Truth for the Journey(Part 1) Encouragement for your race John 14 1- 31 John 14:1 “….. Let not your heart be troubled” John 14:27 “…. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” February is HeartHealth Month Heart disease is the leading cause of death It is good to adopt heart healthy practices
John 14 is a chapter for people with heart trouble Not an actual physical problem, it comes from build up of high cholesterol anxieties in our heart All of us are susceptible to troubled heart syndrome It is a common human condition Why were the Disciples Troubled? 1. Prediction of Betrayal John 13:21 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
Prediction of His Death (Departure) John 13:33 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Prediction of Disloyalty John 13:36-38
Truth No 1: Trust in God and in the Lord Jesus John 14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (NKJV)
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. (NLT)
Believe in God, Believe also in me Here Jesus is claiming equality with God Jesus is asking his disciples, who are already believers to believe in Him Why? He is going to offer incredible/awesome promises to them Many disciples who believe Jesus for salvation don’t believe for day to day (John 6-Philip) So Jesus says: You must believe in me The verb is in the present imperative Keep on believing in God Also keep on believing in Me We must choose to believe God all the time Proverbs 3:5-6
It has the idea of leaning on God Brenda
No 380 in the Hymn book vs 3
What have I fear, What have I to dread leaning on the everlasting arms, I have blessed peace with my Lord so near leaning on the everlasting. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm, Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arm
Truth No 2: Christ will take you to Heaven John 14
Thomas Speaks, Jesus’ Response Promise from the Lord Jesus (vs 2 & 3) Jesus promises a glorious eternity –regardless of present circumstances Meditate on the promise Keep your gaze on the final destination Discipline the minds to ponder on the wonders of heaven How often do you dwell on the eternal dwelling? In Revelation Apostle John tried to describe heaven He almost ran out of symbols and things to compare it to (Rev 21 –Rev 23)
Revelation 21:1-5 In Heaven, there will be: Freedom from the assault of Satan, temptations and deceptions Released from the strain of separation from loved ones through death Freedom from tears of anguish, despair and frustration Freedom from death Deliverance from sorrow and regrets Freedom from aging Total and complete deliverance from pain No sun or moon or temple No night or darkness No defilement or contamination No sin In heaven there will be: Abundant life Absolute justice and fairness Exquisite fellowship with the Father and the Son Face to Face with the Lord Jesus Realm of total victory. A place of rest at last. More importantly we will be with the Lord Truth No 3: Jesus Christ will Answer your Prayer John 14 “One of the best remedy for heart trouble is prayer Oh what peace we often forfeit Oh what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer Pray in faith –a promise for us to claim (vs 12) Pray in Christ’s name (vs 12-14) To ask anything in the name of Jesus means that: Ask what Jesus would ask Ask what would please Him and bring him glory Pray in loving obedience (vs 15) Philippians 4:6-7