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good morning everyone welcome back to free Grace Baptist Church War welcome to the visitors amongst us we have several announcements before we get started this morning of course the usuals our evening service will be at 5:00 tonight uh Wednesday night bible study is also happening the usual time 7:30 in the fellowship hall and then coming up we have the confessing the faith conference if any of you many of you were at the annual general meeting last night that was one of the highlights one of the exciting things many other exciting things that have been happening over the past year here at free Grace Baptist Church but this conference is the first of it type that we've ever organized and hosted and we are very much looking forward to that U that's happening on the 26th and 27th of April we have Dr Jim ranahan and Dr Richard barcelos both coming up from the states as our speakers um the website went live not too long ago we already have 90 registrants if you haven't registered do so especially for the meal on Friday evening because that's going to going to be sold out very quickly we're we're not going to be able to have the conference here we've outgrown this facility already so it's all taking place at the free reform church here in chilak and again if you haven't registered and you're planning on coming that's a note to me do it register very very soon especially if you want to partake in that meal as well um because there are a number of people coming from out of town pastors coming from various parts of western Canada even the United States uh to participate in this conference we want to be able to as much as possible uh host them if there are families here in the church that have an extra bedroom or two and you would like to open that up to have a pastor or or another uh Deacon or just a congregant from another church in your home it would be a blessing to them and a blessing to you to be to do that service if you're interested please contact Charlotte vop she's the one that is uh making those arrangements for buing people as much as possible and then for the last uh announcement before we begin worship uh sea Sean and Denise Fisher have made the decision to move up country they're going to be moving shortly to syus and so we don't know exactly when that'll take place but just in the next few weeks they're not going to be with us much longer so you may uh want to pray for them for sure and and say your goodbyes before they leave for our call to worship this morning please turn to Isaiah chapter 45 Isaiah 45 as we begin our worship ship we're going to read from verse 20 to the end of the chapter Isaiah 45:2 assemble yourselves and come draw near together you who have escaped from the Nations they have no knowledge who carry the wood of their car carved image and pray to a god that cannot save tell and bring forth your case yes let them take counsel together who has declared this from ancient time who has told it from that time have not I the lord and there is no other God besides me a just God and a savior there is none besides me look to me and be saved all you ends of the Earth for I am God and there is no other I have sworn by myself the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return that to me every knee shall bow every tongue shall take an oath he shall say surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength to him men shall come and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against him in the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified and shall glory amen for our first hymn we're going to sing Psalm 23 selection B 23 be as in bravo and please stand with me as we sing together [Music] of rightous GL sing th are with me and th per of my and and mercy all my life shall [Applause] my shall be amen you may be seated let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious and merciful Heavenly Father we do thank you for this privilege that we have again this day to come as your people before you to gather in your name and to offer our worship and our praises and our Thanksgiving for all that you have accomplished in our midst we thank you for the the annual general meeting that we had last night and the the good report of things that are happening here in chilak and abroad in the in the church plants here in this country and even in Africa and elsewhere we have many connections that have grown over the past few years and you have been doing wonderful things and we are excited about what is coming in the future and we pray oh God that you would continue continue to pour out your blessing upon this church we thank you for the unity that you have afforded us and we pray that this would continue Lord keep us on guard help us to love each other and to grow in in in Grace and grow in commitment to our to the body Lord I pray that you would cause this church to be a beacon and a light we thank you that you have given us many years in this community and we pray that you would give us many more many more productive years and Lord we thank you for pastor Butler for all the work that he has done amongst us and continues to do Lord we pray that you would be gracious and raise up other Elders other men to come alongside of him we thank you for our two deacons we pray as well that you would raise up more men to take on some of that responsibility we thank you in particular for this conference that's coming up and we uh the opportunity we have to be a blessing to to many other people from other churches and especially here in western Canada we thank you for the opportunity to network with churches of like mind uh that we've not yet had opportunity to meet with Lord we pray that you would be gracious and that you would cause this to be a tremendous blessing not only to our own church and church plants but to other churches here in the valley we thank you for the good that you are doing and Lord wherever the gospel is being preached in this city of chillak this day and throughout the Fraser Valley and great Vancouver we pray oh God that it would take effect and be rooted in the hearts of your people and I we pray oh God that this day you would call many out of Darkness into Marvelous Light Lord we thank you thank you for the good work that you were doing there in Kenya in Elder under under Pastor O gallo and his fellow Elders we pray oh God that you would bless that work and continue to encourage them we thank you for the building project that is going on we pray that you would cause this to be successful and complet completed and Lord we pray that that church would be a light and a beacon they already are we pray that you would multiply that that they would be able to train ministers and send them out not only to the various parts of Kenya but to neighboring countries in that part of Africa thank you for the good work that you are doing there and Lord we pray that you'd continue to bless them Lord we do pray for our sister churches we pray that you'd bless the work in Suri this morning uh in Armstrong we pray for the congregation out in Ontario and dren Lord bless them this morning as they worship together as they seek your face we pray that the Holy Spirit would be in their midst even as we pray that you