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Tuesday Aug 01, 2023
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Abiding and Fruit
John 15 July 16, 2023
I. Introduction:
A. How many of you have ever snorkeled or scuba dived by a coral
reef?
1. Picture of coral reef
2. They are loaded with many different beautiful views and unique
beautiful fish swimming there.
3. That is the way I feel about the metaphor in John 15 of the vine
and the branches, which helps us understand our relationship
with Jesus.
a. I have thought about, studied, and read about this passage for
decades and I am still overwhelmed by the beauty of the
truths and the new things I keep finding!
b. That is my way of saying it is worth your time, to jump into
this passage and swim around in it over and over again!
B. Since Don did such a great job of preaching through this passage
about two months ago, I am going focus on two key aspects of it
this morning. What abiding means and what is the fruit in this
passage!
C. Let me remind you quickly of the big picture of this passage as Don
presented it to us that morning:
1. God’s pruning goes before God’s produce
2. God will work in you to produce fruit through you
3. God promises to answer our prayers
D. The heart of the truth of this passage can be summarized in verses 4
and 5.
1. V 4 presents it negatively, while v5 presents it positively!
2. Read v4-5
3. Simply stated: apart from Jesus we cannot bear fruit, abide in
Jesus to bear fruit!
4. Another way to say it is: it is impossible to bear fruit for God
unless you abide in Jesus.
a. Note “cannot” speaks to our inability
b. “Bear” speaks of the bringing something forth, producing
something, giving birth to something!
c. “Of itself” speaks to the fact that we are not the source of
fruit, we are not the ones who bring about or produce
fruit! All by ourselves, we cannot do it!
5. Fruit bearing is something that can only happens when the life
of the vine (Jesus) flows into and through the branches (the
believer) to produce the fruit!
• Let me start by looking at John 15 to see
II. What is the fruit?
A. Fruit is simply an internal invisible power or life working within a
plant, tree, a vine, a person to produce an external visible
expression.
B. Fruit is the main driver and theme of this passage as bearing fruit is
talked about six times in this passage as we see a movement from –
no fruit, to fruit, to more fruit, too much fruit!
1. Fruit is the means by which the Father is glorified. Read v8
C. So the question I want to answer today is what is that fruit that is
borne by us when Jesus life is operating in us?
1. Many with the gift of evangelism or a strong bent for the
mission Jesus gave us interpret fruit here as people who are
saved!
a. While people being saved is one expression of the fruit, I do
not think the context nor the rest of the New Testament
supports it as the only kind of fruit in this passage.
2. Listen to these other expressions of fruit in the New Testament
a. Winning others to Christ – Romans 1:13, John 4:35-38
b. Holiness – Romans 6:22
c. Giving of your finances – Romans 15:28; Philippians 4:17
d. Fruit of the Spirit (character of Jesus within and through us)–
Galatians 5:22-23
e. Righteousness Philippians 1:11; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18
f. Giving thanks Hebrews 13:15
g. Goodness, righteousness, truth - Ephesians 5:9
h. Various forms of ministry - Romans 1:11-13
D. So whenever you are displaying the internal character of Jesus you
are displaying the fruit of the indwelling Jesus within you. When
you are ministering to saved or lost people, especially in the areas
of your giftedness the outcomes of that upon other people are
evidences of fruit of Jesus working through you.
1. So when someone encourages someone who is discouraged the
fruit is when God actually encourages that person through you
2. So when someone helps someone else in need the fruit of that is
that God meets a need in that person’s life
3. So when someone with the gift of mercy feels with and gently
cares for the person who is hurting the fruit is that they feel
comforted, understood and seen.
E. My best definition of fruit is John 15. Fruit is any expression of
Jesus’ character in that person, or any expression of Jesus through
their unique make up and giftedness that impacts others.
F. As you answer the following question I think you will see why I
believe that
1. What kind of fruit does an apple tree produce? apples
2. What kind of fruit does a peach tree produce? peach
3. What kind of fruit does an orange tree produce? orange
4. What kind of fruit does a grape vine produce? grape
5. What kind of fruit does a Jesus vine produce? Jesus
G. It is the unique expression of Jesus’ life through you in light of the
way he uniquely designed, gifted and called you!
