We're preaching through the gospel according to John, the fourth gospel.
Today our sermon text, it's the final words of Jesus while he's still in the upper room.
At the end of chapter 14, you see he calls his disciples out of there.
You could say this is the calm before the storm.
And the last words he gives his disciples in the quiet in that upper room
are the words that will remain with them until the Holy Spirit comes fulfilling everything he promises.
So as I read from John 14 beginning at verse 15,
remember this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.
It's God's very own word for you, his people.
If you believe that, if you receive it that way, I'll say this is the word of the Lord and we say thanks be to God.
John 14 starting at verse 15.
If you love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may abide with you forever.
Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless.
I will come to you.
Yet a little while in the world shall see me no more, but ye shall see me.
Because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
He that hath commandments and keepeth them,
He it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved by my Father,
and I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him,
That's not as scary, O Lord.
How is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him,
and he will come unto him and make our abode with him.
Verse 24,
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings,
and the word which ye hear is not mine, but my Father's which sent me.
Verse 25,
These things I have spoken unto you, being yet present with you,
but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, from the Father,
who he will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and shall bring all things to your remembrance.
Whatsoever I have said unto you,
Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you,
not as the world giveth,
give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you,
I go away and come again unto you.
If you love me,
you would rejoice,
because I said,
I go unto the Father,
for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you,
before it will come to pass,
that when it does come to pass,
you might believe.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God indeed.
You may be seated.
Would you pray with me?
Speak, O Lord,
until your church is built for your glory.
May your Holy Spirit with power
shed your light on these words, Father.
Give us understanding,
these words of life that Jesus Christ
has spoken to his disciples,
to his church.
Help us to receive your word with faith,
that our faith would be like an empty beggar's hand
holding on to Jesus Christ.
We pray, Lord,
that your Spirit will minister
and apply your truth,
that you will give us hearts to rejoice,
that you will comfort us, Lord,
that we will put our hope
in the finished work of Jesus.
By the power of the Spirit in us,
we ask.
Amen.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote,
The riddles of God
are more satisfying
than the solutions of man.
In this upper room,
our Lord Jesus is giving
some of the most glorious promises,
yet it's like they're bouncing off
the ears of his disciple like riddles.
What does Jesus mean?
I grasp that if I can understand
and receive what he says,
these are words of life.
But what does he mean?
These are difficult things you are saying, Lord.
And Judas, not as scary,
the other Judas,
he asked that question in verse 22.
Lord, how is it
that you're going to do this?
You said you will manifest yourself to us
and that the world won't see you any longer,
but we will know you
and we will have you.
How can this be?
How is it that you will manifest yourself
to us and not to the world?
Because if you have seen Jesus,
if you have ears to hear and eyes to see,
and you believe this promise
that he's given you,
you have life.
And Jesus says,
if you reject my words,
you're rejecting the Father.
He's the one who sent me
and gave me these words.
So if you receive these promises,
it means everything
for your life now and for eternity.
If you don't have ears to hear
and you reject the word
that Christ gives
and these promises,
then these promises
are not for you.
In the book of Revelation,
Jesus is depicted
not as what he will look like,
but as who he is.
And who is Jesus Christ?
From his mouth comes a sword.
And that sword is sharp
and it divides
between bone and marrow.
That's what the word of Jesus,
going out into all the world,
that's what it does.
Do you have ears to hear?
The most important thing
you can reflect on today
is whether or not
these promises are for you.
In this glorious passage,
Jesus says,
I will not leave you orphans.
But if these promises
are not for you,
you are alone.
Jesus says,
My Father will give you
another advocate in my name.
But if these promises
are not for you,
you don't have an advocate
before the holy, just God.
Jesus says,
I will come again for you.
But if these promises
are not for you,
then Christ will come
bringing the wrath of God
and the judgment of God.
He will not come
to rescue you
if you are outside
of his salvation.
Jesus says in this passage,
I will dwell with you
by my spirit.
But if these promises
are not for you,
you do not have
the Holy Spirit
dwelling in you.
God is not making
his home in you.
Jesus Christ is promising
comfort,
peace,
rejoicing
to all those
who receive
his promises.
Are these promises
for you?
How can you know
whether or not
these promises
are for you?
