Bible Text: John 17:20-26 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | Here is the bulletin insert to help you follow along, but click on “notes” below to have the entire sermon.

02-03-2019 – Jesus Prays for All Who Will Believe in Him

John 17:20-26

Read John 17:20-21… Jesus prays for all who will be filled with God’s Spirit, being made as one, placed into the body of Christ (see 1Corinthians 12:13).
Read John 17:22-23… The Father and Son are in total unity; believers are to be unity (see Ephesians 4:4-6).
The Father in the Son, the Son in us, and we in Him (cf. 2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).
Jesus said (John 14:21), “he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him,” (verse 23), “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our [home] with him.”
Look again at John 17:23… The Father loves us as He loves His own Son. We are a gift to the Son, He is actually a gift to us (cf. Romans 5:8; 6:23).
Read John 17:24… In heaven we will see the Son of God unveiled in all His glory (Matthew 17:1-2), “Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” 1Corinthians 13:12, “ For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
Our experience will be like the Apostle John’s (Revelation 5:11), “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing,” (verse 13), “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Read John 17:25-26… Most in the world do not know the Father, because they do not know the Son.
John 3:18, “He who believes in [the Son] is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” 36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
True believers of Jesus Christ are witnesses of to the world, as Jesus told them (Acts 1:8), “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Jesus made the Father known (see John 1:1-2). “Word” [Logos] means God fully expressed. Jesus is God’s revelation of Himself to the world.
John tells us the Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God [face to face], personal relationship with God the Father before anything was created.
John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made “His” dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth,” 18, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”
John 14:6-7, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
Paul proclaims (Colossians 2:9), “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Hebrews 1:3 declares, “[Christ] is the radiance of [God’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature.”
Do you belong to Christ? Saved from sin’s penalty? Christ lives in you, if your faith is indeed genuine
(2Corinthians 13:5), “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test.”
Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and [love] your neighbor as yourself.”
See 1John 5:11-13; Mark 1:15, 17; 1Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9-10…
Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in [our] time of need.”

Bible Text: John 17:11-19 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the outline inserted in the bulletin. Click on sermon notes for the full sermon.

01-27-2019 – Jesus Prays for His Disciples: Part Two

John 17:11-19

Read John 17:11… Jesus is leaving, the disciples will stay in a world hostile to them because of Christ (see John 15:18-19; 16:33). Jesus came to show us the Father (see John 1:18; 14:7).
Jesus prays for them to know God’s protection and power (see 1Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:38-39)..
Read John 17:12-16… Jesus guarded the 11 from Satan; Judas willfully betrayed Him (see John 13:18, cf Psalm 41:9,“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
Jesus prays for them to have His joy, eternal life made possible by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross.
Jesus spoke God’s Word, which they believed (John 17:8). The world rejected Christ, hating His disciples.
Jesus prays that they would know oneness with the Father and victory because of Christ.
1John 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Christians are to proclaim the gospel of Christ (see Romans 10:13-14; 2Corinthians 5:18-20).
Satan seeks to destroy the work of God, to disable God’s people. Jesus prays for the Father to keep them from evil (verse 15).
Peter failed (see Matthew 26:34-35, 69-75), he repented, was restored, and proclaimed the message of Christ (see Acts 2:22-24, 32-33, 36-38).
John 17:16 (see verse 14) says Jesus’ disciples do not belong to this world, neither does He. The Father protects and loves them, as He did Christ (John 17:23).
Read John 17:17-19… Jesus prays for the disciples to be sanctified by God’s Word of Truth; set apart for righteousness (Romans 12:1-2).
The “Word” spoken of here is the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments, revealed to us by God.
The disciples would be used to complete God’s Word (see John 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:12-15).
Only sanctified believers will represent Christ in the world. Jesus provides a preview here of Acts 1:1-9 (cf. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21-23).
Jesus (cf John 17:18) was sent into the world by the Father, the disciples would be sent into the world by Him.
Jesus is the Truth of God, all those who believe in and follow Him will be sanctified through the Word of God, made righteous through Christ (2Corinthians 5:21), “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
These men, guarded by the Father, prayed for by the Son, indwelled by the Spirit, would proclaim the message of Christ (Acts 1:8), “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Next week we will study Jesus’ prayer for all who will come to believe in Him through these first Christians, as (John 17:20), “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.”