would be in our midst as the word is preached this morning Lord we pray for the families of this church that you would continue to bless us with uh fruit in our labors we pray oh God that the children of this church would not only hear the gospel but would be granted faith and would believe and come to know Christ as their Savior and Lord we we pray that you would bless the families even the babes in the womb this day that they would be under the sound of the Gospel from from birth on and that you would continue to cause this church to prosper Lord we pray that you would go with us now and that you would be pleased with our worship Lord we ask that you would be pleased to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to accept our worship before you not because of our Deeds or our righteousness but for for the sake of the righteousness of Christ and his work on our behalf and we ask this in Jesus name amen for our second hymn we're going to sing another Psalm Psalm 65 c as in Charlie 65c and please stand again as we sing together he pray our s against using day by day God will show us mercy and our and BR to Forever ising me he shall my temple with PR and with good my PR our Sal us inest be Str to all the ring still great our all and [Music] joy the all theing and gent show Earth Mercy wild is joyful the with the of Master Gra all Jo sing joyful amen you may be seated please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chap 20 for our morning scripture reading Matthew chapter 20 we'll read the first half of the chapter from verse 1 right through verse 16 Matthew 20 beginning in verse 1 for the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his Vineyard now when he had agreed with the laborers for a Denarius a day he sent them into his Vineyard and he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them you also Al go into the vineyard and whatever is right I will give you so they went and again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did likewise and about the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle and said to them why have you been standing here idle all day they said to him because no one hired us he said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive so when the evening had come the owner of the vineyard said to his Steward call the laborers and give them their wages beginning with the last to the first and when those who who came and when those came who were hired about the 11th Hour they each received a narius but when the first came they supposed that they would receive more and they likewise received each a Denarius and when they had received it they complained against the landowner saying these last men have worked only one hour and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden In the Heat of the day but he answered one of them and said friend I am doing you no wrong did you not agree with me for a Daenerys take what is yours and go your way I wish to give to this last man the same as to you is it not lawful for me to do things to do what I wish with my own things or is your eye evil because I am good so the last will be first and the first last for many are called but few are chosen amen let us pray thank you Father in Heaven that in your Sovereign Grace you choose men not according to what we see as fit and right but according to your own good pleasure and Lord it is not up to us thankfully to save ourselves because we could never do so thank you that Christ when he took our sins upon himself and offered himself as a sacrifice in our place redeemed a great multitude that no man can number and none of us worthy of that calling thank you for your grace and your mercy I pray that it would be extended today in this place to souls that do not yet know you and I ask this in Jesus name amen for our final hymn will'll turn to number 271 271 in your Himel and stand with me as we sing blessed Jesus at your word to you heart to sing and love and hear you all our our with the to you are to us [Music] you and help us youres and bless our PR Andes Father Son and Holy Ghost praise to you and Ador and we sing your prises you can turn with me in your Bibles to the Book of John as we work our way through John's gospel we're in the upper room discourse chapter 14 our Focus will be verses 1 to6 remember Jesus has announced many times in his Earthly Ministry with reference to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem that he must suffer that he must die and that he must be raised again and here immediately in our context he mentions this specifically in Chapter 13 with reference to his departure verse 33 he says little children I shall be with you a little while longer you will seek me and as I said to the Jews where I am going you cannot come so now I say to you so he takes this opportunity to encourage to exhort and to prepare the disciples for Ministry after his death resurrect resurrection and Ascension on high it will be their task to go therefore to make disciples of the Nations to baptize them and to teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded we see that taken up in the book of Acts so I want to read chapter 14 veres 1-6 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also and where I go you know and the way you know Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way Jesus said to him I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me amen well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for the the god breathed word we thank you that from Genesis to revelation we have your your word your mind your will revealed to us in the Old and New Testament we thank you for your Providence and your preservation of these scriptures and uh having kept them for our use and benefit here in the 21st century we pray now for the ministry of the Holy Spirit who gave us that word that he would come and guide us in our understanding of it that you would uh impact and affect our hearts in a positive way and further conform us under the image of your blessed son as well God we pray for for any and all who are dead in their trespasses and sins that they would see in this passage the way of access to the father is through the son the Lord Jesus Christ and may they by Grace believe on him and know the joy of being found in him forgive us now for all of our sin and all unrighteousness and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well as I said Jesus is getting ready to depart from the disciples he will again obviously be raised from the dead and spend some further time with them but then he ascends on high and from this uh his uh station or position of Glory at the right hand of the father he continues to bless encourage and use his disciples to propagate the Glorious gospel and to see the Church of Christ extended on the Earth but in this particular context we know that the disciples are troubled Jesus certainly knows that so he addresses them accordingly in verse one so this morning I want to look at verses 1 to6 under two considerations first the preparation of Heaven for the disciples in verses 1:3 Jesus speaks about his departure but it's not a departure where it's going to terminate with him in the grave it's a departure as a means for access to the father's house and to prepare it for their