One way
Series: No Ordinary Life
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 2nd October 2011
Passages:
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 The earth is filled with your love, O Lord.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 Teach me your decrees.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 Do good to your servant according to your word, O Lord.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:18 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:23 Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 You are good, and what you do is good.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 Teach me your decrees.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:34 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:50 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
00:00:50 --> 00:01:00 And the second reading is John chapter 14, verses 1 to 17.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:09 Do not let your hearts be troubled.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:10 Trust in God.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 Trust also in me.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 In my Father's house are many rooms.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 If it were not so, I would have told you.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 I'm going there to prepare a place for you.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:28 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 that you also may be where I am.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 You know the way to the place where I am going.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:38 Thomas said to him,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 Jesus answered,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 I am the way and the truth and the life.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 No one comes to the Father except through me.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 From now on, you do know him and have seen him.
00:01:59 --> 00:01:59 Philip said,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 Jesus answered,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:11 Don't you know me, Philip, even after I've been among you such a long time?
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 How can you say, show us the Father?
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 The words I say to you are not just my own.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 Rather, it is the Father living in me who is doing his work.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 Or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 I tell you the truth.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:44 Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:49 He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:55 And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 If you love me, you will obey what I command.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:09 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another counsellor to be with you forever.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:16 The spirit of truth, the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 But you know him for he lives with you and he will be in you.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:31 Good evening everyone.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 Great to be here.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:38 Let me pray that God would help us understand his word tonight.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 Father God, we do pray for your spirit to be with us now.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:51 Your word says here in John that your spirit will come and lead us into all truth.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 And so we ask that you might do that for us now.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:59 Lord, you know the wrestle that has happened over this passage.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:07 And so Lord, I pray that in spite of my inadequacies that you would pour out your spirit to help us to understand it.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:17 Bring us clarity as you promised you will by your spirit so that we might see the glory of Jesus and love him and love his word and seek to obey him.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 And we ask it for your sake.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 Amen.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:30 The departures level at an international airport is very different than the arrivals level.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:42 In departures, if you've been there, you'll notice that there are tears, apprehension, uncertainty, even fear on some people's faces.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:50 But on the arrival level, there is joy and hugs and kisses and balloons and gifts and all sorts of other stuff like that.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:58 What I've noticed is on the departure level, just before you go through into customs where only those who hold tickets are allowed to go,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:05 people tend to linger in that area, making it very frustrating for people like myself who just want to go through.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 People linger and there's just hugs and there's tears and the last sort of hugs.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:14 And we come back and we have another hug and it's like, oh, come on, you know, just get on with it.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:22 But it's particularly, in fact, last time I went there, there was customs guys shooing people out who decided they're going to follow their family in.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:30 It's particularly disappointing or heart-wrenching, I suppose, when you see children saying goodbye to mum or dad or someone like that
00:05:30 --> 00:05:38 and just tears running down their face and they just can't go through that door and follow them through into the building.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 However, there's not the same kind of lingering at arrivals.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 You don't want to get to the doorway to walk out of customs.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:52 Go, let's get a last glimpse of customs before I cruise on out into the arrival hall.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:56 It's like, no lingering, get my bag, you know, get out of the way, dogs.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 I just want to go straight through.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:02 No lingering, get straight to the people who are awaiting me at the other end.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 Well, I don't know, I'm assuming you've picked this up in the last couple of weeks,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:12 but when we look into John 13 to 17 as we are at the moment, we are in the departure terminal.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 That's where we are.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:19 Jesus is spending the last few hours with his disciples before his departure,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 before he's arrested, his trial and his execution.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 And so the atmosphere in the large upper room is tense.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 It's unhappy.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 It's uncertain.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:36 The news that Jesus was leaving was the worst possible news for the disciples.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:42 The thought of life without Jesus was almost too much for them to bear.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:48 Of course, the irony is on this night that it is Jesus who is about to go to the agony of the cross.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:56 And as it says in chapter 13, verse 21, it is Jesus who is troubled in spirit in this moment.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:02 But on the night where it would have been appropriate for the disciples to comfort Jesus
00:07:02 --> 00:07:07 and to give Jesus some kind of support, they can only see their loss.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 On the night that he's going to taste death on their behalf,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:18 he speaks to their confused bewilderment, their fickle faith, their dim vision and their self-absorption.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 He begins in verse 1,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 Do not let your hearts be troubled.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Trust in God.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 Trust also in me.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:33 To demand untroubled hearts would be cruel and it would be empty advice
00:07:33 --> 00:07:39 if Jesus hadn't also spoken on the basis of which such untroubled hearts could be accomplished.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 And he says it there.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 It's trust.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 He says, trust in God the Father.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 Trust in himself.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 Trust in God.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 Trust in me.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 Is what he says.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 And it is a massive claim.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:02 Jesus is saying something very significant about himself with that statement.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 But I suspect it has slipped right by the disciples.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:11 And so what Jesus does is, in these first few verses of John 14,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:19 is he reviews some of his earlier teaching on who is Jesus for the slow learners,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 which is basically all of them.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:25 Which is quite comforting for people like me, that there are others out there as well.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 And so in verses 2 to 7,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 Jesus lays out three great truths that must be believed