H. I remember being in seminary and working for a man who grew up
as a farmer and had a large garden in his back yard!
1. He had a peach tree in his garden which I loved eating tree
ripened peaches off.
2. One day he told me that in the past, he had grafted a branch
from a pear tree into a peach tree, and then he asked me “what
kind of fruit do you think that branch bore?”
a. I guessed pear – he said no! I said peach – he said no
b. He told me it was a completely different kind of fruit that
had characteristics and taste of both a pear and peach mixed
together as one!
I. I believe that is what fruit looks like through each individual
uniquely made and gifted believer/branch that is plugged into the
vine Jesus.
1. Jesus expressing himself in and through branch Pat is going to
look very different from Jesus expressing himself in and
through branch Kim.
2. Jesus expressing himself in and through branch Pat Peglow is
going to look very different from Jesus expressing himself in
and through branch Don Kauffman.
3. Etc etc. etc.
• All of this fruit is dependent upon
III. Abiding in Jesus!
A. So what does it mean to abide in Jesus?
1. I think to understand this passage we need to understand that the
word abiding has two aspects to its meaning and two aspects to
its application!
2. The two aspects of its meaning – one aspect has to do with time
and the other with place
a. Time – to remain, stay or continue in some state or place
b. Place – the word is also used to indicate a dwelling place, an
abode, someone’s residence or home.
1. Read John 14:2 – dwelling places
2. Read John 14:23 – abode – our residence, our home
c. So the PBP definition is simply continue to be at home with
Jesus! It is that ongoing close and intimate relationship with
Jesus.
3. The two aspects of its application have to do with our union and
our communion with Jesus
a. Union – has to do with our position in Christ as being in
Christ or our one with or our mutual indwelling with Christ
where Jesus is in us and us in Jesus –
1. Read John 14:20 – you in me and I in you
2. Read John 14:10 – when Jesus speaks of this mutually
indwelling relationship between him and his Father, he
talks about the Father abiding in him
3. In Paul’s language he calls it being “in Christ”
b. Communion – has to do with our practice or walk with
Christ.
B. While we see in John 14 that we are in union with Jesus. In John
15:4 and following, he is talking about our communion with
Jesus.
1. But verse 4 is a command, an imperative! A decisive decision
and action Jesus is calling them and us to (those who are already
in union with Jesus) where we continually remain at home with
Jesus!
2. That is where Jesus would be comfortable with my life and I am
comfortable with Jesus’ life. We are at home with one another
day in day out, moment by moment.
C. Thus, who I am in the deepest part of my being is consistent with
the way I live my life. My position in Christ is one with my walk
with Christ.
1. When I am walking in intimate fellowship with Jesus – praying,
meeting him through his Word, obeying him, living for him,
trusting him, a life filled by and controlled by the Spirit then his
life is expressing the fruit of Jesus life in and through me
2. When we do not fellowship with Jesus – not praying, not
meeting with him and feeding on his Word, disobeying him,
living for yourself, not trusting him but living by your own
strength no fruit is expressed in or through us.
D. I believe the greatest expression of abiding is a continued reliance,
dependence, trust and faith in the indwelling Jesus to live his life
through us.
1. Paul says it like this – Galatians 2:20
III. Closing application
E. Do you see the fruit of the character of Jesus growing and
developing within you?
• Do you see Jesus working through you to bless others in a
way that has no explanation except for God himself?
1. If you do, it is evidence that you are abiding in Jesus and
bearing fruit for him
2. If you do not, then there needs to be some things addressed in
your relationship with Jesus
B. Is your lifestyle one where Jesus would be comfortable going along
with you every place you go, would he be at home in your mind,
your desires, with your tongue, with your relationships, your habits,
your entertainment, etc.?
• Are you comfortable with and delight in going along with
Jesus’ thoughts and desires as expressed in his Word and
shaping your whole life around his Word?
1. If you do, it is evidence that you are abiding in Jesus and
bearing fruit for him
2. If you do not, then there needs to be some things addressed in
your relationship with Jesus
V. Response
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
The Holy Spirt, the Helper, the Comforter,
John 14:16-20, etc. July 2, 2023
I. Introduction:
A. When we are job hunting, often we are so focused on what the salary will be
that we overlook the benefit package that makes the offer much better than we
realize.