eventual coming and then secondly we'll notice the access to Heaven through the Lord so the preparation of heaven and then the access to heaven but note first with reference to the preparation he does two things here he first gives them an exhortation in verse one and then an encouragement in verses 2 and three but notice the exhortation in verse one let not your heart be troubled why do you think he would say that because most likely their hearts are troubled why would their hearts be troubled because he's announced to them that from among them one of them is going to betray him and remember in the parallel accounts in the synoptic gospels after Jesus announces the Betrayal the disciples each one say Lord is it I so certainly this is a perplexing and Troublesome time for them in light of the fact that the announcement of the Betrayal has been made Judas has now departed but not only that Jesus has told Peter that he's going to deny him again it probably would flood the hearts of the other disciples not simply that Peter would do that but that the potential for doing that is even in their own Hearts if when he announces the Betrayal they ask Lord is it I certainly the lesser than the Betrayal the denial is certainly in the Wheelhouse of the disciples as well and then thirdly why might they be troubled because the Lord whom they love the Lord whom they Worship the Lord whom they follow is going to be away from them in a little while in fact the next day today he is going to be given up into Godless hands he's going to be crucified on the cross and he's going to be laid in the Tomb so there are three really powerful reasons as to why these men could possibly be troubled at this juncture and the word is simple it means to cause inward turmoil it means to stir up to disturb to unsettle or to throw into confusion and interestingly enough we see it used of our Lord Jesus Christ in the immediate context notice in Chapter 13 at verse 21 when Jesus had said these things he was troubled in spirit as well in chapter 12 at verse 27 with reference to the announcement of the hour verse 27 now my soul is troubled and what shall I say father saved me from this hour but for this purpose I came to this hour father glorify your name we see it also at the gravite of Lazarus the Lord Jesus was troubled in spirit according to his Humanity at the reality that he's going to the cross us but interestingly here in chapter 14 at verse one it's not his trouble that he's looking to dissipate it's not his trouble that he's trying to to to mitigate it's not his trouble that he's trying to deal with it's their trouble he's always others minded he's always about serving he's always about that love that he calls upon us to enact toward one another that constant love that self-sacrificing love that love that is firm that love that is ass sure that love that values and prizes the other above itself and so the Lord Of Glory exhibits here in verse one one uh verse 1A this idea that he conveyed to us in Chapter 13 at verse 34 a new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you that you also love one another by this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another he exemplifies that he he demonstrates it again in his sole trouble in his time of great travail in his hardship and and and woe and suffering he's not thinking about himself he's not saying well I want you all to Fawn all over me I want you to make sure that these wretched Godless Romans don't don't nail Me to the Cross no he's concerned about their trouble he's concerned about their soul and he wants to comfort them and encourage them and stabilize them so he not only gives this statement concerning the reality of their trouble but then he provides the remedy for that trouble notice in verse one let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me now both those Clauses could be taken as indicatives which means it's true or as imperatives which means it must be true I think it's both imperative you believe in God believe also in me in other words what's the way to deal with your soul trouble what's the way to deal with your anxiety what's the way to deal with your depression it's to believe in God it's to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now I'm not suggesting you don't go out for a walk and get some sunshine and some fresh air and eat a good meal remember Elijah under the broom tree he's ready to check out Lord I I I've done my best the people are still encourageable they are still Godless they still got Bail in their veins what is the Lord do the Lord says get back up and get back out there Elijah and let those bists have it no he says rest rest a while have some food these are good remedies and good tonics to appeal to a man who's in the the depths of depression and despair you see it with Jesus in the midst of a busy Ministry with reference to his Apostles he says come apart and rest a while you see it in the very design and rhythm of God's created order he gives us a day to rest he gives us a day to Sabbath he gives us a day to seize from our regular and ordinary neighbors so that we can rest in him but with reference to the ultimate aim it's to believe in God and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that's the way to mitigate Soul trouble in this present evil age now I'm not preaching here as a guru just follow my example these are lifelong lessons that we by the spirit need to get a hold of if we had learned these things 30 years ago we would have saved a lot of worry but look alas it doesn't always work that way but this is jesus' antidote or the remedy to Soul trouble and this isn't the only place you see this turn to the Gospel of Luke in Luke chap 18 Luke chap 18 look at how Jesus addresses the situation of anxiety the the issue of losing heart Luke 18 at verse 1 then he spoke a parable to them that men always ought toay pray and not lose heart saying what's the contrast to losing heart prayer what's the contrast to prayer losing heart what should you do so that you don't lose heart you're right you should pray but then notice as well in the book of Philippians the Epistle of Paul to the church in Philippi specifically at chapter 4 same sort of an emphasis that if we are in trouble if we are having trial we ought to look outside of our elves in other words the resources to mitigate your issues aren't necess AR aren't usually to be found in yourself look outside of yourself to our blessed god notice in Philippians 4 at verse 6 be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus again it's not that there's no remedy provided for the sole trouble that we face it's not that there's not a prescription given by our blessed physician to help mitigate the effects of life in a present evil age it's just that we don't always use them and so we need to listen to our beloved savior when he says you believe in God you believe also in me when he makes that statement you believe in God believe also in me you know what he's also doing he's highlighting himself alongside of the father as the object of Faith this is a an a magnificent claim that isn't surprising in the gospel that starts off with the prologue in the beginning was the word the word was with God the Word was God the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us