Dec 15 Flashcards
Ever had one of those days?
everything goes wrong harder you try worse it gets sure we have all had days like that trying to get license story there are time when whole world seems to be crumbling around you
how the apostles were feeling
glorious week
come to 14 chap of John week had begun gloriously triumphant entry into Jerusalem people shouting hosanna to king blessed is the king of Israel
even chief priests & pharisees
getting nowhere
been plotting against Jesus cried in despair
we are getting nowhere
Jesus had not come to establish earthly kingdom
refused crown disappointed in their dreams fickle crowd begin to change soon priests were once again seeking someone to betray Jesus
as ch 14 opens
next few hours
in upper room have eaten passover meal together knew exactly what next few hours bring knew Judas would betray knew about illegal trial in night and how troubled apostles would be knew of cross & borrowed tomb he tried to prepare apostles he began to comfort them
some of you may need comfort
trust in 3 things
we experience all troubles like apostles
Jesus says part of solution to troubled heart
is trust & he tells his apostles to trust in 3 things
trust in my presence
trust in my promises
trust in me
trust in my presence
begins in verse 1 Is Jesus saying you trust in God now its time to trust in me He may be saying You trust in God You also trust in me Now remember when you can no longer see me you must continue trusting in me
easier to trust in things we see & touch
Thomas
little bit of Thomas unless I see the nail marks in his hand put my hand into his side I will not believe so Jesus shows him & he believes Jesus said Thomas you believe because blessed are those who have not seen
Bible teaches things we see are temporary
car you rode in today
building, chairs all are temporary
subject to decay
story of mother & two boys to bed
who was that
look in mirror & see aging bodies realize
all things see & touch only here a while then
but things you can’t see last forever
hard lesson to learn
never leave or forsake
but important one because when we face troubles/difficulties need to remember as christians Jesus has promised I will never leave you nor forsake you always trust in my presence
trust in my promises
God gave many both in OT & NT children of Israel land of milk & honey took a while but fulfilled Messiah - took long time but fulfilled Jesus was born now he promises coming back for us someday be with him forever & ever sometimes get impatient scripture teaches you can trust promises this one will be fulfilled also
today 1 way to get land
real place
someone to leave it to you in will someone has to die Jesus died so we can have land in heaven talked about heaven as real place place where God dwells and Jesus sits on right hand
In vs 2 and 3 Jesus says
KJV
in my fathers house are many rooms
KJV says many mansions
we like that term mansion but
probably best translation dwelling place/room
word from eastern culture
when son grows up & gets bride
father adds on another room
then another just keeps getting bigger
family stays together
Jesus said in my fathers house are many rooms
almost there
I go to prepare a place for you
will come back & take you with me
we are almost there don’t give up
D L Moody last crusade in 1899
I see earth receding heaven approaching
God is calling me
his son thought he was dreaming
this is no dream son its like a trance
its beautiful if this is death its sweet
there is no valley here
God loves beauty
he wouldn’t have made so much of it
in this world butterflies sunsets lillies
God did it all made everything beautiful and
only sin has marred it
in heaven we will find God’s beauty
at its best
little girl on evening walk
bible uses lot different words describe heaven
one place called country vastness called city number of inhabitants kingdom governmental structure paradise beauty & desireability here called my fathers house another way of saying home
home a place where you can be yourself
will be your home too
take off tie kick off shoes
say what you are thinking
where you are always accepted & loved
not just a guest a resident you live there
Jesus saying I am going to take you to my
fathers house and it will be your home too
you will be part of the family
be where you belong
Marion Anderson the great singer
once was asked what was your most memorable moment didn't mention singing before president not king & queen of England not before 76000 on Easter in DC came home to my mother no more take in ironing
stop & think about heaven
much of me
much of me is already there name written there citizenship is there my God is there my savior is there my inheritance is there loved ones there
soon his promise will be fulfilled
new bodies
be in our fathers house new bodies
won’t worry about getting old & sick +
trust my promises he says
trust in me
you know the way
you know the way to place I am going Thomas said Lord we don't know where how can we know the way Jesus said I am the way the truth & the life no one comes to father except through me
wonderful promise
take you by the hand
not just show you the way or tell you the way
or write out instructions
going to come & take you by hand to fathers house
then you will be home
whatever your burdens solution still same
presence promise me
trust in his presence / I'll never leave you don't forget my presence in his promises when things dark & gloomy remember trust in me won't go astray won't get lost I am the way take you by the hand lead you to my fathers house
trust can be difficult
if asked most would say you trust God times when trust is not so simple means trusting something we can not see and often don't understand literally against our human nature means we admit not in control of lives
need to place trust in someone or thing
we do it every day
our cars our employers our doctors
how much more should we trust God
examples of trust in God
Prov 3:5
moses at the red sea daniel in lions den Joseph in pharoahs prison david going against goliath God blesses those who trust him trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and he will direct your paths