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 if the disciples have any comfort at all with the departure of Jesus.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:42 Three big truths about Jesus and what he will achieve.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:46 So firstly, that Jesus isn't just simply going away,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:51 but that his going away is to his Father's spacious house
00:08:51 --> 00:08:55 and in getting there to prepare a place for his disciples.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 So it says there,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 In my Father's house are many rooms.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:03 If it were not so, I would have told you I'm going there to prepare a place for you.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:07 So that's a verse which, most often than not,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 it's used in funerals to bring some sort of comfort.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 But the bottom line here of Jesus' assurance to the disciples
00:09:14 --> 00:09:19 is that although he is returning to the Father,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 he will one day be united with his disciples again
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 because he goes to prepare a place for them,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 a permanent dwelling in the presence of God.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 Well, why does he need to do that?
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 Why does he need to clear off?
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 Why does he need to depart in order to go and do that?
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 I mean, at the beginning of John's Gospel,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 it says that Jesus is God's agent in creation.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 He speaks and worlds come into existence.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:55 So why is it taking so long to fix up a few rooms?
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Or maybe quite a few rooms.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 2 years at the moment.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:05 The key is this.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:11 The departure of Jesus in John's Gospel is referred to a number of different ways,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 but it all refers to one event.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:19 His return to his Father by way of the cross and resurrection.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 So Jesus is not saying,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:27 I'm going back to the Father's house so that after I get there,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 I'll be able to get some rooms ready for you,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:34 make up some beds and put out some flowers or whatever it might be.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Instead, he's saying,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:47 I'm returning to the Father's house in order that the very return may be the way I prepare the place.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:59 It is the way he departs which prepares the place for us in the Father's house.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:05 The rooms with God are prepared via the cross.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 That is the truth of his departure.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 And if it is believed,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:17 then their trust in God and in Jesus will triumph over doubts and troubled minds.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 That's the first thing they must believe.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:25 The faith of these first disciples will be stable and strong in proportion
00:11:25 --> 00:11:29 as it rests in Jesus,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 as it does in God,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:35 believing that Jesus' departure via the cross
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 was a return to the Father's presence,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 a return to the Father's presence,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:45 which has opened up the presence of God to them.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 There's 12 guys sitting in a room with him.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 11 now, actually.
00:11:53 --> 00:12:00 The faith of 21st century disciples of Jesus
00:12:00 --> 00:12:04 will be stable and strong in proportion
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 as it rests in Jesus,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 as it does in God,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 believing that Jesus' departure via the cross
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 was a return to the Father's presence,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:18 a return that has opened up the presence of God for us.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 The second truth that must be believed
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 that the disciples have any comfort is in verse 3.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 And if I go to prepare a place for you,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 I will come back and take you to be with me,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 that you also may be where I am.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 So what the promise here is,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 Jesus will return and he will fetch his own
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 and take them to be with him.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 It's an intensely personal promise.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 I am going to prepare a place for you.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:49 I will come back and take you to be with me,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 that you also will be where I am.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:59 What troubles the disciples here
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 is the sense of abandonment.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 But Jesus makes it clear that his departure
00:13:05 --> 00:13:09 is the necessary preparation for them joining him.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 He assures them that they are not losing him,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 they are in fact gaining him.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:18 He will come back and he will take them to be where he is.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 It is the supreme hope of the church.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 That Christ will come back
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 and he will take us to be with him.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 But in waiting for him now,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 we must never lose sight of the most blessed thing
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 about the second coming of Christ.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 It is to be with Christ.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 That's the best bit.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 It is true that when Jesus comes back,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 this world as we know it will wind up.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 History will end.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 Moral chaos and human rebellion will cease.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 It is true that the second coming of Christ
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 means that this world is not out of control.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 It has a future.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 It's heading somewhere.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 It has purpose.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 It has meaning.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 But the greatest thing about the second coming of Christ
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 is it means that we will be with Christ.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 We get Christ.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 We get Jesus, the presence of Jesus.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11 It's not even that we get heaven per se.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 It is not the arrival of final and decisive judgment.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 It is not the end of disease and sickness and pain.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:24 It is Jesus to see him face to face.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:28 The third truth that must be believed
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 if the disciples did have any comfort with Jesus' departure
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 is in verse 4.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 You know the way to the place where I'm going.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 Thomas said to him,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 Lord, we don't know where you're going,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 so how can we know the way?