no one has seen God at any time except for the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father he has declared him so we're sort of set up and we're sort of primed and we're sort of ready for this declaration but if you just fell into this book at this point who but one that has the same nature as the father could ever arrogate to himself or suggest that he himself is the object of Faith with the father it is a wonderful statement again attesting to the absolute glorious deity of our wonderful savior so the word who became flesh the only begotten son of the Father the object of saving Faith Thomas says that fact that he says believe also in me indic Ates that he is truly God for although we are allowed to believe a human being or creature no notice the distinction for although we are allowed to believe a human being or creature we ought to believe in God alone therefore we must believe in Christ as we believe in God so Christ right there with the father is the object of saving Faith but in this particular context he's the object of comforting faith if weak Faith brings a sinner into peace with God stronger Faith gives stability to the believer in God so often times the problems that you and I face the troubles that we undergo it's not just a matter of fix those but rather it's increase my faith God remember many years ago we received a prayer letter from China and one of the things that they said is don't pray that the the the burden be removed from us but pray that our shoulders would be strong enough to carry the burden I think that's a very good way to think of things a very good approach to the difficulties that we face in this life it's not just God get rid of this nasty person out of my life but God help me to trust in you in the midst of nasty people in my life so the Lord Jesus gives them this exhortation to not let their hearts be troubled believe in God believe also in me but then after this exhortation he gives them this encouragement in verses 2 to 3 and I think this is designed or calculated or or or done so that they'll have more reason not to be troubled it's not only that you not ought not to be troubled believe in God believe also and me but you need to consider what we have in store for you you need to consider what the the cross means you need to consider what the hour means you need to consider all of the benefits that acre for those who by God's grace believe on the Lord Lord Jesus Christ so notice he speaks of his departure in verse two and then his return in verse three verse two a again a pass a familiar passage of scripture I hope nobody's surprised this morning well I never saw that before I hope you've all seen this many many times whenever I go to visit one of the older widows and I ask her what do you want me to read from It's Always either Isaiah or John 14 and John 14 has brought worlds of comfort to Worlds of belever throughout the ages look at what our Lord says verse two in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you so what is he saying my father he's already talked about this in numerous times he is the sent one from the father he is the only begotten son of the father he is the son not by adoption not by creation but he's the son by Nature he has the same nature the same Essence as the father father this is a an obvious reference to heaven in my father's house are many mansions so just practically again this isn't in the notes but it's just come up in my own head here if the mitigation of Soul trouble is to believe in God to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ it is for the present and for the benefit that we now possess but with a view to the future with the understanding that we just sang at the outset of worship surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever that's our future condition that's where we're heading that ought to be a help if not a complete removal of at least a help to mitigate some of that Soul trouble that we face now 2 Corinthians 5:1 the Apostle says for we know that if our Earthly house this tent is destroyed we have a building from God a house not made with hands uh Eternal in the heavens Jesus Jesus is obviously talking about heaven above but notice the language in verse two in my father's house are many mansions the word literally is room or dwelling but that Old King James rendering Mansions is a good gloss if you kind of pay attention to what's happening in terms of civil government I I can't prove this but I get this idea that they want us living in Huts 300 Square ft if you're lucky they want you eating they don't want you having cars they want you having bikes old Spiel in my house or my father's house are what many Huts many HS 300 Square ft for you and your 10 people family to just knuckle under in my father's house are many mansions I think the idea is it's lavish it's glorious it is what God is remember when Solomon builds the temple they spared no expense you can hear people today well was a lot of waste of money here people like Judas well we shouldn't give that money or she she shouldn't have taken that perfume and and and poured it on the feet of the Savior we should have taken that money and and and and given it to the poor yes that's certainly an application but there are times when you're in the presence of the god of absolute glory and man Majesty you spare no expense in the lavish amount of praise and adoration and wor worship you give to him when Solomon built that Temple you know what he was telling the Pagan Nations around our Yahweh is supreme he is no ghetto deity he's no dungill deity he is worthy of gold hinges at the doors of his house this is the god of absolute glory and Majesty so what do you think he does with reference to his blood bot children okay check in sign on the dotted line get your uniform get your H and just knuckle under there's many mansions and notice the many there going to make the application at 146 146 certainly teaches the exclusivity of the Christian religion it does and I've preached it that way many a time it is Contra Jew it is Contra papist it is Contra Muslim it is Contra every religion that thinks that somehow all roads lead to heaven so we emphasize and we maintain that no one can come to the father except through me but it's not only a a verse that teaches the exclusivity of the Christian Gospel but the accessibility to the god of the Christian Gospel through his only begotten son yes it's exclusive but yes the emphasis is upon coming into the presence of the father getting your many mansions knowing the goodness of Our Lord forever and ever World Without End so what Jesus does is he says don't be troubled believe in God believe in me also and then to up the ante I'm going to my father's house tomorrow when he goes to the Cross he's going to die he's going to be put in that tomb and then he's going to be raised again and then he's going to ascend on high and the preparation Brethren is probably not him going back to sweep him going back to clean the garage him going back to put you know chocolates on your pillow so that when you arrive you have a nice warm experience the preparation is the cross how does does he go to prepare a place for them it's through his Bloodshed how does he go to prepare a place