Bible Text: John 17:6-10 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the bulletin insert. Please click on “Notes” for the full sermon.

01-20-2019 – Jesus Prays for His Disciples: Part 1

John 17:6-10

Read John 17:6-10… God adopts us (Ephesians 1:5) as His children, providing as eternal inheritance (1:11).
Without God we are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1); with Him we have life eternal (Ephesians 2:4-5).
No one is righteous (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8) until they are saved (1Timothy 2:3-4; Romans 10:9-10, 13).
Read John 17:6… Jesus prays for those who believe. Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God.” Colossians 2:9, “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells.”
Believers are not part of the godless world, for God (Colossians 1:13), “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
The disciples obeyed God’s word (Ephesians 2:8-10), obedience = faith = love (cf John 14:15, 21, 24; 15:10).
Read John 17:7-8… The disciples are just beginning to understand the ministry Jesus Christ came to fulfill.
Jesus often prayed to His Father (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1;35; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1-4).
The disciples believed Jesus spoke the true words of God (see John 6:68-69; 14:10, 24).
Read John 17:9-10… The eleven disciples were a gift to Jesus from the Father.
Jesus prays for unbelievers, from the cross (Luke 23:34), “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing,” but here, He prays for His own, for those who will (Matthew 5:16) let the Light of Christ show in their lives, so that others might also glorify the Father.
2Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
1Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
We will glorify to God throughout all eternity.
Revelation 4:8-11; 5:11-14, …“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” …“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” …“‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’ And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’” …Amen
We honor and serve the Lord by feeding on, obeying, and proclaiming His Word; through which we have been granted eternal life, and His Spirit is in us, so we are able to demonstrate the presence, pleasure, and power of God, as we are conformed to Christ.
We need not fear anything, for there is nothing that will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (cf Romans 8:1, 38-39).

Bible Text: John 17:1-5 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | These are the insert from the bulletin. Click Sermon Notes for the complete sermon.

01-13-2019 – All Glory goes to God.

John 17:1-5

Prayer is very important for our spiritual life.
1Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”
The Bible records many prayers of God’s people in the Old Testament: Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Hannah, David, Solomon, and Jonah.
The New Testament believers continually cried out to God in prayer. The apostles devoted themselves to prayer.
Jesus prayed at His baptism, before choosing the twelve apostles, before feeding the 5,000 and again the 4,000, before raising Lazarus from the dead, at the Last Supper, from the cross, and at His ascension.
John 17:1a… “Jesus spoke these things,” in chapters 14-16: His leaving to go back to the Father, His return for them. Sending the Holy Spirit, the persecution to come.
Jesus now, lifts up His eyes to heaven” and says, “Father, the hour has come.” The “hour” is His death, resurrection, and subsequent ascension.
John 17:1b… The glory of God is the main subject. At cross Jesus brings glory to the Father, and the Father glorifies the Son through salvation to all who believe. John 17:2… God’s Son has been granted authority to give eternal life (see John 10:17-18).
Jesus died for the sins of the world, was raised back to life, ascended to heaven where the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21), “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Earlier Jesus said (John 14:6), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” He alone grants forgiveness and eternal life. John 3:35-36, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not [a]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 17:3… Eternal life belongs only to those who belong to “the only true God,” made possible through Jesus Christ, sent by the Father.
Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
See John 1:1-4, 14, 18… Jesus is the revelation and embodiment of God, and He has the Life of God [Zoe = eternal, spiritual] in Himself.
Everyone who has the life of God possess God’s peace (John 14:27), love (John 15:10), joy (John 15:11).
Jesus said (John 5:24), “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
1John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
John 17:4-5… Jesus brought glory to the Father carrying out His will completely, while remaining sinless.
To the Jews Jesus said (John 8:46), “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” Paul said (2Corinthians 5:21), “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Only an unblemished and sinless sacrifice could be provide final payment for all sin, for all time.
Hebrews 9.22, “all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:12, “through His own blood… once for all…He obtained eternal redemption,” (Hebrews 9:26), “He has [come] to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” (Hebrews 10:12), “He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” See Luke 18:9-14 (cf. Isaiah 55:6-7)… Without the cross, no one, could be saved from sin’s condemnation. The eternal plan of God to save us, was made effectual through the cross of Christ.
The glory of God is Christ crucified and resurrected, for it is through the glory of the cross that we are able to bring glory to God while we are on earth, and forever in heaven.

Bible Text: John 16:25-33 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the bulletin insert. The full sermon notes are also available below.

11-18-2018

Jesus’ Concluding Words to the Eleven about Love and Peace

John 16:25-33

Read John 16:25-27… Jesus reiterated what He had told these guys (cf John 14:25, 28-29; 15:20; 16:1).
Jesus used metaphors and enigmatic language that appeared confusing to these guys (cf John 16:17-18).
See Mark 9:9-10, 31-32… See John 2:19, 22…
Jesus reminds them (John 16:25b-27) of John 16:23-24, adding that the Father loves them as His own children, because they love Jesus.
God’s children can pray directly to the Father; we can (cf Hebrews 4:16; 10:19) come before the throne of God and receive mercy, because of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus cried out “it is finished,” all were able to come into God’s presence through Jesus (cf John 14:6).
Through Jesus Christ the Father loves you as parent loves their child., with unconditional love.
Read John 16:28-32… Jesus came from the Father and He is going back to the Father (see John 1:1-3, 14).
Jesus died for the sins of the world, all who repent and believe in Him are saved (cf John 1:29; 3:16; 6:38-39).
Jesus showed us the Father (cf John 1:18; 14:7). Jesus came to save sinners (Mark 10:45; 1Timothy
1:15; 1John 4:9, 14).
It seems (John 16:29-30) these guys are beginning to understand, that Jesus came from God, why He came, and why He must go back.
Jesus asks, “Do you now believe?” Then tells them how they will scatter, when He is arrested and taken away; but the Father will be with Jesus, through it all, except when sin’s punishment is poured out on Him.
Matthew 27:46, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”
Habakkuk 1:13, “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor.”
2Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’”
1Peter 2:24, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
1Peter 3:18, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Read John 16:33… Earlier (cf John 14:25-29) Jesus told them He would give them His peace.
Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Philippians 4:7, “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
They will have hard times in this world, but Jesus has overcome the world – defeating sin, death, and judgment.
Jesus tells His disciples (John 16:27) they are dearly loved by the Father because they love the Son; they will have the God’s peace to rule in their hearts and to guard their minds, and through Christ the Lord, they overcome sin, death, judgment, and the world.
1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
1John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Bible Text: John 16:16-24 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | The following is the bulletin insert–please also see the sermon notes.

11-11-2018

The Disciples Grief will be Turned to Joy

John 16:16-24

Read John 16:16-18… What does “a little while” mean? He used it several times already (John 7:33), “For a
little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me,” (John 12:35), “For a little while longer the Light is among you,” (John 13:33), “Little children, I am with you a little while longer,” (John 14:19), “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.”
John 14:22, “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?’”
Luke 6:16, “Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” (cf Acts 1:13, in the upper room)
The disciples (John 16:17-18) struggle, knowing Jesus is going to die and go back to the Father.
Read John 16:19-20… The eleven will weep while the world rejoices; but their grief will be turned into joy.
The cross is the provision of God, paying the penalty for all sin for all time, for all those who believe in Jesus.
Read John 16:21-22… Jesus gives an example of how suffering turns into joy (cf. Genesis 3:16, “To the woman [God] said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children.”)
Jesus’ disciples’ grief over His death, like the pain of childbirth, will be replaced with joy when He returns.
See John 14:15-27… Jesus is going to send another just like Him, to be with them forever, the Holy Spirit.
Notice again in John 14:16-17, the Spirit will live in them forever; and in John 14:21, 23, God the Father and God the Son will come to them and make Their home in them, i.e., live in them.
Romans 8:9-11 declares that those who belong to God have the Spirit of God in them; in fact, Paul says Christ is in them.
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Read John 16:23-24… Do you understand what Jesus is saying here? In “that day” i.e., in the day they see Him again, they “will not question Him about anything.”
Jesus can’t mean His resurrection, as they asked Him many questions before His ascension (see Acts 1:1-6).
But after the coming of the Holy Spirit, they would have their own resident teacher and member of the Godhead (See John 14:16, 25-26; 16:13-15).
The disciples would finally understand that Jesus’ is God the Son, the One and Only of the Father, that He had to die, to bring eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Another very important truth is (verse 24) that believers can ask the Father, in Christ’s name, and it will be done. This is the third time this evening, that Jesus declares this truth (John 14:13; 15:16).
Note: To pray in Jesus’ name means to acknowledge complete dependence upon the Lord for everything, and to pray according to the person of Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Word and Will of God.
The disciples had not asked for anything in Jesus’ name, because He was with them. But now they are to pray in His name, that their joy may be made full.
We, as Christians are granted the same privilege, for God is our Father, His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior, and His Spirit is in us, forever!
No wonder God’s Word commands us (1Thessalonians 5:16-18), “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Bible Text: John 16:1-15 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the bulletin insert. The complete sermon notes are also available below.

11-04-2018 – The Holy Spirit Convicts & Comforts

John 16:1-15

Read John 16:1-4… “These things” refer to what Jesus said in John 15:18-25.
•The world hated Jesus, it hates His followers.
•The world persecuted Jesus, it persecutes His followers. •The world is guilty of the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ.
2Timothy 3:12-13, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Paul previously hated Christians (see Acts 26:9-11). Read John 16:5-6… Jesus previously told them He will
be rejected, arrested and crucified. But the worse will be the Father turning away from Him (Matthew 27:46), “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
The disciples think only about their own sorrow, they totally overlook the pain and suffering of Jesus.
Read John 16:7-11… Jesus speaks of the supernatural Comforter who’ll come after Christ ascends back to the Father (see John 14:16-17; 25-26; 15:26-27).
The Holy Spirit seeks to convict unbelievers in their heart of their need for Christ, but the devil blinds them (see 2Corinthians 4).
Rejecting Jesus as the Son of God is the unpardonable sin, condemning a person to hell (see John 3:14-16, 36; 6:28-29; 8:24-25; 10:30; 14:6).
In John 12:31-32 Jesus says, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” In John 14:30 He says, “the ruler of the world is coming,” and now (John 16:11) He says, “the ruler of this world has been judged.”
Satan is defeated and judged by Jesus Christ, Who is the truth, Satan is the Father of lies (John 8:44), “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Read John 16:12-15… The disciples, so consumed with their own sorrow, miss the divine message of the cross.
Only after Jesus’ death and resurrection will they be able to understand what He has been telling them; for the Helper [Holy Spirit] will enable them to understand and accomplish God’s will.
Jesus is speaking of divine truth, that will equip and enable them to proclaim the message of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ (see John 14:26; 15:26-27) 2Peter 1:20-21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (NIV 1984)
2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV 1984)
The Holy Spirit convicts, so you will believe in Jesus, at which time you’ll experience the comfort and confirmation that you have been granted eternal life.
Do you have that assurance? If you aren’t sure, ask the Lord right now, He turns no one away.
Admit you’re a sinner, we all are (Romans 3:10, 23)…
Believe that Jesus can save you; He is the only means of salvation (Romans 6:23): the only Way to God, the only Truth of God, the only Life with God…
Confess your sinfulness to Him and He will forgive all your sins: past, present, future (Romans 5:8; 8:1)…
Demonstrate the new life you have received in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 10:24-25)…
Read the Bible daily, obey what you understand… Pray to God throughout your day…
Participate in a local God-honoring church…
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Bible Text: John 15:17-27 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the Bulletin Insert. Please see the tab to click for the entire sermon notes.

10-21-2018

Who Does the World Hate?

John 15:17-27

Read John 15:17… We love one another (1John 4:7) because God is love (1John 4:8). We who are (1John 5:1) born of God (cf John 1:13; 3:8); will (1John 5:2) love God’s children and obey God’s commands.
Read John 15:18-19… The world opposes God.
World = All who oppose God’s Son and reject God’s Word Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him (see John 7:7).
Read John 15:20-21… Jesus previously told them (John 13:16-20; 14:24; 2Timothy 3:12), they would suffer at the hands of those who reject Christ.
Read John 15:22-25… Israel has no excuse for not believing in God’s Son (cf. John 1:1-3, 14, 18).
The Jews hated Jesus, wanting to kill Him. Look at John 10:30-33… Jesus claimed equality with God, and so they sought to kill Him. Look at John 11:45-53… Jesus raises Lazarus, the Jews set their hearts to kill Him.
John 15:25 is quoting Psalms 35:19; 69:4, where we David is said to be hated by his enemies; how much more the sinless Son of God would be hated for pointing out their sins, declaring that salvation, was available through Christ alone (John 6:28-29; 8:24; 10:30).
Read John 15:26-27… We started today with John 15:17, “love one another.” Last week John 15:12, Jesus commanded them to love one another, just as He loved them; meaning, of course, He died for them/us.
John 15:26-27 is a repeat of what He had already said to them (see John 14:15-17, 23-26).
Jesus (cf. John 14:2-3) is going away, but (cf. John 14:18, 28) won’t leave them as orphans (cf. John 14:29) He says, “I have told you before it happens, so when it does happen you may believe.”
Look at John 14:16-17… Jesus promised to send a Helper, Counselor, Comforter [Greek Paracletos = the same kind as Jesus, equal to God]. The Helper is the Holy Spirit, He will teach them (and us) all things.
We read here (John 15:26-27), that the Holy Spirit, is going to encourage them to testify about Jesus Christ [God’s Son, Lord, Savior], these guys can give eyewitness accounts (cf. 1John 1:1-3) of all He said and did.
If you love God, you will desire to share the message of forgiveness for sin and eternal life through Jesus .
Remain alert and sober minded, aware that the world (those who oppose God) hated Jesus first; and they hate those who obey and proclaim God’s Message of Salvation.
Most of us will die on this earth, Jesus says:
John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
We have nothing to fear from this world, because as God’s children, born again by the Spirit of God, we have eternal life in heaven, where there will not be anymore death or mourning or crying or pain.
1John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1John 5:11-13, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Bible Text: John 15:12-16 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the insert from the bulletin. The full sermon notes are also downloadable.