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Jesus answered,
00:14:41 --> 00:15:03 The third comfort is that Jesus' disciples know the way to the place where he's going.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:07 But apparently they don't.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 You see, you're confused Thomas pipes in,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 although the others are probably thinking it,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 in verse 5.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 Lord, we don't know where you're going,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 so how can we know the way?
00:15:22 --> 00:15:26 There's something very attractive about this Thomas.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 He doesn't bluff.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 He doesn't sort of sit back there and, you know,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 rub his chin and nod wisely
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 as if he knows exactly what Jesus is saying
00:15:35 --> 00:15:38 when he's got no idea what he's saying.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:44 But he's actually probably more ignorant than he thinks.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 Notice what he says here.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Have a look at it.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 Verse 5.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 We don't know where you are going,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 so how can we know the way?
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 Not only does he not know the way to the Father's presence,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 but he's making the assumption
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 that the way that Jesus gets to the Father's presence
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 is the way that the disciples get to the Father's presence.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 If Jesus had gone that way,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 then we would naturally just follow Jesus.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And so Jesus,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 sensitive to Thomas' misunderstanding,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 stops talking about his own departure
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and way to the Father
00:16:28 --> 00:16:32 and starts talking about the way Thomas
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 and the disciples must travel.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 Verse 6.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 I am the way
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 and the truth
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 and the life.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 No one comes to the Father
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 except through me.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 The way of Jesus to the Father's presence
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 is via the cross
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 and the way of the disciples
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 to the Father's presence
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 is Jesus.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 It's Jesus.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 He is the way.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 He who was betrayed by an apostle,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 disowned by another apostle,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 abandoned by the rest of the apostles,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 condemned by lying witnesses.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 This Jesus is the truth.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 It's not just that he speaks truth,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 but that he is truth.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 He is truth in bodily form
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 just as he was loving bodily form
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 and holiness in bodily form.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 He unveils the truth of God.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 He reveals God to us.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 And he who died condemned
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 through his death
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 allows others to have life.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 The triple claim here is staggering.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 He is not saying that he is another way
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 to the Father's presence.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 He is saying he is the way
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 and the truth
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 and the life.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 There is no other option.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 This is the answer to Thomas' question.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 He is the way.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 Jesus is the way to the Father
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 for the disciples.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 And with that statement,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 we have now gone back to verse 1.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 Trust in God.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 Trust also in me.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 Stable, serene, triumphant faith
00:18:10 --> 00:18:15 between the first and second comings of Jesus
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 has Jesus as its object.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:29 But is that enough comfort for the disciples?
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 Great to know Jesus.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 You're going to depart.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 You're going to open up a way.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 We're going to get to the Father's presence.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 You're preparing some rooms for us.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 Fantastic.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 But it all just seems so distant.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 It seems so future.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 What about now, Jesus?
00:18:47 --> 00:18:50 The reality is we're still sitting in the departure lounge
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and you're going to leave.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 You're still going.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 What about now?
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Verse 16.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 And I will ask the Father
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 and he will give you another counselor
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 to be with you forever.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 The spirit of truth.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 Jesus says to his grieving disciples,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 I am going to the Father
00:19:15 --> 00:19:18 and he will send you another counselor.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 Another, meaning literally,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 of the same kind.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 Doing just the work that Jesus was doing.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Just like Jesus.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 And according to verse 16,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 this other counselor
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 is going to come and be with them forever.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 This other counselor will not depart
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 like Jesus has departed.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:44 Is that not what you need
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 when you're feeling abandoned?
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Is it not what you need?
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 Is this not a comfort to the disciples,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 do you think?
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 A permanent counselor?
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Any ideas?
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 The odd nod of a head would be great.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 Is this not what the disciples needed?
