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What do you want? Seriously, what do you want?

• Snickers and short sermon, pastor
• Happy/Healthy/Wealthy… just a bit more; contentment is elusive
• Surrounded by love… Spouse…/ Family…/ Friends…
• Make a difference… see others helped and loved

Deep inside there’s a yearning for something. Nearly 80% of Americans claim to be spiritual but not religious.[1] They know fulfillment comes from something outside themselves, and they search for it in all sort of places. Yet, for various reasons, they make church secondary at best, rather than a priority. And sadly, when church is optional, in time it will become unnecessary.

People promote freedom to its fullest degree but through self-definition that isolates from any accountability or authority. Thus, freedom becomes distorted because each individual has different values and expressions that quickly compete and conflict. Absolute autonomy leads to emptiness not satisfaction because individuals become isolated from the means of what facilitate fulfillment, much more the source of true life.  

Scripture promotes freedom and fulfillment through a life that is vitally connected to the vine of Christian community. Therefore, church shouldn’t be optional but foundational because it’s not a merely a place but a people belonging to the God of life, love, and faithfulness.

EXAMINE      You Are Not Alone (John 14-16)

• MT24/LK20 Olivet Discourse / JN(13)14-16*(17) Farewell Discourse
• These are the last days of Jesus’ life. Jesus is about to experience greatest difficulty and deepest darkness; and while He spends moments of solitude, He largely surrounds Himself with others – should be noteworthy to us.
• Context: John 12-13 meals with foot washings

You will never face a situation that is bigger than God.

John 14 ¹ “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jesus’ hour was present. He was nearing crucifixion and death. Likewise, the disciples were nearing trouble, threats, and their lives being turned upside down. While they’re uncertain of all that Jesus is telling them about His death and departure, there stands a command with a promise.

• Let not your heart be troubled
  ταράσσω = stirred up, set in motion; agitated or terrified[2]
  Our world is tremendous tarasso; cost of living; chaos, crises, corruption & crime. We’re living in the “Cardiac Age.”[3] And if we don’t have trouble, then we borrow from those we care about. Trouble surrounds us. People feel so tense like they’re holding a pyramid of marbles, w/ one tiny move and everything collapses. Instead, Jesus is saying, “Only I can hold you together.”
• Believe/Trust now and keep on believing – – – > Don’t Stop…!
• In my Father’s house are many rooms. This is bridal language^[4] where the groom’s family would agree to a dowry payment to the bride’s family. Then the groom would spend an unknown amount of time constructing room(s) on his father’s house. Once completed to the Father’s satisfaction, then the groom would dress and gather his wedding party for a ceremony and to retrieve his bride.
  IOW, Jesus was saying, “I must depart/die but trust that I will return and we will be together forever.”
• Side Note: This exchange was not at a funeral but to a group who were potentially about to experience a significant failure. And Jesus exhorts the disciples to know God is trustworthy, He {Jesus} is faithfully working; to not give up and they will never be alone even in the most fearsome or troublesome situations.  

Jesus exhorts you to know God is trustworthy. He is faithfully working. Do not give up. You will never be alone, even in the most fearsome or troublesome situations.

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Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

While Thomas didn’t understand Jesus’ departure, the response is very clear. Belief in God and trust in Jesus implies deep devotion to the life and teachings of Jesus. Further, Jesus elaborates there is no other person or path that leads to God or the Heavenly rooms.

Side Note[5]: Some say God is too big for any single religion. But this contradicts most religions who make claims for exclusivity. Additionally, those that claim inclusivity/universalism have no toleration for Christianity. Further, we see Jesus claiming to be the only authority to forgive sin (Mk 2:7) and the sole resurrector of souls (JN 11:25-26). And so far, He’s the only one who has died, returned, and stayed alive. So, is Christianity narrow-minded? YES! But everyone has the same opportunity to salvation. No one is turned away who genuinely want to believe and follow Jesus. The only trouble for some is that Jesus doesn’t ride shot-gun (He’s Lord), nor does He permit side-loves (idolatry). In Christ alone… Christ alone… Christ alone.

You will never face a struggle that is unhelped from God’s word.

John 15 ¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John records a 7^th “I Am” statement.

