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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good morning everyone welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church special welcome to visitors amongst us this morning it is great to be together in the house of the Lord we have a few announcements before we begin our evening service tonight will be at 5:00 P p.m. as usual and Camp Porter is going to be preaching give Pastor Butler's voice a little rest although seems to be recovering a bit um and then Wednesday night bible study as usual at 7:30 p.m. as we've announced for several weeks uh we are going to be bringing Julian vop into the membership this morning so that's what we're going to do now if Julian would come forward and Pastor Butler and just a reminder that Landon has also applied for membership so in a couple of weeks time we'll be repeating this process and bringing Landon into membership as well I had pondered shaking his hand as a sick man but I remember him being sick a few weeks ago so it could have been him that passed it on to me originally so there's no problem with the uh proceedings at this point so I've met with Landon I'm sorry Julian a wonderful young man has expressed a desire to join our church he's already been baptized by immersion to fulfill the obligations or requirements uh with reference to our church I did want to read a section from our confession chapter 26 of the church paragraphs 5 and six so after a few paragraphs concerning the church Universal the confession then turns and directs attention to the church local so specifically in paragraphs 5 and six we read in the execution of this power where wherewith he is so entrusted the Lord Jesus calls out of the world unto himself through the ministry of his word by his Spirit those that are given unto him by his father that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience which he prescribes to them in his word those thus called He commands to walk together in particular Societies or churches for their Mutual edification and the due performance of that public worship which he requires of them in the world the members of these churches are Saints by calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in by their profession and walking their obedience unto that call of Christ and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord and one to another by the will of God in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel so it is with great Thanksgiving that we receive from our lord Jesus another member into the life of our church I will extend to him the right hand of Fellowship on behalf of free Grace Baptist and we will now pray and thank the Lord while we Aug well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you very much for your loving kindness and your mercy and the salvation of Sinners we thank you for our brother Julian we thank you for your grace and his life the faith that he has in the Lord Jesus Christ receive from you and we pray that you would bless and encourage him as he participates in the membership of this church and help us as members to grow in our love for Christ and our love for one another in our esteem for one another and and help us to be in Earnest at the throne of grace to pray for one another and to build one another up in our Most Holy Faith we bless you and we praise you and we give all glory to you and ask now for your blessing upon this local church and we pray in jesus' name amen amen right if you'll take your Bibles and turn with me to Psalm 104 for our call to worship Psalm 104 we'll read verses 31 to 35 Psalm 104: 31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever may the Lord rejoice in his Works he looks on the earth and it trembles he touches the hills and they smoke I will sing to the Lord as long as I live I will sing praise to my God while I have my being may my meditation be sweet to him I will be glad in the Lord May sinners be consumed from the earth and the wicked be no more bless the Lord oh my soul praise the Lord amen we're going to stand together and sing from the Suter Psalm 110 a as in Alpha 110a as in Alpha please stand with me [Music] my and with your to against your will to you do the and will change his you [Music] are we the K [Music] his might J all the Earth and destroy will seated let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask his blessing upon our meeting today our gracious Heavenly Father we do thank you for this privilege and opportunity that we have to come before you this day as your people in your house together to worship and we thank you that you and you alone have drawn us here we know oh God that it is not our own wise thinking our own um good desires that have caused us to see the light we know that it is you and your grace alone and Lord we pray that you would work in our midst this day we pray that the Holy Spirit would be present applying the word to our hearts and CA cusing us to rejoice in what we hear the truth of the Gospel Lord we pray that if there be any in our midst this morning that have not yet embraced the truth that have not yet tasted and seen that the Lord is good may this be the day that the Holy Spirit grips their heart and brings them to repentance and to faith in Christ we pray oh God that you would bless Pastor Butler as he comes shortly to preach to us I pray that you would give him strength to do so and sustain his his body and his voice give him Clarity of thought and the ability to to preach to us the whole counsil of God we pray that you would bless cam Porter this evening as well and cause his his lips to be anointed as he preaches to us as well we thank you oh God for every Church in this city where the gospel is being preached this morning we pray Lord that you would bless your Ministers of the Gospel that they would be able to accurately divide the word of Truth and to encourage your people and to call Sinners out of Darkness into Marvelous Light all across this land we thank you that you have raised up churches we pray oh God that you would purify your church in our country we know there