for them it's through his resurrection how does he go to prepare a place for them it's a his Ascension on high it's the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the means of preparation for their access and that reception of the many mansions that the father has for his beloved children it really does convey a wonderful image in terms of God's lavishness God's graciousness and God's goodness to the many who enter into his presence so notice the Lord then says or highlights there at the end of the verse I go to prepare a place for you remember that hell is a prepared place as well Matthew 25:41 they're cast into hell which was prepared for the devil and his angels acts 1:25 the commentary concerning Judas and his final disposition what where does Judas go he goes to his own place it's idea being being is that we will be visited with judgment consistent with our sin lest we by Grace believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so he speaks to them concerning this departure but then notice his return in verse three and and dare I say for the Christian church we have a very very simple doctrine of the last times it's right here he goes and he comes back you you you you mean the the the all these other he goes and he comes back this this is as clear eschatology as you're going to get in the Bible well where's the Millennium where's the Antichrist where's the devil well this much we know he goes and he comes back he goes having accomplished his work on their behalf and then he comes back to fetch them and bring them to those Mansions of Glory in Heaven above if your eschatology is that eschatology you are consistent with the testimony of the church throughout its ages we believe in the Judgment we believe in the resurrection of the dead and our lord Jesus outlines here along with Paul in 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28 the Simplicity of biblical eschatology Jesus leaves and Jesus comes back if that's all you know relative to eschatology you know a lot because that's absolutely crucial to understand so notice he talks about his return in verse three and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also so the departure of Jesus Through the cross to the father's house in that preparation that he affects by his own work the reality is is that he's coming back again in glory to judge the living and the dead notice in verse three and if I come again and and I think that this is what makes heaven heaven and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also Paul picks up on this in 1 Thessalonians 4 at verse 17 he says then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we shall always be with the Lord what makes heaven heaven is it the Pearly Gates is it the golden streets is it all the jewels it is all all the stuff that bedazzle it's Jesus he's the darling of Heaven you will be with me that's what he conveys in light of let not your heart be troubled he is really upping the antie as to why your heart ought not to be troubled in my father's house are many mansions you're going to be in one of those as well it's going to be the case that you are with me that you are always in the presence of the Lord Lord God most high look back at ma uh John 12 specifically at verse 26 if anyone serves me let him follow me and where I am there my servant will be also if anyone serves me him my father will honor and then again in 1724 17:24 father I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me for you love me before the foundation of the world turn to the Book of Revelation Revelation 21 and 22 we won go through everything but just a couple of things to note Revelation 21 specifically you you quick reminder 30 second reminder about what the Bible's about we talked about this a little bit on Wednesday night is the Bible about the Daniel diet no is the Bible about how you deal with your personal Giants no is the Bible about a billion other things preachers have told you it's about no what's the Bible about God's glory in the salvation of Sinners through Jesus Christ you know what that ultimately ends with God and his people dwelling together in fact one of the great themes in Holy scripture is that dwelling together it's no accident that John 1:14 speaks of the Incarnation in that language the word became flesh and did what he dwelt Among Us he tabernacled among us when you go to Redemptive history you look at Genesis chapters 1 and 1 to 3 do you know what the glory of God manifested there is it's communion with his creatures it's the fact that God walked among them in the cool of the day the great issue there was the Forfeit of that communion obviously the Rebellion against God the plunge into sin what did they lose they lost that Nearness of God but God orchestrated a way to bring that nearness back to bring that communion he showed that he was going to do this by the Tabernacle he wants Israel to make this sort of mobile tent that they can take out into the Wilderness why so that they can meet with God out there and then once they get St established in the promised land what are the instructions well Solomon I want you to build this Temple why so we can best the pagans around us well that too but so that we can commune with Yahweh it's all about God and his people dwelling together it's all about Temple it's all about Union it's all about communion and that's what Christ is promising if I depart I'm going to prepare and then I'm going to come back and I'm going to take you and we're going to go up and we're going to commune notice in Revelation 21 specifically at verse 22 but I saw no temple in it for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its Temple everything forfeit by Adam is secured for us by the last Adam what we lost lost in Adam the first we gain in Adam the last we get communion we get nearness we get Eternal Bliss and this is what Jesus is speaking concerning in John's gospel to comfort the disciples in the upper room let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also the Geneva Bible says Christ went not away from us to the end to forsake us but rather that he might at length take us up with him into heaven so when he announces in verse 33 chapter 13 little children I shall be with you a little while longer you will seek me and as I said to the Jews where I'm going you cannot come so now I say to you that's probably the primary reason they're troubled what is he saying now it's to your benefit that I go it's For Your Glory that I go it's for your salvation that I go I'm doing this for you greater love has no man than that he Li lays down his life for his friends this is what Christ came to do to secure the salvation of a great multitude that no man can number so that's the preparation of Heaven for the disciples let's look then second L at the access to Heaven through the Lord notice the Lord affirms what he has said in verse 4 he he underscores it he seals the deal he he confirms it he affirms it notice in verse four he says and where I go you know and the way you know so there's a we and a way here there's a where and a way that's going to come up in their confusion and it's going to come up in his response to their confusion so think where and way well not is what he says specifically here in verse 4 he says and