My objective today,
what I've been praying for,
is that by walking
through seven conditions
that Jesus gives
attached to his promises,
you'll be able to
ask the Spirit
to search you
and reflect
and discern.
Yes,
these promises
are for me
and I receive them.
And if not,
that the Lord
would take away
any false assurance
that his Spirit
would convict you
of your need
for your Savior
and that you would
run to the cross
of Jesus Christ
today.
So number one,
Christ's promises
are for you
if you love him.
Look at verse 15.
Jesus says,
if you love me,
you will keep
my commandments.
Well,
how do I know
if I love God?
His promises
are only for me
if I love him.
And he says
in the Bible,
look at the fruit
and you'll know the tree.
Is it a good tree
or a bad tree?
See,
this is very different
than saying
your good behavior
is what saves you.
This is saying
if you are grafted
into Christ,
his good fruit
will begin
to be born
in your life.
So the promises
are not for you
if you are defiant
toward King Jesus.
If you're still
holding on
to your self-righteousness
or trying to muster up
good deeds
to prove yourself worthy,
then his promises
are not for you
or for me.
This same apostle John
in 1 John 2,
he wrote to the church
and he said,
my little children,
I am writing you
these things
that you may not sin.
I'm reminding you
of the gospel
and it will play out
in its life,
in your life.
See,
God is love
and the love of God
is not a distant love.
Love is action.
Love initiates.
While we were yet sinners,
God sent his son
to save us.
If you look at
two different families,
you can peek into
a living room
this afternoon.
Can you tell
whether a dad
loves his little baby?
Well,
you can tell
by the way
they show it,
right?
Love is action.
If you see a dad
who doesn't have
the time
to spend with his family,
love is action.
You see the dad
who pinches his nose
and changes
yet another poopy diaper,
love is action.
He's showing
he loves his son.
If you love God,
it'll show up
as fruit in your life,
as action.
It will not be
resisting the moral
law of God.
It will be asking
for more and more
and more of his spirit
working out that fruit
of his law
in your life.
Think of the Ten Commandments
as a description
of what this looks like.
If you love God,
number one,
you will show
your love
by worshiping him.
You're not
too worried
about what's going on
on TV right now.
You are here
to worship
the creator
of the universe.
Number two,
you will be humble
and joyful
to worship
the way God
has appointed
and how he's shown you
to do that
the best you can.
And throughout a lifetime,
we will be reforming
more and more and more
to conform with his word.
Number three,
you will hallow his name.
The name of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
Father, Son, and Spirit
will be precious to you.
You will hallow his name.
Number four,
you will long
for his kingdom
to come.
And you will delight
to rest in his finished work
in a special way
on the Lord's day.
We need this.
Our souls and our bodies
need to rest in him.
Number five,
you will honor
the authorities above you.
Number six,
you will defend
human life
and flourishing.
Number seven,
you will treat your body
as the holy vessel
where the Spirit dwells.
Number eight,
you will labor
diligently
as a steward
of everything God
has put in your hands
for now.
Number nine,
you will love
to promote truth
and when you do lie,
you will confess
and you will ask the Lord
to tame your tongue
and refine you
to be more like Christ.
Number ten,
you will be content
in him.
The world can be
upside down.
Your work,
your relationships
can be on the rocks,
but you will find
deep contentment
for your soul.
Even if it means
praying Psalm 77
in the middle of the night
on your knees,
your soul
is content
with the Lord.
In 1 John 2.1,
he goes on to say,
I wrote so you won't sin,
but if anyone,
any one of you Christians
does sin
because if a Christian
thinks he is without sin,
he deceives himself,
we have an advocate
with the Father,
Jesus Christ,
our Lord.
He is the righteousness
that advocates
on our behalf.
The reason I highlight
this verse now
is because you need to know
who is your first advocate
before you appreciate
the promise of
another advocate.
You have an advocate.
It is God the Son
at the right hand
of the Father.
The righteousness of God
advocating for you.
So our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that
if you love him,
you will keep
his commandments
and this is a promise.
This is a promise.
It's not law
to save yourself.
It's his promise.
Your advocate telling you
if you love me,
you will want
to obey me.
It won't be fighting
each other.
He promises
you will obey him.
You will delight
in his law.
It will be a joy
and a blessing
to know him more
that way
and to submit
to the king
who saves you.
Number two,
Christ's promises
are for you
if his spirit
dwells in you.