are ups and downs in the life of the church in any given location we pray oh God that we would see a great Revival take place in our generation and we know that you are working all over the face of the Earth and we pray oh God that you would bless your people in lands where it is difficult to be a Christian we have it so easy here relatively speaking and we pray for those who are this day meeting in secret or hiding because of the authorities or because of religious leaders we pray for those who are in prison now for the sake of the Gospel be merciful to them oh God and encourage your people this day give them the tenacity to hold fast Lord we we sometimes wonder how how what it is even possible to endure the sufferings that some of our Brethren go through but we trust oh God that when it comes to that time you give the grace necessary to persevere we know that is not because of our own goodness Our Own Strength that we can endure in this in the Christian life at all it is the mercy of Christ and we thank you for your blessing upon us we pray for our sister churches and church plants bless the congregation this morning that's meeting in Suri encourage them bless Pastor Kirkpatrick as he ministers bless the the congregation up in the north Okanagan in Armstrong I pray you bless pastor melgars and encourage that group and the work out in Ontario and Dryden be with them this day and cause them to rejoice in your goodness Lord we pray that you would be merciful to our nation we pray oh God that you would restrain evil cause your church to be light and salt and Lord we pray that you would continue to offer us these freedoms that we have enjoyed for many years help us oh God to use them to the best of our abilities we ask these things in Jesus name amen amen if you'll stand with me we'll turn again to the alter this time Psalm 46 C Psalm 46 C is in Charlie and we will sing praise to our God us we will not is to all and Earth Sal against the our Mighty God will be is for and the nation SE the host is God has his every still is all the Lord of host is you may be seated for our morning scripture reading we will turn again to Matthew chapter 27 and continue where we left off we'll begin at verse 27 and we'll read through verse 44 Matthew chapter 27 we're beginning in verse 27 then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the pretorium and gathered the whole Garrison around him and they stripped him and put a Scarlet robe on him when they had Twisted a crown of thorns they put put it on his head and a reed in his right hand and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying hail King of the Jews then they spat on him and took the Reed and struck him on the head and when they had mocked him they took the robe off him put his own clothes on him and led him away to be crucified now as they came out they found a found a man of sirene Simon by name him they compelled to bear his cross and when they had come to a place called golgatha that that is to say place of a skull they gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink but when he had tasted it he would not drink then they crucified him and divided his garments casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots sitting down they kept watch over him there and they put up over his head the accusation written against him this is is Jesus the king of the Jews then two robbers were crucified with him one on the right and another on the left and those who passed by blasphemed him wagging their heads and saying you who destroy the temple and build it in three days save yourself if you are the Son of God come down from the cross likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes and Elders said he saved others himself he cannot save if he is the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him he trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God even the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him with the same thing amen gracious Father in heaven we shudder as we hear how our blessed savior was mocked and scourged and treated despitefully and and we we know that he did it for our sakes he had all power and all authority at his right hand could have called on Legions of angels to deliver him but he did not he was obedient to the father and went all the way to redeem his people from their sins to take not only the the mocking and this the scourging and the spitting and the ridicule of sinful men but even the wrath of God almighty for our sins that we might be redeemed and that we might be our accounts might be cleared of all the trespasses that are against us thank you for such Mercy displayed on that Dreadful day we pray oh God that you would continue with us in worship cause us oh Lord to love you all the more as we consider your word in Jesus name amen amen for our final hymn we'll turn to number 381 in the Himel stand with me again as we sing 381 blessing and and glory and power widom and and ever more give me to [Music] our who are the kingom the ground and the thr sound the hand of the with his name bring it the Earth with his glory and f o and Mountain Forest and flow EO his praises and tell of his power the song and the [Music] Jo the love the blessing and all and glory and praise this is the C of the K that be PR the glory and praise to the lamb take we the road and the heart and the sing the S of the Lamb that was SL [Music] in weakness But Rising to amen you may be seated you can turn with me in your Bibles to John's gospel John chapter 14 as we come to the end of this particular chapter but not The Upper Room The Upper Room discourse is recorded for us in chapters 13 to 16 followed up by our Lord's Priestly prayer in chapter 17 remember that one of the things that the Lord is doing is encouraging and exhorting and preparing his disciples for Greater Works upon his resurrection and Ascension on high these Greater Works aren't in competition with our Lord but rather are a further extension of his work from the right hand of the father through the ministry of the Apostles the conquest of Sinners and the building of local churches