where I go you know and the way you know now they should have known of the Cross because as I've said he's taught them or told them on many occasions it's very specific in Matthew 16 Matthew 17 Matthew 20 it's specific here in John's gospel as well John 12 and I if I be lifted up will draw all men to myself he knows and he is communic communicated that the hour is upon him so he is able to say to them with this affirmation or this certainty and where I go you know and then he mentions and the way you know so again where and way now note the confusion of the disciples oh no they'd never be confused yes they were confused often that they're representative of us brethren we we shouldn't read this and say I don't I can't believe those guys didn't get this how many things don't we get in light of a of a whole Bible in light of Sermon Audio in light of constant preaching and teaching and instruction and good books how how many times are we brought to this place to admit our confusion well we don't usually admit it we just continue confused and everybody else sees it but we don't see it it's kind of that bad breath thing bad breath is one of those things that everybody knows you have but you don't know you have so when it comes to this confusion Thomas is speaking as one of the disciples he says we and again it's awar and Away issue notice in verse 5 Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way Thomas shows up in uh John 11 as one who's willing to die with Jesus then he shows up in John 20:28 as the one who absented himself from that first corporate worship service when Jesus was present remember when the disciples saw Thomas they said Thomas basically you should have been here if I could read between the lines that's what they said oh we've seen the Lord that's the implication Thomas you should have been there he shouldn't have missed maybe they weren't that vindictive I'm I'm probably projecting here but uh he he is the man that is the greatest skeptic and and not just skeptic we think of a skeptic saying well you know I'm not really sure no Thomas says unless unless unless I will certainly not believe you might meet a skeptic somebody I just don't know I haven't really heard much about Christianity they're kind of agnostic that's not really Thomas in John 20 Thomas is demanding evidence to satisfy his own mind Thomas is saying that if I don't see the evidence then I'm certainly not going to believe and what does Jesus do Jesus gently reproves him he chides him you've seen and you believe blessed are those who believe even though they haven't seen so this Thomas is a zealous zealous fellow it's not always a Zeal according to knowledge we read about Zeal in the last hour in terms of JC RI we always got to make sure that our Zeal is tempered by knowledge because this willingness to go die for Jesus and we're not willing to live for Jesus sounds like a Zeal without knowledge and when Thomas is here he is expressing the sentiment of the other discip deciples we we don't know the where we don't know the way so notice what Jesus responds in this declaration he first starts with the way and then he goes to the to the we but notice with reference to the way verse six Jesus said to him I am the way the truth and the life that's the way the where is no one comes to the father except through me so let's just take a couple of minutes to unpack this first this is another I am statement with a predicate there have been several in the gospel there are seven total Jesus says in John 6 I am the bread of life John 8 and N I am the light of the world John 10 I am the door of the sheep John 10 I am the Good Shepherd John 11 I am the resurrection and the life John six uh uh John uh 14 rather the way the truth and the life and then there's one final one in chapter 15 I am am the True Vine so what does he mean here remember he's talking about his going to the Cross his departure in that violent bloody horrible way is going to be the grounds upon which he enters into heaven to prepare for them Mansions Above and it is from that vantage point that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead to collect his bride and bring her up into that place where they are always present with the Lord forever that place where there is no physical structure there's no Temple there why because God and the lamb are its Temple communion and access and and privilege will all be completely uh uh received and and consummated in that glorious state so notice what Jesus says here he says three things concerning himself first of all he says I am the way now the way is in connection with the we he's the way to the father we saw that in our studies in the book of Ephesians chapter uh 2: 18 and 22 by the spirit through the son we come to the father in fact look at the book of Hebrews specifically in Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 we get the Practical section after having uh pronoun or or or rather ex uh executed the person of Christ as priest in Hebrews 10:19 the Apostle gets very practical and notice what he says therefore Brethren having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus notice by a New and Living Way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh and having a uh and having a high priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart and full Assurance of Faith having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water so when we look at Jesus statement in John 14:6 when he says I am the way the way to the father is Jesus Christ the son that's it that's what we all need to know that's what we all need to learn there's one true and living God there's one God who made the world there's one God who governs the world there is one God who is overall that is to be worshiped that is to be glorified that is to be honored that is to be praised but because of our sin and because of our rebellion and because of our corruption in Adam we don't honor him the way we ought we don't praise him the way we ought we don't worship him the way we ought rather we seek out other things we go after the creature the things that he has made to be of service to be of benefit and to be help of help we turn those into idols and we pant after them we lust after them we we go after the good things that God has given to be enjoyed we make those God we find our comfort there let not your heart be troubled what does man in sin do to try to mitigate the trouble he seeks out many devices we don't like living with trouble do we and for the most part we'll try to find ways to deal with that trouble well there's one God sanctioned and one God approved way and that's him and his son the Lord Jesus Christ everything else will only compound the trouble well I know I'll just go drink this or I'll go smoke this or I'll go do this and all my problems will go away is that really how it works out I know what I'll do I'll amass wealth I'll pile up money all my troubles will go away is that really how it happens no you know it as well as I do those things are vanity those things are Folly again good things at times God gives to be enjoyed by the creature but when we worship and serve them and we neglect the Creator God overall then we've got more trouble than we ever even imagin so with reference to our beloved