March 7, 2010
Morning Service

St.Jn. 16

 

Review:

1.       Last Sunday morning Greg did a wonderful job of reviewing what we have so far studied in St. Jn.  St. Jn. Truly is a faith building letter.

2.      Throughout this letter John builds our faith on the wonderful promises we have as Christians.  On how that Jesus was more than just a man, He was God incarnate, the Word made flesh.

3.      In chapter 15 Jesus taught us how our relationship with Him, and the Father should be.  Joh 15:1 KJVR  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  And that by abiding in Him we should bear much fruit.

4.      Then He taught us how our relationship with one another should be.  “This is My commandment that you should love one another as I have loved you.”

5.      Then our relationship with the world.  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”  In another place John said, “love not the world neither the things that are in the world.”

6.      He closed chapter 15 by telling of the promise of the Holy Spirit.

 

Let’s see what chapter 16 has for us this morning:

 

Joh 16:1-15 KJVR  These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 

• What things? 
• I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman.  Except you abide in me you can bear no fruit.  I am the way the truth, and the life, no man can come to the Father except by Me.
• Love one another. 
• Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
• Jesus is saying, “My teachings are going to bring offences, and persecution to you.”  Listen to Him.

(2)  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 

• In the book of Acts we see this over, and over, the churches persecuted.
• And why?  Christians are taught to love, and not hate.  We are taught to build up, not tear down.  We are taught to be loyal to our government, not destructive.  We are taught to pray for those who despitefully use, and persecute us.
• This is the life we have chosen to live.  We have chosen to follow the man of peace, rather than the life of hate, and destruction.
• Only satan would not want a community of people like this.  Only satan would not want prayer in the schools.  Only satan would not want the protective power of Almighty God on our government.  Only satan would not want love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and gentleness in a person’s life. 
• Jesus says, “and the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service.”  Think of the warped mind of many in the Muslim world.  They actually think they are doing God a service when they kill.  So sad, when life has so much more to offer.
• Then notice why they do it!

(3)  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

• When God Almighty made Himself known unto Abraham, told him to get up and leave the comforts of your home, for I am going to make you the Father of many nations.  Abraham left his comfort zone, of the River Euphrates, and went west toward the Mediterranean Sea.  There he became the Father of two great nations, the twelve tribes, or sons of Jacob, and twelve tribes, or sons of Ishmael. 
• These are the people that dwell in what we know as Israel, the children of Jacob.  The rest of the people in this part of the world, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, these are all the children of Ishmael.  They all worship the same God, who eventually revealed Himself to Moses, as Jehovah.  Exo 6:3 KJVR  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
• Plain and simple, if you have known the Father you will not be doing these things that Jesus said would be happening to His followers.  God is love, not hate, and killing.

 

 

 

• Hopefully we can see how this teaching of the Lord applies to us Christians.  If we know the Father, then we won’t be doing these things;  Gal 5:19-21 KJVR  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus says;

(4)  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.  (5)  But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?  (6)  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 

• The Ecc. Writer said, “there is a time for everything,”  well, Jesus is saying that now is the time for you to understand what is happening.  You will be persecuted for following my teachings, some of you will be put to death.
• I am going back to the Father, and I know this makes you sorrowful.

(7)  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  (8)  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

(9)  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

• Remember what Jesus said just a short while back?  Joh 9:39-41 KJVR  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.  (40)  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto him, Are we blind also?  (41)  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

(10)  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 

• My resurrection, and ascending to the Father, will show the world that I Am that I Am.

(11)  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

• When Jesus said, “it is finished.”  Satan was judged, and defeated. 
• Jesus came to do His Father’s will, to be the humble lamb, that would be sacrificed for mankind’s sin.
• JESUS SAYS, “THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT I WILL SEND BACK TO YOU WILL BE A WITNESS TO ALL THESE THINGS.”    HE WILL REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT.

(12)  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.  (13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

• John tells us in Ijn.  1Jo 2:27 KJVR  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”    Abide in the vine, for outside the vine you can do nothing.

for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.  (14)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.  (15)  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

 

Most Holy, and Righteous Father, fill us all with Your Holy Spirit that He might teach, and reveal to us all the wonderful things of Your Holy Word.  In Jesus Name, amen.