00:20:05 --> 00:20:08 I don't think so.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 I'll tell you why.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 I'm standing at the door in the customs.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 I've got my ticket.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 Nat's got her ticket.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 And we say to Isabel and Phoebe,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 we're going away.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 We're going away for a while.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 We just got some business we need to attend to.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 We'll sort it out.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 And when we come back at some point,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 we'll take you with us
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 and you'll come with us.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 But we don't know when that will be,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 but it'll be sometime in the future.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 What do you mean?
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 They're going to be staggered at that point.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 But don't worry.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 We're going to...
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 We've already asked a relative
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 who you've never met before
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 to come in and look after you
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 until we're gone.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 Oh, fantastic.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 Do you think that's great news for them?
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 They want...
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 Jesus is what they want.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 And so it's not a comfort
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 until you get verse 16
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 and you match it with verse 23
00:21:21 --> 00:21:25 and the staggering implications.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 If anyone loves me,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 he will obey my teaching.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 My Father will love him
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 and we,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 Jesus and the Father,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 will come to him
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and make our home with him.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Notice the word home here.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Let's just hone in on this.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 If you haven't got a Bible open,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 you really need a Bible open.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 Seriously.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 And because I'm going to get to a point
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 later in the sermon,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 you're going to feel guilty
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 if you haven't got a Bible open right now.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 Notice the word home in verse 23.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:02 It is a rare word in the New Testament.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 In fact,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 it is only used in one other place
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 in the New Testament.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:12 And it's used in verse 2 of John 14
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 where it is translated rooms.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 In verse 2,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 Jesus says that by going to the cross,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 he is preparing a room,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 a dwelling place with the Father.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 But in verse 23,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 Jesus is saying
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 that he's going to prepare in us
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 a home,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 a dwelling place,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:34 a room for him and his Father.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 The departure of Jesus
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 to the Father via the cross
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 is going to prepare two things.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 A room for us
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 with the Father and the Son
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 in heaven
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 in eternal bliss
00:22:46 --> 00:22:49 and a room for the Father
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 and the Son
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 with us here
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 on earth
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 now.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:57 That
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 is good news.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 That is what they wanted to hear.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 Not just a place with God
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 at some point in the future,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 good thing,
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 great thing to look forward to,
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 but a place for God
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 with us here
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 right now.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 The coming of the Spirit
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 who will never leave
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 will unite
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 the Father and the Son
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 with the disciple.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:30 Jesus is
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 not distant.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 His disciples
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 have not been abandoned.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 I actually think
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 that Jesus
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 is saying here
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 to his bewildered disciples
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 when the Spirit comes
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 it will in fact
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 be better.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 He actually says
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 before you're good
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 that I depart.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 And I think he's saying
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 the reason is
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 because when the Spirit comes
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 it will be better.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 It's not going to be as good
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 as when we get to heaven.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 That's going to be fantastic.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 But it's going to be better
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 than what it was
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 for the last three years.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 His presence
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 will be permanent
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 with us
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 is what he's saying.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 And so how do we,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 how does the Spirit do that?
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 How does the Spirit
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 connect us
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 so that we have
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 the presence of Christ
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 and the Father now?
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 Well,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 now that we know
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 the way
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 to the Father's presence
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 is Jesus
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 and for the Father's presence
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 with us
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 is Jesus.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:35 we also need to remember
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the Holy Spirit
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 has come
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 so that we will not forget
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 that Jesus is also the truth.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 Verse 26,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 the Counselor,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 the Holy Spirit
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 and the Father
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 will send in my name
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 will teach you all things
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 and will remind you
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 of everything
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 I've said to you.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 The Spirit will teach
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 the disciples
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 referring specifically
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 to these 12 dudes,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 11 dudes
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 sitting with Jesus
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 in his upper room
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 teach the disciples
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 all things
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 and remind them
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 of everything
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 that Jesus said.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 See,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 and this is fantastic
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 because up until this point
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 these blokes
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 have been
00:25:05 --> 00:25:08 basically quite confused.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 They have been
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 characterized
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 by misunderstanding
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 as to the person
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 of Jesus.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 We even see it
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 at the beginning there
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 of John 14.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 And all of this
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 is going to change
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 when the Spirit arrives.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 That's one of the reasons
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 it's going to be better
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 when the Spirit comes
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 because there will be clarity
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 on the person of Jesus.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 The Holy Spirit
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 will come
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 and will teach
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 from exactly
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 the same syllabus
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 that Jesus
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 has been teaching from.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 He will,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 as it says in verse 26,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 remind them of
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 and take them back
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 to the teaching of Jesus.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 The Spirit would ensure
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 that these original disciples
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 would not forget Jesus,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 would ensure
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 that they have
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 absolute clarity
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 on Jesus,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 on his life
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 and his commandments
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 and his teaching.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 salvation.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 Well, that's great for them
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 but what about us?
