prayer. That does not mean we can’t go to him and ask him for things. But Jesus expects our prayers to bring glory to God. How many times do you go to God in prayer, because you want him to be glorified. Thats convicting to me.

Hudson Taylor a missionary to China said this, “I used to ask God to help me. Then, I asked him if i might help him. Finally, I ended up asking him to do his work in me and through me, of he would be so pleased.”

I wish I read that 13 months ago as you called me to be your pastor. Because I have had weeks where I am like help me God. Help me figure out a way to grow this church and pastor these people. But I have had weeks were I like how can I help you do what you want to do here, but hopefully after today I am like God do a great work in me and through me, so you can bring about glory to yourself. Its not about what I can do, or what anyone in this room can do its about us taking that step and saying God do a work in me and through me if you please, but help me as i wait for you to do it.

But notice it says we can also be confident in our prayers. How can we be confident in prayer, because of Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

One last quote for you today, John Piper says this… Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.

And boy is he wealthy… So much treasure in todays word.

I want to ask you though are you confident that you know the way. That the only way to God is through Jesus Christ, and because of your sin you can only come through Christ, Do you know that Christ had to pay the price for you on the cross, a price you could not pay because your sin costs that much to a Holy God. No matter if you are the richest in the world you cannot pay the price for the sin you have commited in this life. But Jesus Christ being rich, and I mean rich in mercy went a paid it for all who believe in him. Dying a painful terrible death on the cross, but by the power of God he rose again on the third day, thus having dominion over sin and death, and promising to those who believe in him a place with many rooms, and a room for all eternity booked and paid for by Jesus for you if you are his. To be his repent of those sins, and turn to him by faith alone, and you can live for him the rest of your life doing great things for him, without fear, knowing he answers your prayers.

The promises of Heaven comes from Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

pray with me…

Lets end in a time of prayer today..