Okay, you can take out your Bibles,
and we will turn them to the book of John, chapter 14. And we'll start in verse 15,
and read through 27. John 14, 15 through 27. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. If you love me, you will obey
what I command. And I will ask the Father, and
He will give you another counselor to be with you forever, the Spirit
of Truth. The world cannot accept Him because
it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He
lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as
orphans. I will come to you. Before long
the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because
I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize
that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys
them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved
by my father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. Then Judas, not Judas Iscariot,
said, but Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not
to the world? Jesus replied, if anyone loves me, he will obey
my teaching. My father will love him, and
we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does
not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear
are not my own. They belong to the Father who
sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you, but the
Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything
I have said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace
I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not be afraid. Our Father, thank you so much
for these words. Thank you that you brought us
together this morning to hear them, and we are so thankful,
Lord, that we can be together. those of us here in person, those
of us watching online, Lord, we pray that you'll bless this
time, that it would be a blessing for all of us, that it would
fill our cups, revitalize our souls, that the Spirit would
be here with us and be with us every day and be in us, be part
of us, so that we can always see you. Without the Spirit,
you cannot be seen. But with the Spirit, you are
always seen. And we thank you so much for
that. We ask again that you bless our time here this morning, that
it be your message, a message about you, Christ, our King of
grace, our Savior and our Lord. We pray this in your name, amen.
Now you can take out your chorus books once again, and we'll turn
them to number 23, Mystery of Godliness. Number 23 in the chorus
books, and you can stand as we sing. ? Did God become a man? ? mortal frame. Are Jesus born in Bethlehem,
and God born in the same? My soul is mystified, I cannot
comprehend. Such thoughts, alas, are much
too high for human hearts and minds. But it is solemn truth
that God in flesh has come, and by his Spirit God has shown that
Jesus is that one. His messengers have seen, His
name is preached abroad, And many in this incursed world have
owned Christ as their God. nor can we fully see how you
possess created flesh and yet more deity. But in that sacred bond, God's
wisdom is displayed. I have too much stuff up here. All right. You can turn back
to John. We'll stay there all morning. John 15, or 14, excuse me, working
through 15 through 27. So Katie and I were gone last
week for seven days. We were celebrating 22 years
of marriage, which is, These landmarks in life are obviously
always a good time to kind of reflect on things that we should
be grateful for. Obviously, we should be filled
to the top with gratitude every day for all the blessings we
receive, more than we can number. Above that, Above all of it is
Christ, of course, and what he's done for us. But to reflect on
the blessings of this world is absolutely fine, because they
are given to us as well as gifts. So after 22 years, I was reflecting
on a lot. A beautiful, supportive wife
who I adore. Two amazing children. Almost
40 years under the gospel. A blessing that has only become
more obvious since Joe was brought home. Even something as beautiful and
miraculous as the gospel of Christ can be taken for granted. Especially
after 37 years of hearing it, hearing the undiluted truth weekly. You get to the point where you
just expect it. and don't really grasp what a
true blessing it is to hear the truth every week the way we did
for so long. And when you get into these situations
where I'm in the Rocky Mountains surrounded by God's beauty, you
just start thinking about all those things. I do anyway. I
kind of get lost. I fall down a rabbit hole of
thought, especially with a lot of the driving we did last week. So yes, it was a great trip.
It was a great time to reflect on the unending blessings of
God that he's given us through Christ. As is often the case,
we do a lot of hiking on these trips. And usually, at least
once a day, we try to find a beautiful and challenging hike while we're
in Colorado. It has always been great for
us to step away from the demands of modern life and to kind of
rekindle the connection of basic truths. Also, it is often the
case that I end up getting lost in the beauty and complexity
of this world that God has created, and it sends me down many paths
of thought and contemplation. Similar ones just about every
time. Matter of fact, I think we've come back from Colorado,
and I've preached following that trip before, and I preached basically
on the beauty of this world and how complex it is. And that's
where my mind was going again this week. how so much of this world continues
through time without even being known by us. How so many trees
and flowers and insects and streams and creatures, every leaf on
every bush and every tree, every creature all continue to be through
miles and miles of undisturbed land without our even thought
or even knowledge of their existence. but God knows of all of them. He knows every single vein and
every single leaf, every needle on every pine, every turn of
every creek, every flap of every wing, and it sends me down this
hole of thought and contemplation that ends in a place that is
often too much for my simple mind to really grasp. So knowing
I would preach this week, These are the thoughts that I was preparing
to study on. Because I was surrounded by it
and it was on my mind. So as we're in the nature and
as we're driving from place to place, we spend a couple days
at a place and then we go to another place for a couple days.
