FBCWest 428 | Love and Believe While He Is Gone
Recorded On: 12/06/2020
Bulletin
FBCWest
December 6, 2020
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 34:1 - 3
“Jesus Saves”
“Anchor”
“Hello Hurricane”
“Better Days”
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Life and Ministry of Jesus The Messiah”
“Jesus Tells He Is Leaving and to Love and Believe While He Is Gone”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“Build My Life”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Benediction “Won’t Stop Now”
Sermon Notes
John 13:31 – 32
God is glorified by Jesus
John 13:33
Jesus is going away, and the disciples cannot follow
John 13:34 & 35
A New Commandment to love as Jesus loves and that is how people will know we are His disciples
John 13:36 – 38
Peter’s boast and Jesus’ warning
John 14:1
Believe in God and Jesus
John 14:2 – 6
Jesus goes to prepare a place for us
John 14:7 – 12
The Father and the Son are One
John 14:13 & 14
Asking in His Name
John 14:15
Show love for Him by keeping His commandments
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
We have been going through a series for quite some time on the earthly life and Ministry of Jesus and kind of going through if you will. A miniseries on.
That LastPass overnight?
It's been a busy night for the disciples then for the Lord, but it's been also a busy week. They have entered into Jerusalem.
With the adoring crowds, at least for a little while.
And they were teaching an.
Going to the temple and observing things in Jesus is teaching and preparation of Passover takes effort, and the disciples have gone through the symbolic Milan. The supper Jesus has instituted what we commonly called the Lord Supper or Communion made things a little different. Also washes disciples feet instead of just the hands. And so Jesus has been teaching by word and by deed.
And it's been a long night, but now after the meal has taken place, there's usually teaching an Jesus is doing two things. One he told his disciples that he would let them know things in advance so that they might have faith when these things happen. And he's also teaching because he knows his time is short with them. And so if you will turn in your Bibles to John chapter.
13 Starting with verse 31.
Mr Now when he had gone out the he is Judith Judith has.
Been told to do what he's going to do quickly and he's going out to make the final preparation for his betrayal. And so Jesus said, now is the son of man glorified in God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him and himself and will glorify him immediately. So he's telling.
The disciples there, what we may perceive, and what you may perceive as something.
As a tragedy as something that maybe God is not in control of Jesus, saying what is going to happen and it's going to happen immediately, God is going to be glorified. God is going to be magnified. God is going to be increased. An intern God is going to increase and magnify Jesus because of what he's doing and he's going to do that immediately.
So there is a sense if you will when people look at the cross as a sense of defeat, God looks at it as magnification as glorifying him and so Jesus is preparing them and so he says little children.
I am with you a little while longer and you will seek me as I said to the Jews. And I also say to you, where I am going, you cannot come.
So he tells them that he's leaving, which I'm sure comes as a surprise, an as disappointment and maybe even a a part of a concern on the path of disciples because they've been following him for 3 1/2 years. They know that the Jews have been out.
To take his life and maybe even to take theirs. And so there's the sense of oh wait, a minute.
You are our teacher. You're you're the Messiah, you're our protector. You're going what what's this all about and and so in this context he's telling them this is what I want you to do while I'm gone.
So he says.
A new commandment I give to you.
So First off, I want it before we say what the commandment is. Notice number one. It's a commandment, not a suggestion.
Alright, so I'm going to give you some suggestions to show you that there is some suggestions or advice that what you should do upon getting out of bed is make your bet. People will tell you that you ought to do that because that there is at least one thing that you've accomplished that day and so that you can feel good about yourself. Now that's good advice. I don't do it.
My kind of attitude is I'm going back in a few hours anyway, so why make it? But there are people that says it is a very valuable thing to do.
There is also a suggestion. They say that if you get angry before you say anything or do anything counted 10 now sometimes I do that.
Most the time I don't, I just react, but it's it's good advice. It's a good suggestion, but Jesus isn't giving us suggestions. He's giving us a commandment. I'll command, which means he's the commander.
Also, it also tells us that he is equating what he is now about to do as the same thing is when God spoke to Moses and gave him more than 600 and plus commands and the 10 commandments and therefore the two great ones to love the Lord with all your heart. All your mind, all yourself, all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself. So Jesus is saying in essence.
By my making this command, I'm saying I'm God.
And that you are to do this.
So what is it that we're to do so a new commandment I give to you? Not a suggestion that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Now I want you to notice something.