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 I mean, I wasn't there
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 when Jesus taught.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 I didn't walk with Jesus
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 and eat with him
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 and listen to him
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 and
00:26:03 --> 00:26:07 how do we know
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 the presence of Jesus now?
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 How can I get his comfort
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 while I wait for him
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 to return now?
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 Well,
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 I think it's
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 verse 21 of 14,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 Jesus says
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 that he will
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 show himself
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 and in chapter 17
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 verse 20,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 Jesus prays this prayer.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 My prayer is not
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 for them alone,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 talking about
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 his original disciples,
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 the ones that are
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 sitting there
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 in the room with him.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 I pray also
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 for those
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 who will believe
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 in me
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 through
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 their
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 message.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 Jesus
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 reveals himself
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 to us
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 through
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 their
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 message.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 The same Holy Spirit
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 that helped them
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 to remember
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 Jesus
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 is the same Holy Spirit
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 that helps us
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 to see Jesus
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 in what they have
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 written.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 We experience
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 the presence
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 and the promise
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 and the comfort
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 and the truth
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 of Jesus
00:27:05 --> 00:27:08 in what they
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 have written.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 The Word of God.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 The Spirit
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 takes
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 the Word of God
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 and makes it
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 come alive.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 That is one reason.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 In fact,
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 I would suggest
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 it's the main reason
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 why we have
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 Christ-centered
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Bible saturation
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 as one of our
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 core values.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 Jesus.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Why do I have
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 that?
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 Because I want
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 Jesus.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 I want the
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 presence of
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 Jesus.
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 Preaching,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 journaling,
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 quiet times,
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Bible study,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 whatever you want
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 to call it,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 they are all
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 the backbone
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 of stable faith.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 Bible study.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 The Bible is our
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 standard of faith
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 and conduct
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 and leads us
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 to know Jesus
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 and see Jesus
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 and believe Jesus
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 and trust Jesus
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and treasure Jesus
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 and experience
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 the presence
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 of Jesus.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:09 you see,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 we don't just gather
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 here week after
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 week just to have
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 the Bible
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 explained.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 It's not just about
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 gathering knowledge.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 I mean,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 I used to do that
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 for many years
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 of my ministry.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 I'd get up
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 and I'd pray,
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 Lord,
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 help me to explain
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 the Bible.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 Well,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 that's good,
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 but that's one step
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 back.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 I mean,
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 you explain the Bible
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 so that you might
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 see Jesus.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 That's the point.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 that's why you've
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 got to work hard
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 to explain it well
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 so that you might
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 see Jesus.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 Explaining,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 it's not just the end.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 That's not the end of it.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 The work of the Spirit
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 is not simply
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 the revelation
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 of truth to be known,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 but that this clarity
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 might lead us
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 to something
00:28:53 --> 00:28:56 so that we might
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 love Jesus
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 and treasure Jesus.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 And so,
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 one of the clear marks
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 of the work
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 of the Spirit
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 in a Christian's life
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 is that they do,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 in fact,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 love Jesus
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 and savour Jesus
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 and treasure Jesus
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 and how do we know
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 if we love Jesus?
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 Jesus,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 in fact,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 makes it four times,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 he says,
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 it makes it very clear
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 in John 14
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 what it means
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 to love him.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 How do we know
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 that we love him?
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 Verse 15,
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 if you love me,
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 you will obey
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 what I command.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 Verse 21,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 whoever has my commands
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 and obeys them,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 he is the one
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 who loves me.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 Verse 23,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 if anyone loves me,
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 he will obey my teaching.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 Verse 24,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 he who does not love me
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 will not obey
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 my teaching.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 The test
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 of authentic love
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 of Christ
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 and the clear evidence
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 that you are united
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 with Christ
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 by the Spirit
00:29:49 --> 00:29:52 is whether you obey
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 his commands
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 and his teaching.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 The possibility
00:29:56 --> 00:29:59 here for these disciples
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 of the abandonment
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 of Jesus
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 was just shocking
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 for them.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 He speaks
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 to their confused
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 bewilderment,
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 their fickle faith,
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 their dim vision,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 their self-absorption
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 and how does he
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 deal
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 with
00:30:12 --> 00:30:15 their great concern
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 that Jesus
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 is departing?