So there's a lot of driving, a lot of time for thought. That's
the direction I thought I was headed. And as we were headed
to our final stop near Winter Park, Colorado, we decided to
go through a place called Leadville for lunch, which is a town we'd
never been in. We'd gone to Colorado multiple
times. We decided, you know, we've never
seen Leadville, let's go there, just for lunch. It's about halfway
to where we were headed. I thought, yep, as I'm driving
through, We're heading into this town of Leadville, and there
is a sign, a literal sign on the road. And it just said, Want
Peace? And I thought, well, yeah, I
do. I do want peace. And then very small underneath
it, it was pretty large, Want Peace, kind of handmade, it looked
like it was maybe hand-painted. And right underneath it, very
small, it said, John 14, 27. And I am not that versed in the
Bible to know exactly what that verse was. So I'm driving, and
I just spoke it into Google. It said John 14, 27. And I was
driving, so I couldn't even read it. Just wanted to hold onto
it so I could check it out later. And I was thinking, before I
even got to the point where I could read that scripture, I was thinking,
want peace. And what a common need that is for all of us. It's
a hole that everyone is trying to fill. Whether with money,
or adventures, or self-improvement, or what have you, everyone is
trying to fill a need, an internal need for peace. And like I said, just below those
words was this John 14 27, which when we finally got there,
I looked it up. We were having lunch and I just pulled it up
on my phone. And it's John 14, 27, we'll read it right now.
It says, peace I leave with you,
my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid. This is another perfect example
of how we all have plans. Like I thought for sure I knew
what I was going to preach on until I drove into Leadville, Colorado
and saw a sign on the road. Sometimes God's signs are pretty
obvious in an actual sign. Not always, but this one is like,
well, I guess this is the direction I'm going because it has been.
The next few days on our trip, we were sitting by the pool.
I read some of this and contemplated on the way home as Katie drove,
thank you, and it has been such a blessing to me. And something I really, scripture
I wasn't really familiar with, and I was shocked that I wasn't
because it's so good. So I looked back after reading
this John 14, 27, over the next few days, like I said, I looked
at the scriptures surrounding this passage. And I was reminded
again that my plan is definitely not the plan, even when it comes
to what I would preach on. So I looked back for some context.
I wanted to know what is this peace he leaves us with, and
who is he speaking to, and what are the circumstances surrounding
this message of peace? So I went all the way back to
the beginning of chapter 14. So let's read that, chapter 14,
John one through four. As Jesus comforts his disciples,
do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and also trust in
me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so,
I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come back to take you with me that you may be where I am. You
know the way to the place where I'm going. So I was trying to think of this
from the disciples' perspective. And these poor disciples, as
you can tell by the very next question from Thomas, they understood
very little at the moment. Again, for us to read these scriptures,
we are enlightened in a way that they were not. We have the scriptures. We know what they mean. We understand
what Jesus meant by this. He's leaving. He's gonna go prepare
a place. To us, that makes perfect sense. To them, they had never
heard that. And these, again, Thomas follows that with, Lord,
we don't know where you're going, so how can we possibly know the
way? They took it very literally. So again, these poor disciples,
they understood very little, and we wouldn't have understood
any more at the time. We are blessed again to have
these scriptures to read and learn from. All they knew is
that they had given up everything they had ever known to have the
opportunity to follow and learn from the Son of God, the Messiah. He was their everything. And
he just told them he was leaving. It'd be terrifying. I mean, their entire life was
him. Every day was Christ. And now
he tells them, I'm leaving, and you can't come with me. Eventually
I'll come back, but right now I'm leaving. So the first thing
they ask is, well, Lord, we don't know where you're going. How
can we know the way? I would imagine there would be
some panic in that question. And this is why Thomas asked
that question. In this enlightened age that
we have, we almost kind of snicker at that question because we understand
what Christ meant by going to prepare a place. All of the steps
necessary in that. His death, his resurrection,
his returning to glory to prepare a place for all of his people.