1. Many people see salvation much the same way.
a) They focus on the main salary of forgiveness now and heaven later, but
they are not plugging into all the benefits that come with it.
b) In Ephesians 3 Paul summarizes the benefit package of salvation as
being blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ
Jesus.
2. This morning I want to talk about one of those benefits, one of those
spiritual blessings
a) In my experience, this benefit has become one of the most precious and
valuable gifts to me in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
b) The indwelling Holy Spirit of God!
B. If you remember, the upper room discourse is about the truths that were
essential for Jesus’ followers and us to know during the time between when he
returned to his Father in heaven and when he comes back for us.
C. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit two times earlier in the book but in the few
chapters of the upper room discourse, Jesus spoke about this gift six different
times.
1. We first heard about the Spirit when in chapter three Jesus was talking
with Nicodemus about salvation and letting him know that being born
again was a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
2. Then again in chapter 7 at the great feast when Jesus cried out in 7:37c-39
a) Here Jesus says the Holy Spirit is going to quench the deepest thirsts in
our life and he will dwell in our deepest part of our beings flowing like
a river of water.
b) John tells us Jesus was speaking of the Spirit whom they had not
received yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified by ascending back
to the Father.
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• Now in the upper room discourse we see Jesus repeatedly coming back to and
emphasizing this precious gift as one of the essentials truths they must not forget
after he leaves them
II. Holy Spirit
A. As I read note that Jesus is basically telling his followers that while he is gone
they will not be left as orphans but Jesus will actually come and dwell within
them by means of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit is going to bring the presence, power and help of the Jesus into
their lives
2. Watch for this as I read John 14:16-20
3. Jesus is telling them that the Holy Spirit will not only be with them but in
them, dwelling within them bringing to them the very life, power and
presence of Jesus.
B. Helper is a word that is very broad and covers a bunch of different areas.
1. It means one who helps by comforting, encouraging or mediating in behalf
of someone.
2. He is the one that comes along side us to help us with whatever we need to
do God’s will in our lives
C. Note that he was with them but in the very near future, he would be in them.
Point out v17
1. That is what Jesus means when he will not leave them as orphans when he
returns to the Father but the Holy Spirit will be indwelling them, living
right in them, to be there to help them and us.
D. Note in v19 he speaks of his death and resurrection but in v20 he says it will
be in that time period after his resurrection and ascension that they will
understand that he is in the Father, they will be in Jesus and Jesus will be in
them, obviously by means of the Holy Spirit. Reread v20 and cross reference
with v17 “in” you
E. I want you to note the context both before and after this. Read v 15, 21
1. Both before and after it is talking about obedience.
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2. Now at the start of v16 the great majority, but not all of translations have
the word “and” to start the verse. This is there in the Greek and is a
connective that links the obedience of v15 with the coming of the Helper
in verse 16.
3. I think the primary way the Holy Spirit helps us is by enabling us to obey
what Jesus wants us to do.
4. Is that not why the Holy Spirit was originally promised in Ezekiel 36 –
Israel’s disobedience got them in big trouble and God promised them in
new covenant the following: Read Ezekiel 36:26-27
a) God by means of his Spirit would cause them, enable them to walk in
obedience to him and even create in their hearts a carefulness,
attentiveness, a vigilance to obey God’s Word.
F. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus Christ living in
them/us to help us with whatever we need to live for Jesus in these days.
• There are some other references to the Holy Spirit that come up in this discourse
that I will briefly take you to, because most of them we will come back to in
future messages in this series.
III. Other references to the Holy Spirit in upper room
A. Read 14:26 –
1. Remember there were many things in the book of John that Jesus taught
the disciples that they did not understand. The promise is the Holy Spirit
will remind them of these things and help them understand the significance
2. The Holy Spirit will be sent in Jesus’ name – that means the Holy Spirit is
coming to officially represent Jesus to us!
B. Read 15:26, 27 - the Holy Spirit will be working right along with us
witnessing about Jesus to the world as we witness to them.