so I want to read beginning in chapter 14 at verse 12 and then our Focus will be on the last couple of verses in verses 29-31 so John 14:12 most assuredly I say to you he who believes in me the works that I do he will do also and Greater Works than these he will do because I go to my father and whatever you ask in my name that I will do that the father may be glorified in the son if you ask anything in my name I will do it if you love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you a little while longer and the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live you will live also at that day you will know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you he who has my Commandments and keeps them it is he who loves me and he who loves me Will Be Loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him Judas not a scariot said to him Lord how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world Jesus answered and said to him if anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him he who does does not love me does not keep my words and the word which you hear is not mine but the father who fathers who sent me these things I have spoken to you while being present with you but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you let not your heart be troubled neither Let It Be Afraid you have heard me say to you I am going away and coming back to you if you loved me you would Rejoice because I said I am going to the father for my father is greater than I and now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe I will no longer talk much with you for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment so I do arise let us go from here here amen well let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for the god breathed word we thank you that all scripture is given by inspiration of God that it's profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction and for instruction and righteousness we pray that you would thoroughly furnish us unto every good work we know one of those good works is to worship father Son and Holy Spirit may we see the glory of Jesus Christ may we see the power of God most high revealed clearly in passages like these may it be an encouragement to us as individuals and as a local church may you be glorified in the midst of this body and may you indeed continue to bless and and and cause us to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus as well father we pray for the Salvation of Sinners for those who've come here dead in their trespasses and sins we pray the spirit would awaken them bring that conviction for sin and set forth Jesus in all of his all of his offices to save even his Prophet priest and King and may he be altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 today forgive us for all sin and all transgression and cleanse Us in the Precious Blood of the lamb and again guide us now by the presence and the power of your Holy Spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well as I said Jesus is encouraging the disciples that they may go out and do Greater Works basically preach the gospel make disciples and plant churches and extend the glory of Christ's Kingdom throughout the entirety of the Earth they do that they're successful in that and we are reaping the benefits we read in the Book of Revelation that men from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation there'll be a great multitude assembled in heaven on that day so we see that Jesus is on the throne that he does build his church and the gates of Hades shall not Prevail against it and when we look in this Upper Room discourse we see how Jesus primarily encourages the disciples he shows them the glory of the Triune God he teaches teaches them wonderful truths about himself and his relation to the father and to the Holy Spirit instead of saying go out learn the Customs learn the cultures get the monetary unit and then go into these various places and preach me rather he shows them the glory and the goodness of the living in the true God and in this particular section here in John 14 at the end we see emphasis again on his departure that's a primary concern in the upper room discourse or we might call it the farewell discourse the last time that Jesus is going to be Associated intimately with his disciples to convey this knowledge and information so this idea of his departure looms large and then we saw as we move to the end of this chapter specifically the emphasis on the gifts given by Christ in verses 25 to 27 he's going to depart he's going to leave them but he's already promised according to verse 18 that he will not leave them as orphans he will come to them the way that he comes to them is by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit whom he promises specifically in verse 26 as well he bequeaths to them peace he doesn't give them riches he doesn't give them clothing he doesn't give them properties and lands rather he says that he conveys his peace upon them there in verse 27 and then specifically the direction changes to his departure when you see in verse 28 you have heard me say to you I am going away and coming back to you so this section verse verses 28-31 is concerned with the departure last week we saw the exhortation to the disciples specifically in verse 28 let's follow the verse you have heard me say to you I am going away and coming back to you if you loved me you would Rejoice because I said I am going to the father for my father is greater than I you should Rejoice at the departure why because it means Resurrection from the dead and it means Ascension on high where Jesus will lead captivity captive and he will give gifts to men so with reference to his death we speak of the state of humiliation with reference to his resurrection and Ascension and his current state of exaltation we call that the state of exaltation and so Jesus says you would Rejoice good things are coming good things are going to flow blessings are going to acre I'm going to be at the right hand of the father and I'm going to be able to give the holy spirit that I have promised to you we see that fleshed out on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 specifically in verses 33- 36 so Jesus says rejoice and then he speaks of the father as being greater than him and as we considered that last Sunday he cannot meet according to his divinity in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God all that is true of God is true of the word the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us so Jesus is not speaking there according to his divinity but according to his Humanity the father is greater than I the father is the one who sent me on this this task of of a temporal mission of Salvation And so I go to him he's greater than I therefore you ought to Rejoice so that's the exhortation to the disciples now next we see the confirmation of the plan in verse 29 and then we'll end with the expectation of Triumph in verses 30 and 31 but note first the confirmation of the plan in verse 29 and now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe if you go back to chapter 133 specifically at verse 19 he does a similar thing there now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe that I am Jesus is not a victim of circumstance Jesus isn't just subject to random happenings it's not some sort of luck or fate out there that is controlling the world Jesus has come according to plan the word became flesh and dwelt among us we beheld his glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth when John the Baptist declares in John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world Jesus is doing what had been prophesied concerning it again this isn't halfhazard random events we we hope he figures it out along the way and we hope that he actually does ACR benefit for All Those whom the father had given him no there's always determination there is resolution there is steadfastness and behind this is what we call the Covenant of redemption the willingness of the son to take on our humanity and always do that which is pleasing to the father so when Jesus does this in the upper room he wants to encourage the disciples again it's tough for us to sort of transpose ourselves into their situation but remember they don't have the written Gospel of John they don't have Matthew and Mark and Luke they have the Old Testament prophets to be sure they have now some sort of Messianic understanding in terms of who Jesus is but their good friend their best friend their Master their lord their friend is is going to depart from that and perhaps it would well up in their hearts to start to kind of Wonder well what's going to happen how's this all going to shake out is everything going to work according to the divine plan so I think along the way Jesus does this he wants to let them know that everything is in order everything is under control he's got this and we ought not to fret so when he says in verse 29 and now I have told you before it comes what that I'm departing that I'm going to the father and now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe so there is an emphasis here on predicted prophecy the function of the Prophet was twofold he forth told the word of God but he foretold the word of God we only usually look at the fourth telling we only looked at the predictive element in prophetic Ministry well they they they rightly announced what was going to happen several years away well that's one aspect or function of the Prophet is to forth tell but also simply to forell the word of the living and true God in fact the bulk of biblical Prophecy in the Old Testament is the foretelling aspect God sends the the prophet to the nation to upgrade them to call them to Faith and repentance and to get right with God most high so Jesus for tells what's going to happen or rather forth tells what's going to happen to put their minds at ease predictive prophecy has that good effect upon the people that witness it now is Jesus speaking here according to his divinity he would know this obviously as God the word but by virtue of his Humanity like the Old Testament Pro prophets being filled with the Holy Spirit he is speaking according to the Old Testament scriptures all that is written concerning the Messiah he knew the Prophet Daniel Daniel chapter 9 that Messiah would be cut off and that through that cutting off that's the means by which he'd gained Victory he knew Psalm 22 he knew the servant Pro uh servant songs of the prophet Isaiah Jesus knew all that so I see I think he's speaking here according to his Humanity terms of this particular prediction and as I said he does this in Chapter 13 and verse 19 but then notice he gives the specific purpose as to why he tells them beforehand verse 29 and now I have told you before it comes to pass that when it does come to pass you may believe it's going to confirm your faith it's going to strengthen you it's going to build you up it's going to help you and again that's something you see in terms of predictive Prophecy in the prophet or rather in the book of of Deuteronomy in chapter 18 which establishes the prophetic class in Israel if a prophet predicted the future and it didn't come to pass what do you think happened to that Prophet more book deals revised dates another kick at the can that's what happens to predicted prophets in our own day think Harold Camping he predicted 1994 which came and went and then I think it was 2012 which it came and went and yet in the midst of all that he continued to teach and he continued to Minister well that's not what the book of Deuteronomy uh Deuteronomy 18 tells us if a prophet makes a prediction in the name of God most high and that prophecy does not come to pass you're supposed to execute that false prophet it's funny all those who invoke the ability to prophesy typically don't invoke that particular consequence to falsely prophesy so with reference to predicted prophecy it had to be the case that the one making the prediction was right you had to be true if you're going to announce that you're going to die that you're going to be raised again that you're going to ascend on high and be seated at the right hand of majesty on high you you better be God's man for the moment you see this in terms of the veracity of Yahweh and predicted Prophecy in the Old Testament turn to the book of Isaiah Isaiah chter 48 Isaiah 48 notice specific spefically in verses 3 to 5 I have declared the former things from the beginning they went forth from my mouth and I caused them to hear it suddenly I did them and they came to pass because I knew that you were obstinate and your neck was an iron senu and your brow bronze even from the beginning I have declared it to you before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you now notice lest you should say my idol has done them and my carved image and my molded image have commanded that see what God says I've commanded or rather I've foretold or predicted this is what's going to take place that I'm the one that's going to execute it so that when the event happens you don't ascribe the power to bail you don't ascribe the power to molak you don't ascribe the power to your own good fortune or or your holy horseshoes or your three Lea fourleaf Clover no so that you'll know that God most high is indeed the most high and turn back to to chapter 46 chapter 46 there's this whole section is riddled with a an attack upon the idolatry that Israel has emed notice in chapter 46 we'll read a bit of it notice in verse one bell bell bows down Nebo Stoops their Idols were on the beasts and on the cattle these were basically famous Gods Bell or Marduk was the synagogue of a city God of Babylon and head of the Babylonian path uh Pantheon Nebo was Bell's son and he was the city God of bipa near Babylon and the god of writing and wisdom so these two gods were basically in Vogue amongst the Babylonians well guess what's happening the Israelites again start to take on the customs of the people around them they were told to go in the land to be faithful to be uh in Covenant with Yahweh to maintain obedience and yet they don't they ape the peoples around them so by the time that Isaiah writes he's condemning this so B bows down Neo Stoops their Idols were on the beasts and on the cattle your carriages were heavily loaded a burden to the weary Beast they stoop they bowed down together they could not deliver the burden but have themselves gone into captivity good are their gods they've gone into captivity like the rest of them listen to me oh House of Jacob and all the remnant of the House of Israel who have been up upheld by me from birth who have been carried from the womb even to your old age I am he and even to gray hairs I will carry carry you you've heard me say many times you don't want a God that you have to carry I didn't make that up that comes straight from the prophet here you want the god who's going to carry you you don't want the god that you have to put on a cart you don't want the god that you have to polish you don't want the god that you have to glue back together in the case of deeon when he fell before the Ark of the Covenant you don't want the sort of God that needs the sort of therapy and the sort of help that you want you need God to uphold you you need God to car you you need God to give you his peace so even to your old age verse four I am he and even to gray hairs I will carry you I have made and I will bear even I will carry and will deliver you now note there's a contrast between 5 to 7 and 8 to 11 let's look at the first part to whom will you liken me and make me equal and compare me that we should be alike they lavish gold out of the bag and waste silver on the scales they hire a Goldsmith and he makes it a god they prostrate themselves yes they they worship they bear it on the shoulder they carry it and set it in its place and it stands from its place it shall not move the one cries out to it yet it cannot answer nor save him out of his trouble that's the futility of the idol it's the futility of a false god if you are looking to a false god today it's about as good here as Bell and Nebo it's about as good as is one that falls off a cart and has to be propped back up or as deeon Falls before the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of deeon in that Philistine uh uh Philistine environment you need to look to the Lord Jesus Christ who is alone able to give peace the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is able to give forgiveness of sins the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is able to give a righteousness that avails with God because you see that's our problem God's holy and we're not all we like sheep have gone astray there is none righteous no not one there is no fear of God before our eyes if you understand that reality that God's holy and we're not it ought to cause you to look for the Lord Jesus Christ the one in whom there is forgiveness the one in whom there is a righteousness the one who takes care of our sin problem before this thce holy God the pagan gods are the Heathen gods are the manufactured Idols of our age and it's Bell and neibo here substitute whatever you want today could be money could be sex could be drugs could be rock and roll could be any number of things that men substitute in the place of God that which you're looking for stability and security that which you're looking for peace or some sort of Remedy or some sort of piecing back together your life all that stuff is empty all that stuff is is is is carnal all that stuff is going to be burned up with the fire it's the Peace of of Jesus Christ the son that surpasses all understanding and the beautiful thing about that is is that he's available because he departed because he goes to the father who's greater than him because he now sits en throned at the right hand of his father where he ever lives to make intercession for his people and where he ever lives to receive needy Sinners so when you look to him in faith he doesn't cash you out he doesn't say no he rather receives he's able to save to the uttermost Paul says all that come to God through him what more encouragement do you need today to deal with your sin issue than that Jesus lived he died and he was raised again so that everyone who looks