1. “I am the bread of life” (6:35)
2. “I am the light of the world” (8:12)
3. “I am the gate” (10:9)
4. “I am the good shepherd” (10:11)
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25)
6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (14:7)
7. “I am the true vine” (15:1)

Vine = life, fruitful/fertile, value & having an inheritance; AND the contrast of being a “wild vine” as unfruitful, useless, or poisonous leading to death.

Jesus is the vine, with followers being the branch needing to abide in the vine. Further, God prunes the branches so that nothing will hinder a connection to the vine, or its fruitfulness. Jesus explains this illustration in v.7 about abiding in God’s word.

Abiding means staying faithful when

• Life gets hard and shortcuts of integrity abound, but you abide
• Culture & people loudly going other way and it will cost, but you abide
• God’s timing seems confusing or flawed, but you abide  
• ^JN15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Undoubtedly, there will be unpredictable moments that will stress and squeeze you. And the test will be what comes out. What’s the fruit? Challenges and struggles reveal prior input and investments. If you have not spent time abiding in God’s word, then you will be like the person attempting to hold a pyramid of marbles and everything collapsing.

Investing in God’s word is fully beneficial.

• JN 15:7 “If you abide in Jesus & His words, ask whatever you wish & it will be done for you.”
• 2PET 1:3 “Jesus’ divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness… by which He has granted to us His precious promises”
• 2TIM 3:16-17 “The Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation… complete, and equipped for every good work”

>> Where are you abiding and where are you declining? If God were to prune an area of your life, so you could invest time spiritually, where would He start?

If you have not spent time abiding in God’s word, then you will be like the person attempting to hold a pyramid of marbles and everything collapsing.

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You will never face a separation that is apart from God’s Spirit.

John 15 ²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. ²⁷ And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning…
John 16 ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. ¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Amid the situation of pending crucifixion, and the struggle of persecution,
Jesus promises the disciples to send a παράκλητος.

Paraklete: Helper, Counselor, Advocate, Comforter, Encourager

Consider the word similar to a “pair of cleats,” shoes to help you stand firm on the ground, especially against opponent / or change directions if needed. Likewise, God’s Spirit inside us is the same presence and power of Jesus, risen from the dead (ROM8:11)!

Jesus says Spirit will be another Helper (JN 14:16). Greek 2words for “another”

•  ἕτερος  another of different kind
•  ἄλλος  another of the same kind — this is what Jesus says

• Other religions polytheism with multiple Gods. Ex: Mormons, JW
• Others strict monotheism with a single God. Ex Jews, Oneness Pentecostals. The latter view Father, Son, Spirit as modes of one God
• Christianity = Trinity, w/ Holy Spirit same & equal to Father and Son.

Overall, Jesus explains the Holy Spirit’s role

• Tell truth about identity (14:16, ff); help you know you’re not alone/orphaned “my peace I give to you; let not hearts be troubled or afraid (15:27)
  – When the Spirit steps in, fear steps back.
• Tell truth about Scripture (14:26); help remember what Jesus taught
• Tell truth about Jesus (15:26); help you evangelize and glorify Jesus (16:14)
• Tell truth about sin (16:8-11); help know right from wrong and obey God

When the Holy Spirit steps in, fear steps back.

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The role of the Holy Spirit:
– Tell the truth about identity. He does not leave you alone or orphaned.
– Tell the truth about Scripture. He helps you remember what Jesus taught.
– Tell the truth about Jesus. He helps you glorify Jesus and share your testimony.
– Tell the truth about sin. He helps you know right from wrong, and to obey God.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

• Dane Ortlund writes: “The Spirit makes the heart of Christ real to us: not just heard, but seen; not just seen, but felt; not just felt, but enjoyed. The Spirit takes what we read in the Bible and believe on paper about Jesus’s heart and moves it from theory to reality, from doctrine to experience.”[6]

You will never face a situation that is bigger than God.

You will never face a struggle that is unhelped from God’s word.

You will never face a separation that is apart from God’s Spirit.

Overall, God wants to be with you. Christianity is not a religious theory with good advice. It’s good news about events that have happened, so that you can have a relationship with your Father in Heaven and real hope on earth.

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[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-and-spiritual-beliefs/

[2] https://biblehub.com/greek/5015.htm

[3] Illustration of the word inspired from R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 336.

^[4] Fred H. Wright, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands (WORDsearch, 1954), 131.

[5] For an entire message on this subject see: https://growinggodlygenerations.com/2021/04/19/why-believe-in-christianity-john-3/

[6] Gentle & Lowly, p.122.