C. Read 16:7 – the Holy Spirit coming to them and living in them, as their helper
is actually an advantage to them over having Jesus’ physical presence with
them.
D. John 16:8-11 – in these verses it speaks about how the Holy Spirit will
convict/convince people regarding sin – righteousness and judgment. We will
give a complete message to this
E. Read 16:12-13 – here Jesus promises the future inspiration of the rest of the
New Testament. we will give a complete message about this
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IV. Ministries of the Holy Spirit in other portions of the New Testament
A. Regeneration – makes us a new creation and puts the new life within us
B. Sealing – locks us in and guarantees our salvation until Jesus returns to
receive us to himself
C. Teaches us – he gives us the ability to understand the meaning and
significance of God’s Word
D. Leads and guides us
E. Baptizes us into Jesus – he is the one who puts us into Jesus just like we saw a
few minutes ago where you are in me and I am in you
F. Fills us – makes his presence and power known in every area of our life so
that we are living under his influence rather than the influence of our best
efforts
G. Assures us deep within that we are children of God
H. Prays for the believer
I. Gifts us supernaturally with various different gifts as expression of Jesus in
and through us to bless others
J. Sanctifies us – that means that he breaks down the control of the flesh in our
lives and fills us with more and more of the resurrected life of Jesus. That is
how we are made more like Jesus!
• I think now you can see why I think the Holy Spirit is one of the most precious
and valuable gifts Jesus has given to us in these days!
V.Application
A. Now that we know some of the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us in these
days; how do we plug into this benefit?
B. I want to say there are three ways the first is prayer
1. Hebrews 13:20-21- this is a prayer of benediction, a prayer for blessing.
Read
2. Blank check here regarding whatever we need to do God’s will!
3. Note it is the indwelling Christ who equips us with this
a) Cross reference Philippians 2:12-13
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C. The second way is faith
1. Turn and read Galatians 2:20
2. It is not I who is living my life now but Christ in me – remember – you in
me and me in you!
3. The life we live right now is a life of faith in the one who lives in me to
supernaturally express his life through me!
4. Illustrate: Jesus calls me to obey him in some specific way (not be angry or
anxious or to be forgiving and pure, etc.) we have one of two options to go
about it.
a) First, we can trust ourselves by trying very hard, setting up
accountability systems, following certain steps, being real sincere and
committed this time
b) Or we can put no trust in ourselves and rely upon the one who lives in
us to do a miracle in and through me enabling me by his life living
through me.
5. Turn and read Galatians 4:19
6. The Christian life is more about the life of Jesus being incarnated within us
than us becoming better imitators of what Jesus did.
D. The third way is to walk with the Holy Spirit in obedience. Let him lead you!
1. You cannot walk with the Spirit unless you are going in the same direction
he is going.
2. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about:
a) If he says, “this is the way walk in it” – then go that way!
b) If he says you are going in the wrong direction – then stop and say no
to that
c) If he says release something – then let go of it
d) If he says be still – then wait
e) If he says go – then go
E. So when Jesus went to be with his Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to live
within us forever to help us live the life God wants us to live!
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VI. Response
A. As we sing this last song, I’m going to ask you to actually pray it to the Lord
as you sing and respond as the Holy Spirit would lead you.
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Praying in Jesus’ Name
John 14:13-14 June 25, 2023
I. Introduction:
A. Prayer has been a gift that God has given man since the beginning of time.
But in the upper room discourse Jesus introduces a dimension, an element to
prayer, that is essential for his people to navigate life between the time Jesus
returned to his Father and when Jesus comes back to receive us to himself.
1. It is a dimension of prayer that many of us do mindlessly as we repeat
words that we really do not understand what they mean.
2. It is a dimension of prayer that explains for us why so many of our prayers
go unanswered, but if we begin to practice it, we will see many more
answers to our prayers.