Christ he is the way his Incarnation his life of obedience his death is a satisfaction for sins his resurrection from the dead and notice he doesn't just show the way he is the way you see that I can show you the way the way is the cross the way is Faith In Jesus the way is looking to him and living he he is the way isn't it wonderful how in him is personified the various benefits that we receive in Luke's gospel Luke chap true there was a man by the name of Simeon and he was an old man and he's at the temple because the Lord or the spirit had said you're going to see the Lord's Christ before you die and we know the the story The Lord's Christ comes with his parents to be circumcised on the eth day so we read when when uh Mary walks in with this little baby I've always try to picture this in my mind's eye you mothers can be a a lot like a a mama bear and that's good God made you that way defend that baby defend that child father's same thing you you take out whatever threat is there launched against your spawn that that's your job you had one job you protect that I I just try to imagine the scene when Simeon marches over to Mary and takes the Babe out of her out of her arms I I don't get that she tried to claw eyes out there must have been something else going on in the spirit you know with reference to her but but listen to what he says when he takes the B verse 27 so he came by the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word and then notice in verse 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation not just the way of salvation but the salvation of God is in the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ so when he says I am the way have you noticed in the preaching of our Lord Jesus in The Gospel records that he preaches the kingdom of God that's the way he announces his ministry Matthew 417 repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand he teaches in Matthew 13 Parables concerning what the kingdom he talks about the kingdom a lot after his death after his resurrection after his Ascension on high the apostolic preaching in the book of Acts isn't about the kingdom it is but it's about the Christ in other words the way becomes the emphasis instead of the the we not that the we is unimportant but the way now has dominated everything in fact one man makes this observation he says the presentation of Christ to men had been going forward and the scheme on which it is set before us in the gospel collection marks the gradual manner in which the eye looking for the kingdom came to be fixed on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ all is founded on the Old Testament expectation of a kingdom of God that's why Jesus comes and he preaches the kingdom of God but and he's commenting now on the apostolic preaching of Christ but it is now explained that that expectation is fulfilled in the person of Jesus so not that Jesus doesn't do that he preaches the kingdom he preaches the we but gradually the emphasis is becoming on the way it's Christ it's the way it's the salvation of God that is upmost so that when Peter falls into the the the the pathway of that Ethiopian unic and the unix's reading Isaiah the prophet and Philip says do you know what you're reading said I'm not I'm not really sure I I I need somebody to explain it for me what happens from this scripture he preached what Jesus Acts chapter 10 to him all the prophets give witness that whoever believes in his name will receive the Forgiveness of sins this is the the the grand termination of Redemptive H uh history it is in the person of Christ and he says as much here I am the way but he doesn't stop notice he goes on and says I am the truth he is the truth Brethren this is a great thing for living in a day and age like we do there's a lot of nontruth out there there's a lot and I know it's like that in the first century we just get access to it you know immediately on you know five different sites we're just glutted with misinformation and disinformation only they don't think it's misinformation and disinformation that's the big crime today misinformation and disinformation and that that's our Bibles right this new bill 367 you don't think it's Dr Seuss they want to rid the Society of it's the word of the Living God hate crime legislation typically targets the Bible let's not play games that's what it's about so so that we have the truth is a good thing that we have the truth and its embodiment in our Lord Jesus Christ is a good thing we're not left to ourselves we're not left on our own I am the way he says and I am the truth in other words everything that Jesus has been telling his disciples is is true it's he's got veracity he's faithful he is going to bring to pass everything that he has said specifically in verses 2 and three yes I'm going to depart in a little while but don't let your hearts be troubled in fact know that my departure means access to the father preparation of the mansions and then I'm going to return to you again in glory to bring you to where I am Brethren that truth is what we desperately need in a sinful and Godless age and again not unique to us they lived in a situation very similar but then notice he says he is the life and this is a recurring theme in John's Gospel According to the prologue in him was life4 he has life in himself 526 he has the words of eternal life in 668 remember all those wouldbe disciples fall away and then Jesus looks at his inner sanctum he looks at his 12 and he says do do you also want to depart and Simon Peter says Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life other words he is the way the truth and the life notice as well he is true God and eternal life according to First John 5: 20 he gives life abundantly according to John 10 and verse 10 and as well at the grave site of Lazarus we learn he is the resurrect ction and the life and so when it comes to this blessed one he is the way to the father he is the truth concerning the father and he is the life that we need desperately and with reference to that he then ends on thewar so I am the way the truth and the life then notice the we no one comes to the father except through me and that's it that that's the essence of our religion isn't it what's different about you Christian well we teach one way of Salvation it's through God's grace faith in Jesus Christ that's it that's what we have that is unique I mean there's a lot attached to that to be sure uh blood atonement forgiveness of sins the imputed righteousness of Jesus it's a whole Myriad of blessings and and good things accured by our savior but in essence Brethren that's what distinguishes us we're not in all roads lead to Rome sort of a religion you know you just do your best you pull up your bootstraps you stop doing those things and everything's going to be okay no you're Wicked you're sinful just like me we deserve God's Wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come if we access the father it is because of the Cross if we come to the father it's because of his blood if we come to the father it's because of the fact that he is the way the truth and the life so he ends on that particular note he speaks of the way he speaks of the we and as I mentioned previously it's not only the exclusivity of the co of the Gospel