We know these things, Thomas didn't. Because we know everything
about where Christ was going. We know how and we know for what
purpose. We know what is that this greatest
loving sacrifice of all would be taking place. But they didn't
know or understand that. They just knew that the Son of
God that meant everything to them was leaving. Lord, we don't know where you're
going, so how can we know the way? They had to be sick to think
that Christ would leave and that they wouldn't be able to follow.
And Christ doesn't give them an easy answer for their moment
of fear. He follows that question with, on verse six, I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. If you really knew me, you would
know my father as well. From now on, you do know him
and have seen him. So there's, so that's, and then Philip answers
that with, Lord, show us the father and that will be enough
for us. So that perfect answer is perfect
for us because we know the truth. And even for his disciples, once
they understood the truth of Christ's death and resurrection,
that was a perfect answer. But for this moment, they were
still very confused and very concerned. That's why he said,
Lord, show us the Father. That would be enough for us.
And Jesus replied in verse nine. Don't you know me, Philip? Even
after I have been among you such a long time, anyone who has seen
me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the
Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and that the
Father is in me? The words I say to you are not
just my own. Rather, it is the Father living
in me who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I
am in the Father. The Father is in me. Or at least
believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you
the truth. Anyone who has faith in me will
do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things
than these because I am going to the Father." So much gospel
in this answer. But also very hard for them to
understand at the moment. They knew one thing. Christ was
leaving. And without Christ, they would
feel absolutely alone. When you go from having the Son
of God in your presence, the Messiah, who was your everything
every day, to being told that he's going to be leaving, there's
no more feeling of being alone. After having Christ, to not have
him would be the worst thing imaginable. And this is true
for modern day believers as well. Once you know Christ and are
known by Christ, there could be nothing worse than to lose
that. So Christ continues in verse
15. And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son
may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in
my name and I will do it. Actually, sorry, that was 13.
Now go on to 15. If you love me, you obey what
I command. and I will ask the father and
he will give you another counselor to be with you forever. The spirit
of truth. The world cannot accept him because
it neither sees him nor knows him but you will know him. You
know him for he lives with you and will be in you. So they would,
this is what they needed to hear. They would not be alone. the father would give them another
counselor, the Holy Spirit, a gift that is only for the people of
God. Go back to verse 17, the spirit
of truth, the world cannot accept him. because it neither sees
him nor knows him. The world will not know him,
the world cannot know him because it neither sees or knows him.
It's not because they refuse to know him, it says they truly
can't know the spirit of God. The spirit of God is not for
them. The spirit is only for his people
in a way that can't be undone. If you continue in 17, it says
that the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him
or knows him, but you know him, for he lives with you and will
be in you. To the believer, the gift of
the Spirit of God is not a companion. It's not just someone that will
be with you and help you along. It says right here, you know
him for he lives with you and will be in you. Inseparable. Part of you. If you are one of God's people
and the Spirit becomes part of you, that cannot be undone. It's
not a helper. It's a connection that is unbreakable.
It says this right here, he will be in you. What a blessing to know that
for these disciples and for all of us. We still live in a world
where Christ hasn't come back, not in the way that he will.
So we understand somewhat what they were fearing at the moment.
They had Christ in a way that we don't. He was in front of
them. He was with them in every definition
of with. We still live in that world where
he has left and he's ruling over this world but he hasn't come
back yet. So we have the Spirit in the exact same way that he
says that they do. The Spirit is with us. The Spirit
is in us. What does that mean? He says,
the world will not... He says, here is a moment when
Christ is clear for his disciples. He says, I will not leave you
as orphans. That's in verse 18. I will not
leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Because that
is the fear in their hearts, that they were going to be left. It says, because for long the
world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. That is
what the Spirit does. Without the Spirit of God, which
is basically what they mean by the world, you can't even see
Christ, not truly what he is. You can't see him for what he
is. You can't see the truth. You can't see the gospel. So
what a blessed gift through the Spirit of God. Imagine this,
the light of the world will go dark for this world, for this
place. The light of the world is about
to go dark. He was about to leave. But never
for us because it says you will see me. Before long the world
will not see me anymore but you will see me with no end. You will always see me because of the Spirit and that
Spirit is in you and a part of you so you will always see me. What a gift that is. So much of this world is blind
and in darkness to not be able to see Christ. If you can see Christ, that is
such a blessing. And you will always see me. He
says, you will see me. Reading on, it says, on that
day, actually, sorry, because I live,
you also will live. Our spirits have been made alive. That can't be understated because
the alternative is forever death. Forever darkness. Withheld from
the light of Christ. Only judgment and damnation forever. And it doesn't say it's not that
you will live. It's not just you will live.