B. Please turn to John 14 where this new dimension to prayer is found.
1. We learned last week that the backdrop and driver to the discussion in the
upper room discourse is Jesus’ announcement that he is going to return to
the Father and later come back for them.
a) In this discourse are the essential things they needed to know while he
was gone and they were apart from him
2. Then we come to the next section of this chapter where Jesus talks to them
regarding his oneness with the Father.
a) We are not going to cover this section this morning because a few
weeks back when I introduced the book of John to us I had a complete
message about Jesus’ relationship with the Father as seen in the book of
John.
b) We learned that Jesus and the Father not only were close to one another
but that Jesus was fully equal with and one with the Father. We see the
same thing here again.
c) If you were not here, I would encourage you to go to YouTube to view
that. Even more importantly, this is not only a passage to reread but
also one to memorize and meditate on!
C. However, I am going to read this whole section this morning as a reminder to
some of the important things we learned that morning and because right at the
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end of it, Jesus speaks about this promise in prayer that we want to look at this
morning!
1. Read v4-14.
a) Note in v11-12 he speaks about if you do not believe me about what I
am saying about my oneness with the Father and that Jesus dwells in
the Father and the Father dwells in Jesus, then at least believe on
account of the works you have seen me do.
b) Then in v13-14, we see this prayer promise in this context.
D. Overview of our key passage this morning is simply this:
1. V13 is the promise; v14 restates it in summary form.
2. In v13 we see three things:
a) The content of our prayers
b) How these prayers are answered
c) And the motive to our prayers
• This morning I want to break down this promise phrase by phrase because these
twenty words are packed with millions upon millions of words worth of
meaning, application and testimonies of its truthfulness for us! Let’s start with
the …
II. Content to our prayers
A. Reread v13a – emphasizing “whatever”
B. This is an amazing promise – “whatever you ask!” Wow!
1. But to be honest with you there are many things I have asked God for that
were never answered!
2. Can any of you relate to that?
3. If Jesus said that, then why is that the case?
C. The next phrase explains for us why so many of our prayers are not answered.
1. Read 13a – emphasizing “in Jesus’ name”
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2. For most of us, we add on “in Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers as
magical words that if we add them to our prayers then we will get what we
want.
3. But here is the reality – “in Jesus’ name” is the qualifier for whatever, it
both limits the ” whatever” and enhances what “whatever” means.
D. A name represents all of who someone is, along with their character, all they
have, their rights, privileges and authority and even their reputation.
1. To do something in someone’s name means you are doing something in
behalf of that person as their official representative.
E. Now when I connect along with limit and enhance the meaning of “whatever”
with Jesus’ name that means that I would be asking for the things that Jesus
would ask for in this situation. They are things that are in line with his
character and his agenda.
F. Let me build on that a bit more by the context and a few other places this
promise is repeated.
1. We already have seen in this passage that the context to this promise is
doing the works of Jesus.
a) So the first thing I would ask about my prayers is, are they not only
consistent with what Jesus would ask but is it to further his work and
kingdom or my own welfare?
2. Look at John 15:7 – read
a) So here, we see that the “whatever” is in the context of those whose
lives are filled with and controlled by God’s Word.
b) So I must ask are my prayers consistent with God’s Word or even are
my prayers driven by and full of God’s Word
3. Read John 15:16
a) So here, we see that the “whatever” is in the context of bearing fruit for
God, fruit that remains.
b) So I must ask, are my prayers consistent with the things that bear fruit
for God?
c) In a few weeks, we will spend a big portion of the message seeing what
bearing fruit for God means.
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4. John also wrote the book of 1 John and he addresses this same topic in 1
John 5:14-15. Read
a) Here the anything and “whatever” is limited by God’s will
5. So to be able to apply this promise and actually see answers to our prayers
we must ask things that are in accordance with the character of Jesus, the
work of Jesus, God’s Word, bearing fruit for Jesus and according to God’s
will rather than just whatever we want!
G. This has big implications for how we pray about the sick and about troubles
both our own and the troubles of those we love.
1. Have you ever considered what we ask God for at those times? – usually it
is for health and deliverance and God fixing things
2. How often have you considered how Jesus would pray for that situation – a
great practice to do before you even pray?
a) When we need healing, delivering or fixing Jesus might pray that:
(1) He might even pray that our sickness or dying would bring glory to
God rather than God would heal us.
(2) We would endure these times in faith and gratitude before God.