of Jesus but the accessibility to the father through the son so I think it's easy to read passages like this and says no one comes to the father except through me oh that means it's just such this narrow little window no that's not what it means at all why did we think that's what it meant because we don't read revelation we don't read that there's men from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation we don't read that in that New Jerusalem according to Revelation 7 there's a great multitude that no man can number we don't read Matthew's gospel when Jesus says the the that this is my blood in the New Covenant which is shed for the remission of sins of many we don't read that in my father's house are many mansions so yes see the exclusivity in John 14:6 but Brethren as well you know amplify the accessibility of the father through the son that's our message to a lost and dying world that's my encouragement to anybody here this morning that is dead in their trespasses and sins come to the way the one who is truth the one who gives life freely by his grace for his glory with the sure promise that one day you're not going to be in this Cesspool of sin you're not going to have to deal with the remaining corruption that so easily entices us you're going to be in emanuel's land you're going to be with the Father the Son and the spirit you're going to be with the the the spirits of just men made perfect you're going to be in that blessed State wherein there is no unrighteousness wherein God is all in all that's the promise of our Lord Jesus in John 14 1-6 to everyone and anyone who believes on him salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ Alone in conclusion one comfort of the church we need to be comforted in these trying times and again the way of comfort yeah get your exercise diet sleep all those things as you get older kids you start learning yeah I guess my mom was right I should have taken naps more there there is that difficulty to even secure a good night of sleep as you get a bit older so you know get it while you can't all that's good take care of the outer man you've heard me preach on depression before before you get to the spiritual ABCs there's some physical ABCs if you're not eating properly you're not sleeping well you're not exercising you're probably not going to feel well I'm not a doctor or the son of a doctor but General Revelation certainly seems to a light in that direction but as well spiritually read your Bibles pray seek God grow in the understanding of our blessed Lord no scripture hide it in your heart like the psalmist so that I might not sin against you the word of God is valuable we prize it we praise it the exercise of faith is the anti do to trouble seral of Alexandria said an untroubled mind is a great help to courage it's interesting because this passage and tonight's passage go hand in glove tonight's the whole armor of God Ephesians chapter 6 10 10 and following what do you think Paul wants for the Christian church just you know lay down Cow toow and just get walked all over you just let the devil have his way with you there's a devil out there he's roaring about like a roaring roaming lion he's seeking whom he made devour you know just hide from him and perhaps you won't get bit that's not Paul's attitude Paul's not down with sort of a low te approach to ecclesiology or gospel propagation be strong stand firm in the power of the might of God most high and when it comes to this sole trouble Vanquish it by faith listen again to sirel Faith then is a weapon whose blade is Scout and Broad it drives away cowardice that comes from thinking about possible suffering and it renders the darts of the wicked utterly ineffective and utterly useless in their Temptations he's right he's absolutely positively right just like Paul's right in Philippians 4 Just Like Jesus Is Right in Luke 18 very often the remedy for our problem it's right there we don't always access it let not your heart be troubled Brethren believe in God believe also in Jesus the stability of our spiritual bless blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ are bound up in faith again weak Faith brings a sinner into peace with God a bit of a stronger Faith stabilizes the believer against the onslaughts of life that's a good thing so read pray buck up attend church and seek by God's grace to grow in these things and then the Glorious expectation of life in the father's house and being in the presence of of the Lord forever you at some point Brethren I think you got to just adopt the mindset this may sound fatalistic I don't think it is okay whatever they throw at me I'm going to persevere because I don't think that's fatalistic I'm gonna I'm going to persevere why because my end is in glory see it's just Cost analysis it's risk reward what are you going to do to me take from me the prize of Jesus Christ they can't do it once you're in the hand of God most high there's nobody who can pluck you out there's nobody who can snatch you shared one time it was either the Sunday morning or Wednesday night my father had a piece of wisdom that I never quite understood he said they can kill you but they can't eat you took me several years to realize yeah they can there's just that many sick and twisted people in the I don't know what that sort of wisdom nugget was calculated to promote but it perplexed me but in terms of our nuggets of wisdom we have glory in our future whatever this world throws at us whatever issues we got to deal with or contend with whatever minations the Civil Authorities have down the road ultimately brethren we will be where he is he will receive us to himself and we will dwell in that place where God and the lamb are the temple and let us end on a great consideration of that lamb he is the way you need salvation it's through Jesus he is the truth you need a sure word it's in the scriptures and he is life the only antidote the only correction Ive the only remedy to our spiritual death is the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the life that he freely gives well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for our lord Jesus the one who is the way the truth and the life and we bless you that by your grace we've been able to access the father through the son and we are confident that as this gospel Goes Forth today it will run swiftly and it will be glorified and will accomplish the purpose for which you sent it and we pray Even in our own midst both young and old would come to our Lord Jesus Christ in faith and know the joy of being found in him and we ask through Christ Our Lord amen well we'll close our worship this morning by singing the doxology page 568 and we'll stand as we sing praise to God most high PR him all PR him PR son holy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen father thank you again for the provision of your son the son of your love your only begotten son who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven we give praise and glory to you for his current session and we look forward to that return in glory glory to judge the living and the dead may we all be found ready may we all be found clothed in his righteousness and cleansed in his blood and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation