The Protection of The Word

The Protection of The Word

John 16.1

All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.

We are seeing a great apostasy today. The word apostasy means  the abandonment of a religious belief.

In several books I am reading, in conversations with other pastors, in things that are now being embraced by people who claim to be followers of Jesus, we are witnessing here in the United States the abandonment by many of what they once held true and even fought for.

Things taught in Sunday School 50 years ago from God's Word are now being abandoned or altered to fit the sin of the day.

Jesus uses the word "astray", the Greek word: skandelizo

*to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

*to entice to sin

*to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

*to cause to fall away

*to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority

*to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another

since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed

*to cause one displeasure at a thing

*to be displeased, indignant

The "all this" is chapter 13-15 of John's Gospel

We must contend earnestly for the faith. Jude 3

We must remain in His Word. John 15.5-7

These are times when things are being equated with God's Word.

Watch out that no one deceives you Jesus said.  Mark 13.5

If we remain in Him and His Word remains in us no one can pluck us from the Father's Hand.

1. Jesus Told Us He Would Protect Us.

John 10 The Good Shepherd

He lays down His life for the sheep

Psalm 23 

He will be with us in the valley of the shadow of death

His rod and His staff comforts us

One of the main tasks of a Shepherd is to protect the sheep from predators.

Jesus is the Guardian of the sheep.

Sheep are defenseless. They cannot bite or scratch or kick.

They can run but not as fast as their enemies.

To survive and to thrive sheep must realize they are totally dependent on the Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is always on His watch even when only He sees the danger.

The valley of the shadow of death was a deep ravine, dark and dangerous, where wild animals hid as well as deceitful and dangerous men.

2. Jesus Prayed For Our Protection.

John 17.11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name- the Name that You gave Me- so that they may be one as We are One.

Protect:

to attend to carefully, take care of

to guard

metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is

to observe

to reserve: to undergo something

The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.  He protects us from false doctrine. Something clicks off in our mind and heart when we hear something that is not in line with God's Word. That is one of the reasons  it is wise to get into the Word. We are protected by it...

3. Jesus Protects Us By The Word He Told Us.

He is the Word of Life

The Word Become Flesh

As the Word became flesh... The incarnation, so we are to incarnate the Word to the point where as Paul the Apostle says in II Corinthians 3.2 "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men."

Here we are at the beginning of the Advent Season, the time when we focus on Jesus coming to the earth as a Baby in Bethlehem. We read very familiar passages and sing sacred songs. We celebrate with one another and our families.

The focus in on the Christ Child. God has given it significant place in His Word.

We are to give it a significant place, the center, in our hearts.

He is the Word of God.

He is the Word become Flesh.

He is the Living Word.

He is the Written Word.

Let's stay close to Him. 

Let Him dwell in you!  Colossians 3.16

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom."

There are spiritual battles going on the likes of which we have never seen before

Abiding In The Vine

Abiding In The Vine

John 15.1-8

Jesus often used nature to bring out spiritual truths. And why not? He was the Creator. John tells us in this very Gospel, "Through Him all things were made..." The same God that made the world is now taking spiritual object lessons from it. Deep spiritual truths are written right into the creation itself.

1. There Is A Sweetness In The Vine.

Psalm 119.103

Tomatoes still have some inside, picked off the vine when they were green.

Ripened inside, not as sweet.

II Corinthians 2.15,16

The aroma of Christ, the fragrance of life 

God help us not become bitter. 

It can happen.

Hebrews 12.14-15

He is calling on us to hold each other accountable on this.

That means being a paramedic not a policeman.

We are to guard our hearts. 

Proverbs 4.23 Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it come the issues of life.

It doesn't need to happen.

How to avoid it.

Serve the Kingdom and the King.

Forgive whatever grievances you have against one another.

Live in the blessings of what you have, not in the envy of what you do not have.

Let The Beauty of Jesus Been Seen In Me

Third verse

From the dawn of the morning till the close of day

In example in deeds in all you say

Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

2. There Is Life In the Vine.

The Word

The Word of Life I John 1.1

Prayer being answered.

Cut off the branch and it will die... The Bittersweet.

3. There is Joy in the Vine.

The joy of knowing Jesus. Huge.

The joy of serving Him.

The joy of abiding with Him.

4.There is Fruit in the Vine.  vs.5, 8

Hosea 10.1-4, 12

5. Abiding In The Vine. v.7

Obedience

His Word in us

Our prayers to Him.

Stay the course, finish well.

The Place He Is Preparing For Us

The Place He Is Preparing For Us

John 14.1-3

Jesus is talking here about heaven, the City of God.  

He is talking to them about it in the darkest time of their lives.

Promises for our darkest days, when death comes our thoughts go to heaven.

If only in this life we have hope we are of all men most miserable. I Corinthians 15.19 

But we have Hope!

1.  My Father's House

Where Jesus is

Many rooms

A mansion?  Songs 

The "many mansions" is another way of saying there is plenty of room.  There is room for all who believe. A house on this earth may become too small for a growing family,  a motel or hotel may be have no vacancies but in our Father's House that is not and will not be the situation.

If Jesus is present who cares?!

I will take His Presence over anything!

Seeing Jesus. No night. No need of the sun.

2. He is Coming Back Again

One day

One day soon

Perhaps Today

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

I Corinthians 15.25

3. He Will Take Us to His Home.

He went to the cross to prepare Salvation for us, out of the grave to prepare eternal life for us , He ascended into Heaven that He might prepare a place (home) for us.

The prepared place is for the prepared soul...  He is speaking to His disciples.

Hebrews 6.20 describes Jesus as the prodromos. The word describes  a trailblazer, one Who goes ahead of us, preparing the path and the way.  It is a word which was used in military exploits to describe those who went before to make a way. Then the rest would follow in their footsteps.

Heaven is the true home of the believer.

We are not citizens of this earth. We are pilgrims, wayfarers, aliens here. 

Grand Reception Planned

A rich welcome.  II Peter 1.11

John 17.24

Henry Clay Morrison

"You're home yet, Henry"

The Full Extent of His Love

John 13.1

The extent= the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose

that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue

a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal)

This act showed the disciples how much Jesus loved them. 

v.3 You would think this demonstration was going to be some huge miracle because the Father had given Him all power.

He knew Who He was where He came from and where He was going

When you know who you are you never have to prove anything.

The full extent of His love was the example He set in washing their feet, then going to Gethsemane and Calvary.

1. Humility to the Extreme

Pastor Jefferies of First Baptist Dallas

"I don't think I have anything to say to him that would help him. He is a strong believer and pastor. I think he has things to say to me. There are things I need to learn from him."

2. Doing the Lowliest of Tasks.

Cleaning the Bathrooms

Shoveling snow

Yard work

Changing diapers

Teaching children

Serving Him not when it convenient of easy but when it is agonizing and personally painful.

3. Following His Example v.15

Washing feet was for the least servant in the household.

This act backed up everything He taught.

II Corinthians 8.9

Philippians 2.5-11

v.17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Lessons From The Anointing By Mary

Lessons From The Anointing By Mary

John 12.1-11

This was commended by Jesus as a beautiful thing.

1. The Poor You Will Always Have With You.

The Poor= those reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms

The little boy in Beijing, just outside Teinnmin Square

Blind beggars in Egypt and Israel

2. Opportunities Come To Do Something Special For Jesus 

*We must take advantage of those opportunities when they come.

They do not last.

3. Anointed People Are Targets of Some Unsuspecting Individuals

Pilate

Caiphas 

The Sanhedrin

Governors

Religious Leaders

The Resurrection and the Life

The Resurrection and the Life

 

John 11. 25-26

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

William Barclay said about these verses, "What exactly did He mean? Not even a lifetime's thinking will reveal the full meaning of this."

The Resurrection of the Dead was something not fully developed in the minds of the Old Testament writers. David understood it. That at the end of his life he would dwell in the House of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23) Job spoke of after the skin worms destroyed his body yet in his flesh he would see God. (Job 19.26)

Martha speaks of it here in vs.23-24

Jesus made it more real than she could have imagined!

1. Jesus Spoke Of The Resurrection As Himself, Not Just An Event.

""I am the Resurrection and the Life."

We understand that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. That before Abraham was, I am. That He is the Good Shepherd, the door to the sheepfold, the Light of the world, the Bread of Life, that has come down from heaven. But this is the loftiest saying of the seven. It speaks of our Hope beyond this world, beyond our present sufferings. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

The Resurrection was an event, it will be an event and it is all wrapped in  a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ!

He is the Source of Life!

“Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are for everwith the LORD. They are not unconscious they are with their LORD in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.” (Spurgeon)

Life, Eternal Life is through Jesus Christ. He had authority over His own life and He has authority over ours.

John 10. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Moody said, "It is a good thing He said, "Lazarus come forth!" If He hadn't He would emptied the whole cemetery!

Revelation 1.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

2. The Key Is Faith In Him!

Jesus spoke about this with Martha.

If you believe it is a stream of comfort.

Christian Funerals are filled with hope!

I have done scores of Christian Funerals, attended one Friday Night.  We grieve, but not like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe Jesus died and rose again and that God will raise those who have believed in Jesus and have died  back to life when He returns.

3. The Resurrection as Person Redefines Death.

Look at the things the Word of God says about death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57New International Version (NIV)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”[a]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 11.25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Psalm 116:15King James Version (KJV)

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Jesus was speaking of the Life To Come.

A new relationship with God.

A new relationship with life!

Jesus is the Author of Life (Acts 3.15)

"You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."

He is the Resurrection and the Life!

The Resurrection and the Life

 

John 11. 25-26

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

William Barclay said about these verses, "What exactly did He mean? Not even a lifetime's thinking will reveal the full meaning of this."

The Resurrection of the Dead was something not fully developed in the minds of the Old Testament writers. David understood it. That at the end of his life he would dwell in the House of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23) Job spoke of after the skin worms destroyed his body yet in his flesh he would see God. (Job 19.26)

Martha speaks of it here in vs.23-24

Jesus made it more real than she could have imagined!

1. Jesus Spoke Of The Resurrection As Himself, Not Just An Event.

""I am the Resurrection and the Life."

We understand that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. That before Abraham was, I am. That He is the Good Shepherd, the door to the sheepfold, the Light of the world, the Bread of Life, that has come down from heaven. But this is the loftiest saying of the seven. It speaks of our Hope beyond this world, beyond our present sufferings. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

The Resurrection was an event, it will be an event and it is all wrapped in  a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ!

He is the Source of Life!

“Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are for everwith the LORD. They are not unconscious they are with their LORD in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.” (Spurgeon)

Life, Eternal Life is through Jesus Christ. He had authority over His own life and He has authority over ours.

John 10. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Moody said, "It is a good thing He said, "Lazarus come forth!" If He hadn't He would emptied the whole cemetery!

Revelation 1.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

2. The Key Is Faith In Him!

Jesus spoke about this with Martha.

If you believe it is a stream of comfort.

Christian Funerals are filled with hope!

I have done scores of Christian Funerals, attended one Friday Night.  We grieve, but not like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe Jesus died and rose again and that God will raise those who have believed in Jesus and have died  back to life when He returns.

3. The Resurrection as Person Redefines Death.

Look at the things the Word of God says about death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57New International Version (NIV)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”[a]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 11.25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Psalm 116:15King James Version (KJV)

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Jesus was speaking of the Life To Come.

A new relationship with God.

A new relationship with life!

Jesus is the Author of Life (Acts 3.15)

"You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."

He is the Resurrection and the Life!

 

The Resurrection and the Life

 

John 11. 25-26

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

William Barclay said about these verses, "What exactly did He mean? Not even a lifetime's thinking will reveal the full meaning of this."

The Resurrection of the Dead was something not fully developed in the minds of the Old Testament writers. David understood it. That at the end of his life he would dwell in the House of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23) Job spoke of after the skin worms destroyed his body yet in his flesh he would see God. (Job 19.26)

Martha speaks of it here in vs.23-24

Jesus made it more real than she could have imagined!

1. Jesus Spoke Of The Resurrection As Himself, Not Just An Event.

""I am the Resurrection and the Life."

We understand that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. That before Abraham was, I am. That He is the Good Shepherd, the door to the sheepfold, the Light of the world, the Bread of Life, that has come down from heaven. But this is the loftiest saying of the seven. It speaks of our Hope beyond this world, beyond our present sufferings. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

The Resurrection was an event, it will be an event and it is all wrapped in  a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ!

He is the Source of Life!

“Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are for everwith the LORD. They are not unconscious they are with their LORD in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.” (Spurgeon)

Life, Eternal Life is through Jesus Christ. He had authority over His own life and He has authority over ours.

John 10. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Moody said, "It is a good thing He said, "Lazarus come forth!" If He hadn't He would emptied the whole cemetery!

Revelation 1.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

2. The Key Is Faith In Him!

Jesus spoke about this with Martha.

If you believe it is a stream of comfort.

Christian Funerals are filled with hope!

I have done scores of Christian Funerals, attended one Friday Night.  We grieve, but not like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe Jesus died and rose again and that God will raise those who have believed in Jesus and have died  back to life when He returns.

3. The Resurrection as Person Redefines Death.

Look at the things the Word of God says about death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57New International Version (NIV)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”[a]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 11.25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Psalm 116:15King James Version (KJV)

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Jesus was speaking of the Life To Come.

A new relationship with God.

A new relationship with life!

Jesus is the Author of Life (Acts 3.15)

"You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."

He is the Resurrection and the Life!