(3) Use these things and times to
(a) Open doors to bring the gospel to the lost or model for the
believer how Jesus would walk in these times
(b) Make them more like Jesus
(c) Teach them to rely upon his Spirit rather than themselves.
H. Praying in Jesus name is more about praying for what Jesus wants than
praying for what we want! It is praying as a representative of Jesus! It is
asking what Jesus would ask for. It’s prayers consistent with his heart for the
things that he cares about. It is praying Jesus’ heart for Jesus’ work!
• The second we see in this passage is …
III. How these prayers are answered
A. I am going to deal with the two other aspects of this verse much more quickly
than the first. Reread v13b
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B. Note here how the prayer is answered. Jesus says “and I will do it” –
1. Jesus is the one who answers our prayers; he does what we are asking for!
2. Seems so simple, clear and we say of course. But I believe that in most of
our minds and practice we
a) See our prayers as a means of God seasoning our efforts with his
blessing as we go about what we are doing rather than expecting Jesus
to do a miracle here.
b) Like our prayers result in God pouring out of a saltshaker of blessing
upon what we do.
• The final part of this verse speaks about
IV. The motive in our prayers
A. Read v13c
B. It is when the motives of our prayers are that God would be glorified that we
see this promise go into operation.
1. Remember what James 4:2-3 says
2. Two reasons we are not experiencing the presence and power of God in
our lives are because we are not asking God for things and secondly we are
asking for things for our own benefit rather than God’s glory
C. Finally, in this part of the verse we get some insight into how God is glorified.
1. Many people think God is glorified by us doing things excellently. We
should give our best of what we do out of our worship of God
2. But what brings God glory is when Jesus does something for and through
us rather than what we do for God!
3. Note how 13b and c flow together.
V. Conclusion
A. So when you put your prayer life up against this passage how does it look?
1. Are you praying for what Jesus would want or what you would want?
2. Are you looking for Jesus to actually intervene in your life and do
something or are you just hoping he will add his blessing to what you are
doing?
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3. Finally, are you asking God to do these things so he would be glorified or
so your life would be more comfortable and happy?
B. I would ask you in closing to consider something you have been praying about
for a while that is just seems God is not answering it.
1. Consider what Jesus would pray about this situation in light of his
character, his purposes, his work, his word, his will and his glory.
2. Start praying about it in that way and expect Jesus to show up and do
things that only he can do.
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
Returning to the Father
John 13-16 June 11, 2023
- Introduction:
- Have you ever had a very serious conversation with someone because you knew that very soon things were going to change in a big way? You want to make sure you cover the right things, the most important things and you measure those words carefully.
- Kim and I had one of those conversations with each one of our daughters just about a week before they got married. For us the most important area we wanted to cover was to see if there were any unresolved hurts between them and us that we could address before they got married so they could start this new relationship fresh and free from any baggage from us.
- Well things are about to change with me and MVC in a big way, and in my last series I wanted to make sure I covered the right things, the most important things –
- Literally, for the last few years, I have been thinking about what I would say and I came up with all kinds of ideas.
- Have you ever had a very serious conversation with someone because you knew that very soon things were going to change in a big way? You want to make sure you cover the right things, the most important things and you measure those words carefully.
I am already thinking and making notes on what I would say in my very last message to this precious church family Kim and I love so much.
- Well where I landed for this final series is the upper room discourse because these were Jesus’ words to his closest followers and friends right before things were going to change in a very big way.
- I have always operated under the conviction that what God has to say in his word is always better and more powerful than my best ideas.
- So I put aside all my ideas and decided to focus upon the areas that Jesus thought were most important for his followers to hear before things were going to change with them in a big way.
- Turn to John 13 in your Bibles and let me set a little context
- Literally, Jesus knew that within fifteen hours, he would be hanging on the cross and not long after that, he would be going back to his Father. He was having his last meal, the Passover meal, with his followers and friends, the twelve disciples.
- Read John 13:1-4
- During this meal in chapter 13 we see three key things
- Judas leaving the meal to set up his betrayal of Jesus
- Jesus washing the feet of his disciples as an example of humble service to one another for them to follow
- Finally, we see Jesus giving them the new commandment of loving one another
- All of this brings me to theme of my message this morning, which was the backdrop and underlying theme of the upper room discourse, a theme that Jesus kept going back to during this time, one which the disciples did not fully understand and kept questioning Jesus about that evening.