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 By focusing
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 the attention
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 on himself.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 He doesn't say,
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 okay guys,
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 I'm going,
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 but I'm going to send
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 a counselor,
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 he'll take care of you,
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 he'll sort of like
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 sort things out
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 until I come back again.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 He's going to be
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 my proxy.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:36 that's not the comfort.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 And it's not
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 some sort of
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 cheap comfort,
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 a simple slap
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 on the back
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 and a quick hug
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 and a nice little
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 card or a casserole
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 for them to take home.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 Comfort for the
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 disciples here
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 is intensely
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 focused on the
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 person of Jesus.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 And the Spirit
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 will come
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 to make sure
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 the spotlight
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 stays on the way,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 the truth
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 and the life.
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 And so if you are
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 a struggling disciple
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 right now,
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 I want you to know
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 that there are
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 no quick fixes,
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 no shortcuts,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 no techniques,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 no extra spiritual
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 blessing
00:31:21 --> 00:31:23 that will make you
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 stable,
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 that will make you
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 comforted
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 as a disciple
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 of Jesus
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 while you wait
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 for him to come.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:33 you want to know
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 Jesus,
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 you want to love
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 him,
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 you want to
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 treasure him,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 you want to
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 experience
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 the presence
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 of Christ,
00:31:40 --> 00:31:43 you'll find it
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 in the scriptures.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 The Spirit
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 of God
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 will make
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 those words
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 on pages
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 come alive
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 and you
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 will see
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 Christ.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 That's the work
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 of the Spirit,
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 one of the works
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 of the Spirit.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 There are no
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 quick fixes,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 just the earnest
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 discipline searching
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 the scriptures
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 in the power of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 the Spirit
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 to see Christ,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 to know his
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 presence and his
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 comfort.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 I work hard
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 not just to do
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 Bible study,
00:32:16 --> 00:32:20 I work hard
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 to commune
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 with Christ
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 in the scriptures,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 to commune
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 with Christ
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 in the scriptures.
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 It's a real shame
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 that he's very
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 hard to understand
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 but it would all
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 do us very well
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 to read John
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Owen.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 He's incredibly
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 difficult to
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 understand
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 but it would do
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 us very well
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 to read
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 John Owen's
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 communion with
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 God.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 If we are not
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 consistently
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 searching the
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 scriptures for
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 communion with
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 God,
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 then our
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 faith will
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 be fickle,
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 we will be
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 disillusioned,
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 discouraged,
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 we will feel
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 abandoned by
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 God
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 regularly.
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 And so it's
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 a great concern
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 for me that
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 over 70% of
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 Christians don't
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 see the Bible
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 as crucial for
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 their faith.
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 They don't see
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 the Bible as
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 crucial for
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 their faith.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 In the
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 struggles and
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 the battles of
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 living in this
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 world as
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 followers of
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 Christ, we
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 are not
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 alone.
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 Jesus is
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 with us
00:33:30 --> 00:33:33 and the
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 Spirit is
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 helping us to
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 see Jesus in
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 the scriptures
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 and if you're
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 not reading the
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 scriptures, you're
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 not seeing
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 Jesus.
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 You won't
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 find him
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 somewhere else.
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 God, I
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 want to
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 see the
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 truth.
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 He is the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 truth and he is
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 the life and the
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 Holy Spirit makes
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 sure that we know
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 it, that we know
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Jesus and see Jesus and
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 that we experience his
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 presence and his
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 comfort.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 He has not
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 abandoned us.
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 If you are fickle,
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 you're struggling in
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 your faith, pick up
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 your Bible and read it
00:34:01 --> 00:34:03 and ask God, the
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 Spirit, to bring
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 illumination that you
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 might see the glory of
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 God in the face of
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 Christ.
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 Let's pray.
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 Father God, pour out
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 your Spirit upon your
00:34:13 --> 00:34:15 people here, we pray, so
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 that when we come to
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 your word, it's not
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 just an intellectual
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 exercise of just
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 wanting to
00:34:21 --> 00:34:24 understand a book.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 God forbid that we
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 would stop there.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 Father, we pray that we
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 would earnestly study
00:34:31 --> 00:34:34 your word, not just to
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 simply gain knowledge,
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 but to commune with
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 you.
00:34:38 --> 00:34:40 Father, give us, I
00:34:40 --> 00:34:42 pray, mercifully give
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 us a glimpse of what,
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 give us a taste of what
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 that's like in such a
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 way that we would
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 desire not just a taste,
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 but to desire to feast
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 on you and your word,
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 that we might see the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 glory of you in the
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 face of Christ.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 And we ask it for your
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 sake.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 Amen.