Look at verse 16.
I will ask the Father
and he will give you
another helper,
another comforter,
another advocate
to be with you forever.
Verse 17,
Even the spirit
of truth
whom the world
cannot receive
because it neither
sees him
nor knows him
but you know him
for he dwells
with you
and will be
with you.
The Greek word
is paraclete.
Paraclete can be
translated helper,
comforter,
advocate.
When we think
of a lawyer now
we think someone
who knows the law
very well
and can be assigned
to defend you
or maybe just
to clarify a contract.
So lawyer
is a really broad term.
In the New Testament
a lawyer would be
like a teacher
of the law.
So it's more
of a scholarly
really technical job.
That's not
what's in mind here.
That's not
how the spirit
is described.
A paraclete
is more like
a trustworthy witness.
So if you have
to stand in court
and you're being accused
a paraclete
would be someone
that knew you
for much of your life
ever since you were a boy
and they could
advocate and say
I know the character
of this person.
I know that what
he's being accused of
does not match
what I've seen.
That's what a paraclete does.
The word another
it could mean
in English
a couple different things.
Sinclair Ferguson
gave a great illustration.
It could mean
I loved this chocolate
chip cookie
may I have another
please.
It's another
of the exact same kind.
I know this is what I want.
Or it could mean
I'm allergic to nuts
do you have another option?
You know
a different kind.
The way he's describing it here
the word is
another of the same kind.
So you have
another advocate.
The Lord Jesus Christ
knows you.
He called you
by name.
He is your good shepherd
who watches over
your entire life
and your soul.
And he's at the right hand
of the Father.
And you're saying
yes may I have another
please.
May I have a Holy Spirit
who will be dwelling in me
to advocate.
The same kind.
And this is why
Romans 8-9
calls the Holy Spirit
the Spirit of Christ.
It's not a different God.
It's the Son
in his glorified seat
at the right hand
of the Father
ruling over everything
all power and authority
in his hands
and the Holy Spirit
of Christ
the same God
ministering
advocating
on your behalf.
He says
I will ask
the Father
and he will give you
another advocate.
You might be thinking
why wait?
Why didn't that just happen
right then?
See Jesus had
a work to do.
He had a work
to do as God
incarnate
before he could
open up the floodgates
of the blessed presence
of God on the earth.
His work was not
yet finished.
This upper room
discourse is taking place
on the Thursday
before Good Friday.
In 24 hours or so
he would be hanging
on the cross
and he would say
now it is finished.
When the Father
raises him from the dead
he accepts that
finished work of Christ.
And when the Lord
Jesus ascends
the church gathers
on the Lord's day
and the Spirit
is poured out
like a tsunami
of water upon them
and it spills over
into every new region
until the glorious
presence of God
fills the earth
through his church.
In church history
there is a big debate
who is it
that sends the Spirit?
Is the Spirit
sent only by the Father?
And you can get that
because Jesus says
I will ask the Father
and he will send the Spirit.
But look down
at verse 26
how does the Father
send the Spirit?
That helper
that comforter
that paraclete
the Holy Spirit
the Father will send
what are the next
three words?
In my name.
So from this
we conclude
the doctrine
that the Holy Spirit
proceeds from both
the Father
and the Son.
It's the Father
and the Son
the finished work
of the Son
breathing out
the Holy Spirit
onto the church.
a Puritan
in the Netherlands
named Herman Witsius
he had some
very helpful
comments on this.
He said
the Holy Spirit
is called Spirit
because of the
distinct mode
of procession.
So Spirit
comes from the word
to spirate.
Think of other words
that have that Latin root
you know
to be inspired
or if something
expires
you know
breathed its last breath
and now is
spiritless.
So to be spirated
is to be breathed out.
The Father
God the Father
is the sender
of the Spirit.
God so loved the world
that he sent
his only begotten Son
and the Father
will send another helper.
That's the role
of the Father.
The Son
is God incarnate
the Word
that is Creator God
in John 1
that became flesh
and through his name
the Spirit
is now sent.
The blessing
of dwelling with God
is only possible
by the work
of God the Son
the mediator.
And then the Spirit
is God
spired
or spirated.
He is the God
who has been breathed out
by the Father
through the name
of the Son.
Our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that
you now
have two advocates
through the work
of the Holy Spirit.
