May 6, 2018
Morning Service

The Gospel of John is full of promises from Jesus to us; some are unbelievably wonderful and last week we had some that were not so pleasant.  He promised those who choose to follow Him will be hated by the world to the extent that those who kill us will celebrate because they feel they are doing God a service.  He is telling the disciples and us this so when these things occur our faith will not be shaken, but we will be ready.  He then made us another promise that will help us to be overcomers when severe persecution comes upon us.  He will send the Holy Spirit, whom He called the Comforter, to dwell within us, guide us and keep us grounded in the truth.  We finished with Jesus prophesying that we would be given a joy that no one can take from us.

John 16:22 And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

·        In our walk with the Lord we have times beginning with our initial time of salvation that we KNOW God is with us and hears our prayers.  No one will be able to take that joy from us.  Hold on to those times and use them to encourage others and also to remind yourself that God is walking along with you and He is even there to carry us when we need Him to.

 

John 16:23-24 And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, “Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  (24) Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

·        This is the second time Jesus has taught the disciples to pray to the Father through Him (in My Name).  This is not a free pass to seek whatever material things that we desire to be given to us from God, but it is the aligning of our will with His.  When we follow Christ yielding our hearts to Him we will have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5).  We will begin to see things and people as He does.  We will pray in His Will seeking the same results He desires and ultimately yielding our will to His.  In praying in His name according to His will we are promised that our joy shall be full.  There is true joy abiding in Christ allowing Him to be in control of your life.; fully trusting Him as our Lord and Savior.

·          Praying in the name of Jesus shows that we understand that He is our Mediator between us and our Heavenly Father.  This again is something new to the disciples.  Access to the Father was only made through the priests (Levites) and only the High Priest was allowed to go once a year into the Holy of Holies (presence of God) and not without a blood sacrifice.  It made God seem very distant and even uncaring.  The change now is that Christ followers are allowed to enter into the presence of God at any time.  The difference is we enter with the blood of our High Priest (Jesus) making us all priests.  The Hebrew writer encourages us to come boldly into God’ presence with our requests.

 Hebrews 10:19-23  Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;  (21)  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies having been washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised),

·        This new access was shown symbolically at the very time that Jesus died upon the cross when the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn showing that all believers could walk into God’s presence at any time.  God is no longer seems distant or uncaring, but close and involved in lives.

·        Since we are now privileged to be considered priests before God, the writer suggests we act like one.  He challenges us to “draw near with a true heart.”  Our access to God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives  enables us to grow in our faith, overcome doubts and questions, and deepen our relationship with our Father.  Our walk with God is one in which we should allow our roots of faith to grow deeper everyday abiding with Him constantly.  He has so much for us don’t just test the water with your toe, dive in.

·        The challenge in verse 23 to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” is one that we need to embrace as we know we are promised to suffer persecution in this lifetime.  “Hold the Fort for I am coming!”

 

John 16:27-30 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from God.  (28)  I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the Father.  (29)  The disciples said to Him, “Lo, now You speak plainly and speak no parable.  (30)  Now we know that You know all things and do not need that anyone should ask You. By this we believe that You have come forth from God.”

·        As Christ followers we have not only gained access directly to God through Jesus, but also a close and loving relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus.  He loves us because we loved and believed in His Son.  Again Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship.  Through Jesus we are now accepted by God and can know Him as He knows us, not as His servant but as His child.  God loves everyone, but has an intimate relationship only with those who love and believe in His Son (accepted Him as Savior).

·        The disciples finally felt like they were being spoken to plainly and were beginning to understand what was going on around them.  They were so mistaken because shortly they all would scatter upon the arrest of Jesus.  They are much like we are.  When we first believe we think we have it all figured out until something comes our way that rocks the boat (we get pruned) and suddenly we realize how little we know and how small our faith is.  Jesus prophesies of this to them now.

 

John 16:31-33  Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?  (32)  Behold, the hour comes, yea, has now come, that you will be scattered, each man to his own things, and you will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  (33)  I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

·        When we “abide” with Christ (stand on, draw our nourishment from) we must cling to the fact that the work has been done.  In the end we will win!  The world will offer us tribulation, heartache, and much pain but the peace we have to hold on to is that it is only temporary.  Jesus tells us plainly; “I have overcome the world.”  Notice there is nothing that follows that statement that says “if”.  There is no “if” we get our life straightened out or read, pray and witness so many hours a day.  He has done the work. We simply have to choose to accept His free gift and follow Him.  It is then that we realize the magnitude of what He has done for us and we learn to love Him more and more, and if we love Him we will keep His commands.

 

·        In these last few chapters, Jesus has been very open and honest about the tribulation, struggles, persecution and even the pruning that we as Christ followers will face.  Don’t be surprised when they come upon you, but take courage knowing we are not alone.  We have a God who goes before us preparing our way as He promised:  “I have overcome the world.”

 

Heavenly Father thank You for the privilege we have to know You intimately.  Help us to come to You with a true heart yielding ourselves to Your Will.  In Jesus Name we pray.