- It is simply this
- Jesus is returning to the Father
- We already saw in verses one and three in chapter 13 that Jesus knew he was about to go back to the Father. Now he tells his followers this. Look at v33
- As I read this note that, the theme we rightly spend a lot of time on, loving one another as Jesus loved us, flew right over their heads and they had little concern regarding it in light of the news that Jesus was leaving them.
- Read v33-38
- V33- Jesus had told the Jews the same thing before and they reasoned that either he was going to flee to the dispersion among the Greeks or he is going to kill himself
- In v36 Peter wanted to know where he was going – Jesus’ response was “Where I am going you cannot follow me now but you will later!”
- V37 why can’t I follow you right now– I will even die for you if I have to – then Jesus predicted that even with all the love and commitment he would still deny him – a lesson we need to humbly consider for ourselves.
- He moves on in chapter 14 to tell them where he is going
- Read v1-4
- Simply, Jesus is going to his Father’s house to prepare a place for them and that he is going to come back again and receive them to himself so that where Jesus is, they can be with him also
- Let me quickly cross-reference Jesus final reference to this in this discourse where he makes it very clear, as to where he is going!
- Read John 16:28
- We see in this verse both the incarnation and the ascension of Jesus – Jesus coming into the world and Jesus leaving the world to be with the father.
- Turn back to John 14:3 - I believe this is referring to the rapture.
- That is the exact purpose and a great summary of the events of the rapture of the church. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
- We will see later in this discourse that the purpose of the giving us the Holy Spirit is to be with us. The purpose of verses 2 & 3 is for us to be with him, which is the rapture, so that we might be with him where he is!
- But Jesus keeps coming back to this theme repeatedly. Let me show you a few other places.
- Read John 14:18
- We will see in weeks to come that the great promise of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. indwelling us comes out of the back drop of Jesus leaving but not leaving them alone like an orphan without any help
- Read John 14:28
- Bottom line, if their greatest concern was for Jesus rather than themselves then they would be rejoicing for him because he is going back to the Father
- Read John 16:5-6
- We see that this information filled their hearts with sorrow
- Read John 16:7
- Jesus said there is an advantage to him going away – he will be sending the Holy Spirit to them.
- Read 16:17-22
- They still do not get it
- Jesus explains that his death will bring weeping, lament, grief and anguish
- But his resurrection will bring them joy and rejoicing
- Read 16:28 – where we see Jesus’ final reference to this in the discourse
- Again, we see Jesus’ incarnation into this world and his ascension out of this world.
- Read John 14:18
- The whole purpose of the upper room discourse is that Jesus is giving them final instructions before he leaves to go back to the Father.
- These instructions are essential things for them to know while they live here on earth until Jesus returns for them
- So this series is not just about Pat giving final words he wants to say before he leaves but rather words that are essential for each one of us because we are living in that time between Jesus’ ascension to heaven and his return for us.
- We already saw in verses one and three in chapter 13 that Jesus knew he was about to go back to the Father. Now he tells his followers this. Look at v33
- Communion
- It was during the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the practice we still do today, communion, a time to remember his death for us.
- Turn to Luke 22:14
- In Luke we see this same story of the last supper in the upper room from another perspective with some added details
- Read v14-18
- Want to note in particular that Jesus said he would not eat and drink the cup with them again until the kingdom of God.
- This is a practice, an ordinance that Jesus wants his followers to practice with each other at this time until he returns
- Then it will be done again with Jesus and his followers when the future kingdom comes.
- This forms our great and ultimate hope. Paul called it the blessed hope, the time when Jesus returns.
- A person who has God’s grace in operation in their heart deep within is looking forward to this time when Jesus returns.
- Titus 2:13 teaches us that looking forward to Jesus’ return is one of the graces that God works in our hearts!
- As we take communion would you remember what Jesus did for you.
- Search your heart if you are eagerly looking forward to the return of Jesus.
- If not ask God to show you what is blocking that within you and ask him to unleash his grace within you to produce it!
- Pass the elements
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023