The Son
in Heaven
and the Holy Spirit
that dwells
in you
advocating
for you.
And if God
is for you
the Son
is for you
in Heaven
the Spirit
is for you
dwelling in you
who can be
against you?
So if Christ's promises
are for you
then you can know
that his Spirit
is dwelling in you.
Well what's that like?
Number three
Christ's promises
are for you
if he manifests
his life
in you.
How do I know
if the Holy Spirit
is dwelling in me?
He will manifest
himself to me.
Verse 18
Jesus says
I will not leave you
as orphans
I will come
to you
yet a little while
and the world
will see me no more
but you will see me
because I live
you also
will live.
In that day
you will know
that I am
in my Father
and you in me
and I in you.
You will know this.
He says
you will know this
in that day
when the Holy Spirit
ministers.
Verse 21
Whoever has my commandments
and keeps them
he it is
who loves me
and he who loves me
will be loved
by my Father
and I will love him
and manifest
myself
to him.
So how do you know
if the Holy Spirit
dwells in you?
Jesus Christ
is manifesting
himself
in your life.
That's the ministry
of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 20
the ministry
of the Holy Spirit
is to make you know
that Jesus
is in the Father.
Jesus Christ
is very God
of very God
in the Father
and you
by his shed blood
by his work
as mediator
you are in Jesus Christ
and Jesus Christ
is in you
by the ministry
of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 21
The Holy Spirit
manifests God
to you.
He will manifest it.
We want to see
this don't we?
We want to see
and know
that it is God
who is moving
in his people.
How do we see that?
Well Jesus keeps it
very simple.
He says
it will show up
by your life.
Do you love me?
Do you obey me?
That's how it will show up.
We want to see
a mighty moving
of the Holy Spirit.
We know that the Spirit
is represented
throughout Scripture
as a wind
and blowing
and life.
We take it all the way
back to Genesis 1-2
it's the Ruach
Spirit of God
that hovered.
You picture
the flapping wings
that hover.
It's generating wind
that from that
movement of the Spirit
the Word of God
created order
out of chaos
and light
out of darkness.
In John 3-8
Jesus told Nicodemus
that the wind blows
wherever it wishes
and you hear its sound
but you do not know
from where it comes
or where it goes
and so it is
with everyone
born of the Spirit.
There's that
pneuma
it's like we get
the word pneumonia
for the lungs
it's the breathing
it's the movement
you don't know
where it comes from
or where it's going next
but that's God
working into His people
the promises
that Christ
has secured for them.
In Acts 2
verse 2
listen to how this
is actually fulfilled.
Suddenly there came
from heaven
a sound
like a mighty
rushing wind
and it filled
the entire house
where the disciples
were sitting
and praying.
That's what it was like
to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
And so the church
is set in motion
but how do we know
now if we have
the Holy Spirit?
Well we're told
that the Spirit
will bear this fruit
of obedience.
This is why
the righteousness
of Christ
working into our lives
is called
the fruit
of the Spirit.
It is God alone
who can bear
these fruits in us
and when you see
that in your life
never perfectly
but increasingly
and you see that
in one another
you know that God
is fulfilling
this promise
to dwell in you.
Like he said
in Colossians 3
12-14
therefore as God's
chosen people
holy and dearly loved
clothe yourselves
with compassion
kindness
humility
gentleness
and patience.
Bear with each other
and forgive
whatever grievances
you may have
against one another.
Forgive as the Lord
forgave you
and over all these things
bind them up
with love.
And so there it is
the picture of the church
being clothed
in Christ's righteousness
bound by his love.
How do you know
if you've been forgiven
if you're united to Christ?
Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.
You're forgiven
and it will show up
by how you forgive
your Christian brothers
and sisters.
Our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that
by the ministry
of his Spirit
you are not alone.
You are not left
orphans.
God is with you
by his Spirit
right now
and you will know
that you are in Christ
and that he is in you.
Number four
Christ's promises
are for you
if God is making
his home
with you.
If God is making
the home of God
in your life
then you can know
that Christ's promises
are for you.
In verse 22
Judas
not Iscariot
asked the question
everybody's wanting
to understand.
Lord
how is it
that you will manifest
yourself to us
but not to the whole world?
That's a riddle.
Verse 23
Jesus answered him
if anyone loves me
he will keep my word
and the Father
will love him
and we will come to him
and make our home
with him.
Whoever does not love me
does not keep my words
and the word that you hear
is not mine
but the Father's
who sent me.
See Jesus
calls the whole world
to hear
his gospel truth.
He says
shake the bushes
go to the hedges
the byways
the highways
invite them all
to the banquet feast
call whoever has an ear
to repent
and to believe
so the gospel call
goes out universally
calling all men
to God
but it's a special work
of the Holy Spirit
it's an effectual call
that draws those
who will believe.
The whole world
is invited
to love Christ
and keep his commandment
but then the law
shows you
I can't
I have this burden
on my back
a guilty conscience
and it's the spirit
of God
that dwelling in you
takes the righteousness
of Christ
he frees you
of this burden
Christ paid it all
and he puts the love
that can only come
from God
into your heart.
See Judas' question
is getting at
exactly that
why won't everyone
believe?
How will you manifest
yourself to
your disciples
but yet the world
won't know
that you're alive?
Jesus' answer
is not direct
Jesus says
if anyone
loves me
because
only those
who love Christ
will want
to keep his word.
Do you want to know
if you are effectually
called?
Then repent.
That's what he calls
the world to do
but only those
who love Christ
will want to keep
his word
and Jesus says
in verse 23
if anyone loves me
he will
keep my word
that's a promise.
So you will know
that the Father
loves you
if you love
his Son.
Do you want
the Father
to love you
and forgive you?
Well search
your heart
that's the most
fundamental question
do you love Jesus?
Who is Jesus
to you?
In verse 23
Jesus says
he will keep
my word
my Father
will love him.
In John
chapter 1
verse 14
we were told
that the word
became flesh
and dwelt
among us.
See God
the Father
took on a body
and he identified
with those
who came
to save
for his life
and now
it's the same
spirit of God
who is dwelling
not physically
like Christ
did but
spiritually
with his people.
We have seen
his glory
John wrote
bearing witness
glory as of
the only Son
from the Father
full of grace
and truth
and though you
and I are called
to believe in Christ
and to see him
by faith
not by sight
we can say
that by the power
of the Holy Spirit
the same God
working in us
he is that
direct agent
that causes us
to behold
that same thing
the glory
of Jesus Christ
from the Father
full of grace
and truth.
Our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that
if he makes
his home with you
and you obey him
then that is because
God has loved you
and given you eyes
to behold him.
One commentator said
maybe you are
picturing your life
before you became
a Christian
or right after
you became a Christian
as a simple
little country cottage
two rooms
shared space
for a lot of
different things
very simple
well God has moved
into your little cottage
he has filled it
with his glory
and he has
much more in mind
for your life
than you ever knew
was possible
and it hurts sometimes
he busts out
an entire wall
and he is building
this amazing
wraparound deck
and he is filling
more and more
and more of your heart
the life that he is
dwelling in
he becomes the home maker
I will make my home
inside of you
so if the Lord
is doing that
and it hurts
and he is refining you
and purifying you
realize that he is
your loving father
he is expanding
your life
he is expanding
your heart and soul
he is increasing
his glory
in you
even by that work
of knocking out walls
and extending the foundation
and equipping you
to belong to his kingdom
the temple
in which he will dwell
and the spirit's job
is to make it
a beautiful dwelling
for the father
and the son
number five
Christ's promises
are for you
if
God's Holy Spirit
is teaching you
Christ's word
verse 25
Jesus says
these things
I have spoken to you
while I am still
with you
verse 26
but the helper
the Holy Spirit
whom the father
will send in my name
he will teach you
all things
and bring to your
remembrance
all that I have
said to you
are you understanding
God's word
more and more
do you understand
more of the glory
of God
from the Bible
now than you did
six months ago
then praise God
that's the ministry
of the Holy Spirit
that should give you
assurance
that the Spirit
is teaching you
all things
we get three things
here
that Spirit
number one
illuminates
God's word
it's closed
but the Lord
opened up
the scriptures
to us
and our hearts
burned within us
when he did that
that's the work
of the Spirit
to illuminate
God's word
number two
the Holy Spirit
applies God's word
he teaches you
all things
he tells Timothy
that Timothy
as you shepherd
this flock
you're not even
an apostle
you're a regular man
and you're sickly
but you will be
fully equipped
to minister
if you have
God's word
and the Holy Spirit
you have all
that you need
he will show you
how to apply
his word
in all things
and number three
the Holy Spirit
brings to memory
I think the
first application
is the disciples
would be
enabled by the Holy Spirit
to write down
the gospels
the Holy Spirit
would breathe out
to them
the true teaching
when the Lord
came back
from the resurrection
and walked them
through the scriptures
they are remembering
this by the help
of the Spirit
and giving it
to the church
for generations
to come
in the New Testament
that's the most
immediate application
but that same ministry
of the Holy Spirit
is true for every one
of us as well
even though we're
not apostles
he brings to our
memories
he helps us
remember his truth
you've had this
happen to you
haven't you
you out of nowhere
out of nowhere
you're in the middle
of a situation
you're in a conversation
and a phrase
or a Bible verse
comes to mind
and you're able
to find the comfort
of holding on
to that promise
you have
through a disciplined
study
had God's word
dwell richly in you
and the Spirit
brings it to your memory
and reminds you
of that
you could not do
that on your own
you and I
we're too broken
our flesh is too strong
but the Spirit
draws it back
to our memory
and he shows us
how to use his word
so that we are always
fully equipped
to walk with him
this is what we do
every week
as a congregation
when we gather
we just sing this
as a prayer
speak oh Lord
as we come to you
to receive the food
of your holy word
take your truth
plant it deep in us
shape and fashion us
in your likeness
that the light of Christ
might be seen today
in our acts of love
in our deeds of faith
speak oh Lord
and fulfill in us
all your purposes
for your glory
that's the ministry
of the Holy Spirit
with the church
so our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that his spirit
will help you
to learn Christ
the word of God
God's living word
the gospel
the person of the son
you will know him
you will learn him
he will teach you
Christ
and he'll do that
through his scripture
through the Bible
number six
Christ's promises
are for you
if you know
the heavenly peace
that only Christ
can give you
and that's really
the theme of this
entire chapter
chapter 14
we've seen how
the disciples
were troubled in heart
and Jesus tells them
let not your hearts
be troubled
and he repeats
that refrain here
at the end of this
passage as well
we saw that before that
Jesus was troubled
of heart
and he came into the world
to give the peace
of heaven
and he did that
by putting himself
in trouble
in verse 27
he tells them
peace
I leave with you
what kind of peace
my peace
I give to you
not as the world
gives do I give to you
that's why you can
let not your hearts
be troubled
and neither let them
be afraid
Jesus is about
to take the disciples
into the garden
of Gethsemane
this is the calm
before the storm
this is the quiet
gathering
the selah
the pause
before they go
to spiritual war
well how is the peace
of Christ
even in that moment
before his great work
leading up to
and finished on the cross
how is it different
than the world
of the peace
that this world
can offer
all that this world
can offer
is creaturely
it is dependent
and temporary
someone said
that the peace
of the world
is a fragile truce
that can be upended
at any time
by one single act
of violence
but the peace
that comes from heaven
it's not temporary
it is everlasting
untouchable
because it's the peace
from God himself
and there's no shadow
of turning in God
it is not dependent
and therefore
it will never
fade away
the Holy Spirit
came to take
that same peace
that Jesus Christ
accomplished
and merited
not because he
lacked anything
but because we
lack everything
and the Spirit
takes the peace
that Jesus Christ
received from the Father
having finished his work
and the Spirit
applies it out
to the church now
see you and I
are in need
of peace
aren't we
and Jesus said
if you follow me
you're going to need
to take up your cross
daily
in this world
you will
have trouble
but I give you
my peace
he says
in verse 27
but God's peace
is not for everyone
who is it
that gets this peace
see peace
requires faith
and you and I
we need peace
and we need the faith
that comes before
that peace
Ephesians 2
says by grace
God has saved you
through faith
and even this
is not your own doing
it is the gift
of God
Jesus says
you have
this faith
of salvation
if you obey me
but you and I
we can't obey him
we need his help
to even obey him
and to know
whether we have
the saving faith
and it is the Spirit
your helper
we're told in
2 Corinthians 10
5
who will help you
take every thought
captive
to obey Christ
we need peace
he gives the peace
we need faith
he's the one
who gives the faith
we need to obey him
and he's the one
who helps us
to obey him
if you love me
you will obey me
Jesus says
and to obey
you need God's love
in 1 John 4
19
we don't even have
the love
that would make us
want to obey
but we love
because God
first
loved us
do you see
how our salvation
our sanctification
all the way
to the end
it begins with God
it ends in God
for the glory of God
from start to finish
so that no man
can boast
and even a small
aspect of it
all glory be
to God
our Lord Jesus Christ
was going to war
he was going to
march down the stairs
of that upper room
into the garden
he was going to
sweat blood
intense spiritual war
in moments
and he tells the disciples
I'm doing that
I'm walking that road
of the cross
so you
can have my peace
the peace
I have shared
for eternity
with my father
in heaven
my peace
I give you
independent of anything
on this earth
by the power
of God
through the Holy Spirit
everything
God has purposes
I will accomplish
for you my people
by the great
second advocate
that will come
in my name
to bring you
and prepare you
for heaven
so our Lord Jesus Christ
promises that
his spirit will give
a heavenly peace
in your heart
if you
love him
so that he gets
all the glory
number seven
Christ promises
are for you
if you rejoice
in the son's
submission
to the father
see in verse 28
Jesus says
you heard me say
to you
I am going away
and I will come
to you
and if you loved me
you would rejoice
because I am going
to the father
for the father
is greater than I
and now I have
told you
this
before it takes place
so that when it does
take place
you may believe
the disciples
are troubled
because Jesus is saying
he's going away
and they don't know
the way to where
he's going
how are we ever
going to see you again
and Jesus says
if you understood
I'm doing this
out of obedience
to my father
you would rejoice
that I'm going away
I'm going back to him
it means my work
is finished on this earth
the mission I came
to accomplish
is done
you won't
you won't rejoice
at Christ
going to the right
hand of the father
until you see
your need
for the great work
of God the father
God the son
and God the spirit
to save sinners
like you and me
when we see
our great need
and what God required
to satisfy his justice
we will see
that work of Christ
that march he takes
to the cross
and then his death
and burial
and his resurrection
and ascension
we will see that
and we will rejoice
that's how great
our need was
so that we can be
with our God
and we can have
his peace now
in this troubled world
because his work
is finished
the son
made himself
submissive to the father
so that you can rejoice
the son
declared to you
disciples
he says
the father is greater
than I
I came on a mission
to be the servant
I made myself
low for you
the son
took on
flesh
and he lived
and he rose
for you
the son
ascended
and took his place
as the prophet
priest
and king
of heaven
to minister
to you
to be your advocate
at the right hand
of the father
the son promises
he will come to earth
again
for you
who believe
for you
who receive
his promises
by faith
and you can rejoice
at his mission
accomplished
and you can rejoice
that every one
of these promises
are for you
because you put
your hope
in life
and in death
and the finished work
of Jesus Christ
in your place
the riddles
of God
are more satisfying
than the solutions
of man
as Chesterton
put it
do you hear
Christ today
does your soul
rejoice
within you
at his finished work
to save you
as you read
these passages
and understand
the ministry
of Christ
you hear the words
he spoke
do you believe
in Jesus Christ
the only savior
if so
then all of the promises
fulfilled in Christ
are applied
to you
by his grace
the Holy Spirit
will cause you
to rejoice more
and to want
to obey him
more and more
and more
so that he will be
more glorified
in your life
we'll sing in a moment
oh for a thousand
tongues to sing
my great
redeemer's
praise
the glories
of my God
and King
the triumphs
of his grace
Jesus
the name
that charms
our fears
that bids
our sorrows
cease
tis music
to the sinner's ear
tis life
and health
and peace
our Lord Jesus Christ
promises
that if you believe him
then all
of his promises
are for you
by God's
steadfast
love
receive him
this way
let's pray
oh God
thank you
for sending
your son
Lord Jesus
thank you
for accomplishing
the mission
the father
gave you
and thank you
father and son
for breathing
out your spirit
onto your church
for drawing
us near
to you
for putting
your love
in our hearts
for giving us
the gift
of faith
cause us
Lord
to rejoice
in you
put more
of your love
in our hearts
give us
more of a desire
to obey you
to know
that your promises
are for me
we pray this
for your glory
and for Christ's sake
amen