It's because I live. because he died the death we
deserve and conquered death victoriously and now lives, you also live. We had nothing to do with how
we have spiritual life, how we have true life. It's because
Jesus lives, because Jesus paid it all, because Jesus did it
all, we live. And again, there's no end to
that statement. We live forever, eternally, because
so does Christ. His life is ours. And to really
enforce that, that permanent life given through Christ, go
to verse 20. On that day, you will realize
And again, you can only realize through the Spirit. It is not
a human realization. That I am in the Father, you
are in me, and I am in you. Because of the Spirit, we can
know that our bond with Christ and with our Lord and Father
is unbreakable. I am in my father, you are in
me, and I am in you, said Christ. Intertwined. Completely connected. Not with my father, doesn't say
I am with my father, you are with me and I am with you. I
am in my father, you are in me, and I am in you. It's a description
of a completely intertwined connection. Unbreakable. Cannot be separated. This is
the effectiveness of the finished work of Christ. Completely connected and intertwined
in every way. You are intertwined with Christ
and your Father. Go to chapter, or verse 27. So he finishes with this message
to his disciples and to us. I give you peace. Not just any peace. It says peace
I live with you, my peace I give you. And it says I do not give
as the world gives because anything the world gives is worthless
and is quickly dying and coming to an end. What Christ gives,
Christ has earned. And what he has earned is eternal. The peace that he speaks of is
the peace that is warranted and deserved by Christ himself. The peace that Christ earned. The peace that comes with being
intertwined With Christ the Father and the Spirit, that is the peace
he's speaking of. So I give you peace. I give you
my peace that is earned by my blood. Perfect peace, eternal
peace. Peace stated in the fact that you are
intertwined with the Father and the Son. in a way that can't
be undone, in a way that you can't improve upon or take away
from. It's finished, that connection,
that relationship. My Father is in me, I am in you.
That peace, not just any peace, the peace of Christ, the peace
that is warranted and deserved by Him is what is given to us
freely. And that peace again comes by
knowing that we are intertwined with Christ and the Father and
the Spirit. We will never be alone. Neither
will those disciples. They felt like it. They were
terrified of the idea of being alone, of Christ leaving. So Christ assured them that there
would be another counselor, that the Spirit of God would be with
them always, would be in them, would be part of them every moment
of every day. That is the blessing of being
a believer. We're never alone. We can't be. The Spirit is in us. We are intertwined
with our Father and our Savior, always, from now to eternity. What a blessing that message
is. What a blessing that was to the
disciples at that moment. But what a blessing it is for
us to go into every day Every moment, knowing that we can never
be alone. That the spirit is with us every
minute, every step. And we can't undo that. It can't
change. It can't, no matter who we are,
what we do. And we'll do our best. We'll
do our best to ruin it. but we can't. Those sins are
paid for, all because of what Christ has done. The Spirit is
with us forever. It will make sure that we can
see Him every day. It will make sure that we go
to Him with confidence, without the Spirit we never would. So
this beautiful promise that I will ask the Father and he will give
you another counselor to be with you forever. The spirit of truth
is always with us. Our Father, we thank you for
this truth. Help us to remember it. We are
so easily swayed from side to side throughout this world. Our
thoughts are so easily pulled in different directions. Our
hearts are so easily weighed down by the things of this world.
It happens to us all every day. But remind us, Lord, that the
spirit of life is in us and that we are intertwined with you and
our Father in a way that can never be undone. and the love
that you have for us is so undeserved, but so pure and powerful. We thank you, Lord, we thank
you, Jesus. We pray this in your name, amen. Take out your chorus books, actually
your hymnals, and we'll go to number 400. Come thou found, number 400,