Jesus has been teaching about love throughout his entire earthly ministry.
He has told us.
To love our neighbor.
And to love our neighbor as ourselves and that's quoted from the scriptures. However, he kind of expanded that concept by expanding what a neighbor is.
He also taught that we are to love our enemies and to pray for them, where before is pretty much get rid of your enemies and so Jesus is saying, I want you to love one another but not just love in the sense how you might think, but love as I have loved you.
Now.
This expands the concept of love because when the command says we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
As I repeatedly say, because it's true to me, that's a very high standard.
'cause I love me a lot. I take me wherever I go. I laugh at all of my jokes. I think what I think is very important.
And so I am told to love my neighbor as I love myself.
But Jesus didn't say to love each other the way we love each other. But he said to love each other as he has loved us, which means that we self sacrifice for one another. We become servants to each other, is no longer a matter of, well, I'm important. 'cause I'm the pastor. Therefore you must do no, no, I am to love you the way Jesus did and to give of myself.
Or you.
So he tells us that's what we're to do, and that's how we're to do it.
Then he says something very interesting.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples. If you have love for one another.
Now usually you'll hear a lot of people talking about well, what we need to do is share the gospel. Yes, we do in the Scriptures and Jesus has told us the Great Commission that we're supposed to declare who he is. And yes, but the declaration, being evangelist does not tell people who we are.
Attending perfect attendance at Church doesn't confirm were his disciples.
Even doing good deeds doesn't necessarily tell people who we are. Jesus says you want to know to let people know that you are really my disciple, that you really following me then love one. Another way. I have loved you because that love is foreign to this world.
This world only knows about love that that is somehow is good to me. The romantic love or even brother love in the sense of we love as family. But Jesus say no, no, you're to love as God loves.
For God so loved the world that he sent Jesus.
That's the type of love that we're to have. And that's the type of.
Presentation that people will know that we are his.
And Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going?
Good question. You're saying you're taking off and so Peter goes any on Peters used his spokesman. I don't know if he's the official spokesman or he's the guy who just talks a lot and he always says something first, because Lord.
Where are you going?
And Jesus answered.
Where I go, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later. Now notice he doesn't specifically answer Peter's question.
Peter asks where you going and Jesus says you can't come.
It's a different answer.
Because I think if Jesus really told Peter where he was going, it would be very difficult for Peter to understand.
So Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you right now? I will lay down.
Down my life for you.
Peter, you know Jesus? I love you been following you for 3 1/2 years.
I'll die with you. I know the Jews are out to get you, if that's what it's all about. I'm there. Count me in.
Jesus answered.
Now depends on your concept of God.
How we answer this, how he makes a statement of the warning too.
Peter will probably interpret the way you said, will you lay down your life for me. So he asked Peter the question.
I don't think he asked angrily.
I don't think he asked it Accusatives Lee. I think he asked it lovingly as a matter of fact.
Will you lay down your life for me truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not grow until you deny me three times.
She's saying there's barely going to be several hours have passed that you're going to die me three times.
All too often.
We have a greater.
Belief of our faith.
Then our faith actually believes.
Now there will come a time that Peter will lay down his life for the Lord as a matter of fact, he will do so in such a way that he says.
When you crucify me, I am not worthy to die the way my Lord did so crucify me upside down.
So there will come a time that he will give his life of the Lord, but it's not now because one.
His faith is not yet fully.
Realized.
Because the difference between Peter now and the Peter later is the resurrection.
And so Peter has this belief in his faith.
Until that faith is confirmed.
So Jesus says.
No, you'll deny me.
Now Charm Chapter 14 starting with verse one.
So notice he doesn't follow up with a high told you, so you're a terrible guy. He goes. Do not let your heart be troubled.
He's comforting them. He's reassuring them, he's saying, yes, I'm leaving. And yeah, you're going to deny me. But don't let your heart be troubled.
Believe in God.
Believe in God.
A simple statement.
All too often we believe in circumstances when things go well, then God must like us. When things go UN well, then God must be mad.
Don't believe in circumstances. Jesus is saying believe in God.
Put your faith in God, not circumstance.
Believe also in me.
Have that faith in Christ. Yes, I'm leaving for a little while, but you can still believe in me.
As you can believe in God.
So while he is gone away, he's told them to love one another as he is loved them and he's told him to believe in God and to believe also in him.
And then he gives them some additional comfort in verse two in my father's house are many dwelling places, or in some of your translations, mansions.
If it were not so, I would have told you.
He's telling them, I know I give a lot of parables, and some of these parables are stories that give.
Spiritual understanding he goes.
My discussion about going to prepare a place not a parable.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And in my father's house are many dwelling places, but were not, so I would have told you before I go to prepare a place for you.
Psalms 23 says.
For I was well in the House of the Lord Forever.
Now the whole concept of heaven is awesome.
When I was young man, I didn't think so. I thought it was boring. Sound like a bunch of.
Angels playing harps and I don't play harp and don't like that style of music anyway, so.
Pretty boring until you fall in love with God.
Then Heaven is an outstanding place. It's not just about playing harps.
We read about the streets of gold that are so pure that you can see through it. We see about the temple and we see all of these wonderful.
Aspects of what heaven is.
But if you will, those are all there.
Jesus says I'm going to prepare a place for you.
It's personal.
I'm preparing the place I prepare for. Joe is going to be different than the place that he pairs for Libby.
Probably much better 'cause she deserves it.
But it's going to be personal.
Probably my place there won't be any family pictures. There's only family pictures here, right? Like pictures of people I don't know and and landscapes.
She likes pictures of the family, and so they're probably lots of pictures of that which he's going to prepare a place for us personally.
So he goes. I'm going away, so I'm going to be busy.
But notice.
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there you may be also.
So he's saying I'm going to wait and I'm going to be busy preparing a place for you, but don't worry because I'm coming back to get you and I'm coming back to get you to bring you to this place that I'm preparing for you for in my father's house are many dwelling places.
And that there.
We want well not only in the House of the Lord, but in the house with the Lord.
Forever.
And it goes on, you know, the way where I am going.
Notice he doesn't say where he's going, 'cause it's already evident where he's going.
So you know the way where I'm going in Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way?
You know what you didn't tell?
Peter, where you're going? You just said you're going to your father's house prepare a place but we don't know how to get there we don't know the way 'cause we're not even sure where it is you're leaving too.
And Jesus said to him.
I am.
Now, First off, that's a very big insignificant clue.
I am that I am when.
Moses asked God.
What's your name? What do I tell the children of Israel when I go there? What do I call your name? He says I am.
I am that I am.
And Jesus is saying, I am, I am that I am, and I am presently and have always been and shall always be.
No way.
Now.
I've shared this before and I'll share it again.
I went to a law school that that had a.
Believe.
In Christian values, an an had a denominational background at that school and it was very plain in the in the.
All their publications and their.
So it wasn't a secret that they had this Christian belief and that they were going to teach in a Christian setting, and there were a number of people who were upset with the fact that it had Christian basis and I go, they didn't lie to you.
They told you where they were coming from. If you don't like it, you could have gone to a different law school.
But I had this.
Acquaintance friend as we were going through an.
I made it obvious that I was a believer.
So we had this conversation.
An his statement was Joe. You're such a reasonable person.
But when it comes to this Salvation.
You're unreasonable because you say that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
My response to him was.
We take this hover and we decide to call it Black. We call any color you want color blue, green, purple, chartreuse. It doesn't matter, but once we agree to call it black, it is not unreasonable to call it black is simply being accurate.
If Jesus said he is the way and he is the way.
Then to say that he is the way is not being unreasonable, it is being accurate.
And quite frankly, it's not me who's being unreasonable. His I didn't set the standard.
Jesus did.
Jesus said you want to come to the father. You gotta go through him because he and the father or one.
So he is the way he is. The road. He is the journey to the father.
But in this journey he is also the destination.
So he is the way.
Not only that, he is the truth. He's not a true when, when Pilate will later asked Jesus what is truth? The answer to what is truth, Jesus?
It's not a.
Story is not a.
Rational conclusion, it is the truth.
And truth is not relative.
It is absolute.
Now you will find people who will say, well.
There is nothing absolute.
And here's a question I would give you to ask them.
Are you absolutely sure?
Because if they are absolutely sure, then there's at least one absolute, which means they're wrong.
So he is the way.
He is the truth.
And he is the life.
He's not a life. He is the life he is. What gave us life and he is what gives us eternal life.
I am the way I am the truth and I am the life.
No one.
No.
No one.
No exceptions.
Comes to the father.
But except through him.
Jesus.
Is exclusionary.
Therefore, I am exclusionary because I believe what he taught.
And since he came from the father, and he says he's the way, then guess what, he's the way.
He wanted to make it a different way. He could have chosen to make it a different way, and quite frankly, if I were in charge I would have come up with a different plan 'cause the whole idea of sending your son to die on a cross for a bunch of people who even claimed have faith who are.
Pretty faithless.
I have chosen something different.
But you see God so loved us.
This is his way.
If you had known me.
You would have known my father also.
From now on you know him and you have seen him.
Jesus.
Find them.
You want to know who God is?
Take a look at me.
I suspect Jesus probably 5 six 570 is in that time people weren't all that tall.
We get the idea. He was probably 6, seven and 300 pounds and whatever. Or he's Millville milquetoast, and he's such a wimp that.
But he's saying when you see me.
You're seeing the invisible immortal God only? Why?
Everything that you can understand about God. Look at me.
That's who he is.
I.
If you known me, you would know the father.
Because you see me.
I seen him and seeing him you see me.
Bella said to him, Lord, show us the father.
And it is enough for us.
I don't know how Jesus would have reacted.
'cause I'm not Jesus.
This would hurt.
Me.
My response would have been.
Kenji, as Jesus was Jesus, let him have I been with you so long.
I walked with you 3 1/2 years.
I have taught.
I've healed the sick.
I've raised the dead.
I've given sight of the blind and hearing to the deaf.
I've cast out demons.
I've showed you truth that you do not understand and you still don't know who I am.
And you still don't know that the father and I are one, that everything I do is 'cause the father is directed me and I follow him.
Yes.
In my human humanity added progress.
Sorry, can you give me 3 1/2 more years 'cause I need some more guys?
'cause these guys just aren't cutting it?
'cause I spent. I spent all this time showing me who I am and they still are asking to see you you.
Have I been with you so long and yet you have not come to know me, Phillip?
He who has seen me has seen the father. How can you say show us the father?
It doesn't compute for.
So Jesus.
Does what Jesus does.
He continues to encourage and to teach.
Do you not believe that I am in the father and the father is in me, so he's OK? You quite don't understand.
So now I'm going to give you the words that I say to you. I do not speak.
On my own initiative, but the father abiding in me does his work.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the father is in me.
Jesus is saying.
You know me, you know I am the truth.
Therefore, what I say to you, you should believe.
That I am the father or one.
So believe my testimony.
Otherwise.
Believe because of the works themselves. He's an OK if you can accept totally my testimony of who I am, then take a look around at all that I've done all that I have demonstrated that should tell you who I am.
As I've just said before, he raised the dead, he heals us. He did something that no.
Old Testament Prophet ever did he opened the hearing of death?
He gave sight to the blind. He did what the scriptures said the Messiah would do.
So believe his testimony or believe the works that he did, Phillip.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the father. So Jesus is going back, saying, yeah, I'm leaving, but it's good because when I go, those of you who do believe.
Will do the same. Works I did.
And quite frankly, will even new greater works.
Now when you look at this initially you wait a minute.
How can this be?
Jesus heals many people.
But Jesus healed people. He came in contact with.
There are hospitals.
It had been.
Built.
And sustained by believers.
Whether they're Baptist or Presbyterian or Lutheran or whatever, who heal sick people.
By the thousands.
Greater works do we do than him because there are more of us and the spirit there working with us.
All too often worse though.
Wrapped up in what God can do for me.
As opposed to what God can do through me?
Or someone else?
And this is going to be possible because he's going to the father.
Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do so that the father may be glorified in the sun if you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Now.
You're going to hear this.
A lot. You'll probably hear pre slot you, especially here on TV evangelists who want your money.
And saying, if you will send them some money that you'll get a whole bunch more money back and they'll ask an you can ask for anything and God will give it to you.
I do not believe that that is what Jesus is saying.
So let me give you a.
As an example.
I have an ATM card.
Has my name on it.
I tell you to go.
To Walgreens
I give you my pin and I say bye for me.
My medication.
I have authorized you to use my ATM card which is in my name.
So you dutifully go to Walgreens and pay for the medication, whatever. Then you've done that in my name.
But if, while you're there you go, you know.
I'd like to get a Coke.
Maybe some candy?
Anne.
Shampoo whatever you want.
I know his ATM and I know whatever and so now I buy that.
You use my name.
But you used it in vain.
Because I did not authorize you to use my card for you.
I've authorized you to use my card for what I told you to use my car.
In the 10 Commandments we are told that we are not to take the Lord by God's name in vain.
And you'll hear more people talk about. Well, that means you shouldn't use God and a swear word together.
Or
shorten it, we don't even say that we will use Jesus as the Messiah.
As a curse word.
And some people will even put H in there to.
Change the curse word or whatever and there and there, thinking that is what it means to take God's name in vain.
That's only subpart.
It means the declarative, the world that you're his disciple.
And you don't act like it or be like it.
That's taking his name in vain.
And so when Jesus says, ask what you will in my name, which means that you do it for jesuses purposes.
Not for yours.
But you see, even Jesus ask for things.
In a few hours.
He's going to ask that this Cup pass from him.
But he says, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.
Why didn't you just say? Well, I asked for my name and I get it.
Because there are greater things about.
And so my view of this is when we ask anything in his name is because we're asking it for him.
Buy him through him for his glory for his magnification while he is absent from us.
And to use this verse that says I can give whatever I want is taking his name in vain.
Now, that's not as popular because more people give us money. If we say you know just name it, claim it, send it in an God, get, you know, send us a bunch of money. And if if you do them.
Ask the special thing and it's not magic.
What we have turned.
This statement into a.
Concluding prayer.
God, I want you to do this. Once you do that, once you do the other thing.
Want you to bless this person? Bless that person. OK God, I've given you your marching orders.
In Jesus name I pray Amen.
And therefore we think because we said in Jesus name, God is therefore compelled to do it.
That's taking God's name in vain, 'cause you're acting as God, not God.
The hubris of telling God what to do.
Is amazing.
We should follow Jesus example.
Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.
And he's going to conclude this part of his.
Discussion about being gone.
But going right back to love.
If you love me.
If you love me.
If.
You love me.
You will keep my commandments.
Not my suggestions, my commandments?
If we love God.
Then we do what God has told us to do.
Believe in God believe in Jesus. Love one another as he has loved us.
And by doing those things we express our love for him.
We love the thing.
Jesus loves me this I know.
Or the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
But how do we sing back? I love Jesus.
I love Jesus.
Yes I do.
I love Jesus.
Yes I do.
I love Jesus. Yes I do. For my actions. Tell him so.
What do you get a God that has everything?
You simply do what he tells you to do.
And that is how you express your love. 'cause God needs nothing.
God doesn't even need you.
To express our love for him.
Is by doing what he told us to do, but faster worthless, saved by grace. Yes we are.
Through faith, a man that's a gift of God.
But when Jesus says.
Do you love me?
He's going to in a number of days later. He's going to ask Peter.
Do you love me?
I'll ask him three times.
And he keeps saying, feed my sheep in my lamb, being my sheep.
He doesn't say.
Peter have this warm and fuzzy about me.
He says.
Do what I tell you to do.
Not saying that we are to be pharisaical because Lord knows.
Doing things because he told us to do it.
Is a good start.
But doing things because we love him.
That's where he wants us to go.
I love you.
Or I try to love you.
The way he loved you.
Not just because he told me to, but because I love him.
Because I love him, he told him to do it.
And I'm going to love you because I and if you need something and you need somebody to wrap their arms around, then I can do that. 'cause I can't not wrap my arms around him.
He's giving me a way to express my love for him.
By expressing my love for you.
And let's face it.
In this life where there's a lot of storms and difficulties, there are a whole lot of people who need love.
There are whole lot of people who need encouragement.
There's a whole lot of people who just say I don't know what's right.
I don't know what's wrong.
And if you know that TV commercials, I mean a commercial, would show.
I don't even know what's going on.
But I'm sitting right beside you.
Until we get through this together.
Because that's what my Lord would do.
Because I love him.
I love you.
Yes, he loved me.
He loves you.
And therefore.
We are to build our lives on him.
To build our lives on his teaching.
But we are to build our lives not on the sense of the do's and the don'ts. But where to build our lives on the relationship that we have with him.
And that relationship is a part of doing.
Please call this to do.
So I encourage you.
Nothing we can do about yesterday, nothing we can do about last half hour.
Now the awesome thing about the relationship with God.
He's always willing to give us out of second Chance or third chance or fortunate, but one million 740 three 1570 two chances.
And then 73 and 74 'cause he loves you that much.
I daresay you'll find no one else will love you anymore.
So build our lives on that relationship and all God's people said.