10-14-2018

Jesus Calls Us His Friends

John 15:12-16

John 15:12-14… Jesus commands us to love one another with agape love (1John 4:7-8, 20; 5:1-2).
John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus was just hours away from the Cross, when He would die, so that all who believe in Him might live.
1Peter 3:18, “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”
Our greatest need is forgiveness (cf Romans 3:10-12, 23-24; 6:23; 8:1; 10:9-10, 13).
John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
In Matthew 12:50, Jesus says, “whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.’” In John 6:29 Jesus says, God’s will is for us to believe in Jesus, God’s Son..
Good works can’t produce salvation; but salvation will produce good works (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy.”
Read John 15:15… Men in the OT who are described as slaves of God: Moses (Numbers 12:7), Joshua (Joshua 24:29), David (2Samuel 7:5), Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3), and the Messiah Himself (Isaiah 42:1).
In the NT there are men who were called salves of Jesus Christ: Paul (Romans 1:1), James (James 1:1), Jude (Jude 1), and John (Revelation 1:1).
The Greek word doulos is translated slave in the NT.
Jesus calls us friends and tells us the deep mysteries of God, unknowable to those who reject God’s Son.
• The mystery of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:11)
• The mystery of God’s will (Ephesians 1:9)
• The mystery of a Savior in human flesh (Matthew
1:21)
• The mystery of Immanuel [God with us] (Isaiah 7:14;
Matthew 1:23)
• The mystery of being spiritually and eternally birthed
as children of God (John 1:13; 3:3-8)
• The mystery of God living in us (Colossians 1:26-27)
Before coming to Christ a person is an enemy of God (see Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:8-11).
Read John 15:16… In Israel, a disciple chose his own teacher to follow; but Jesus chose His own “appointing them [setting them apart from all others], that they might “go” and bear fruit [do God’s will].
Christianity is about being, doing, and going – our purpose is to show, and tell others about, Christ.
In John 15:16, Jesus says, “bear fruit that remains.” See Matthew 28:18-20… Your purpose is to tell others about Christ, so they might believe and be saved.
Jesus came to die for our sins, to save us. We are to be proclaiming the simple message: Jesus Saves!
Look at John 14:12-13… Jesus never preached the gospel outside of Israel; yet His followers, His friends, have taken His message to the ends of the earth.
As a friend of Jesus, you will seek to bring His Good News to the lost, for (1Timothy 2:3-4), God our Savior wants all men to be saved through their knowledge of the truth (see 2Corinthians 5:17-21)!
Jesus Christ (John 14:6) the only way to God, the only truth of God, the only life with God; no one enters heaven without coming through Him.
True friends of Christ will pray for the salvation of the lost, but then we need to get up and go share the message of salvation, introducing people to Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior and Lord, Sustainer and Judge over all, and yet, He calls us His friends.

Bible Text: John 15:1-11 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the bulletin insert. Sermon notes are available for download as well.

09-23-2018

The Vine and the Branches

John 15:1-11

Read John 15:1-2… The last of the I AM statements in John (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6)
Jesus is the Light and Life from God (cf. John 1:1-4). OT analogy (Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21); NT reality,
believers depend on the Lord (cf. 2Peter 1:3-4).
Jesus is the vine, the Light (cf. John 1:9), the bread (cf. John 6:32), the way to God (cf. John 14:6).
The Father prunes us, that we grow spiritually. We might consider this painful (see Hebrew 12:7-11).
Read John 15:3-5… The Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) is, “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
See John 13:10… You are saved, but you need daily cleansing [pruning, tending] for that which is dirty.
Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” 71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”
The true fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”
Paul prayed for the Colossians to be continually (Colossians 1:10) “bearing fruit in every good work,” for we are (Ephesians 2:10) “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Read John 15:6… Those who do not produce fruit, are cut and thrown into the fire. These are not believers (cf. Romans 11:29) but unbelievers (cf. Matthew 7:13-14). Matthew 13:49-50, “At the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Read John 15:7… Jesus says, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
See John 14:13-14. This is to pray the will of God, aligning with the Word of God, exemplified in the character and nature of God.
Jesus gave us an example of how we are to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, in total submission to God.
Read John 15:8… The intended result of our prayers should be to honor God, do good works, bear much fruit.
Read John 15:9-10… Those who belong to God obey His Word, showing their love for Christ, experiencing His love (see John 14:13-15, 21, 23). Love for God cannot be separated from our desire to obey God’s Word.
Read John 15:11… Knowing God’s love should compel us to show our love for God, and in doing so, the joy that comes from God is experienced deep inside our hearts. Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The joy of God comes to those who love and obey God’s Word. When we are disobedient and self-centered, we sacrifice our joy.
David committed murder and adultery in order to feed his own passions, sacrificing his joy (Psalm 51:10-13), “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.”