to him in faith will have everlasting life that is the good news that our Bible sets forth so back to the text you see the futility of the idol in verses 5 to 7 and then you see the glory of the living and true God in verses 8 to 11 and it's seen through the demonstration of his power it's seen through the demonstration of his knowledge it's seen through the demonstration of his glory and His Majesty he's not like Bell and Neo that falls off the cart and needs to be propped back up he's not like whatever God you have that that you have to pick up and and dust off and help along the way he's the living and true God by him all things were made he governed governs all his creatures and all their actions he is the most high there is none who can stay his hand or say what doest thou and this is precisely what he says notice the contrast in verse 8 remember this and show yourselves men recall to mind oh you transgressors remember the former things of old for I am God and there is no other I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure see what predicted prophecy does in terms of substantiating or rather confirming or authenticating the living and the true God he says when I bring these things to pass there's no other conclusion that can be made now I know that Sinners will try to find other conclusions Sinners will say well we just haven't figured out a way to you know explain it yet we haven't figured out a way to sort of put it into our naturalistic R uh uh sort of structure but the bottom line is is that man at his very core knows that God is what's the problem he suppresses that truth and unrighteousness may I exhort you today stop suppressing truth in unrighteousness and look to this glorious God who works out his purposes for his glory so notice in verse 11 in terms of a practical application of what he says in verse 10 so verse 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure verse 11 calling a bird of prey from the East the man who executes my counsel from a far country indeed I have spoken it I will also bring it to pass I have purposed it I will also do it that man was Cyrus King of Persia remember at the time that these uh persons are being written to or preached to or just about the time they're going into captivity they're going to be in Exile they're going to be in Babylon for their sin and breach of the Covenant that God has established with them well what's going to vindicate them what's going to end that oppression it's going to be the Persians under Cyrus the Messiah of God most high as he's called elsewhere that's going to break the back of Babylonian Rule and it's through that Venture that God brings the Exiles out of Judah out of Babylon and puts them back in Judah so that in the fullness of the time God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law so predictive prophecy functions to demonstrate the glory of our blessed God and back to our text he specifies the purpose he says that when it does come to pass you may believe and I think the belief here hinges in two directions one believe that he is Jesus Christ the lord and savior for sinners that is a recurring emphasis in John's gospel that you may believe and that believing you may have life in his name that's where the gospel is heading it's where it starts in John 1:12 as many has received him those who believed on him those are the ones who are given the right to become sons of God and so the object of Faith relative to our Salvation is Jesus Christ the lord if you do not believe on Jesus you don't have everlasting life in fact look at 146 where he says this unequivocally where it's so obviously clear Jesus said to him I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me there is an exclusivity about the Christian faith we're not narrowed bigoted sort of uh prejudicial people because that's what wins arguments we understand the exclusivity of the cross and as a result we preach the cross we understand that without Jesus Sinners perish and they end up in hell but with Jesus Sinners are saved and enter into heaven so it's not bigotry but rather it is Fidelity to the text of scripture and to the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ so when he says that the role of predictive prophecy in verse 29 now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe that Christ is the object of saving Faith but I would suggest secondly that Christ is the second person of the Glorious Trinity remember he is bringing that lesson home to Bear upon them in Spades believe that I am in the father and the father in me peric Caris the mutual indwelling of the persons of the Trinity by virtue of the same essence the unity of the divine nature argues that the father is in the Son and the son is in the father and the spirit in the father and the son and the father and the son in the spirit there is this Mutual indwelling of persons and Jesus wants us to believe that he wants us to confess the god of absolute Glory Father Son and Holy Spirit in this Divine and infinite being there are three subsisten the Father the word or son and the Holy Spirit of one substance power and Eternity each having the whole Divine Essence yet the essence undivided we confess the unity of the divine nature and the tri Unity of the Glorious persons so when Jesus says that you may believe so that you may understand who God is when he gets to John 17 and the high Priestly prayer and in verse three he says this is eternal life that they may Know Thee the only true God uh and Jesus Christ whom thou Hast sent he wants us to understand who he is do you think the Lord is telling us that when it comes to sound theology often times there's more practical import there than we often think see we think practical sermons ought to end with a list of five things that you should go do Brethren if I never heard a sermon the rest of my life with five things I should do I I would be happy that's not the goal of our instruction there are instances and Seasons I'm going to be called on yeah yeah okay there's five things you probably should do let's just get that out of the way the main thing you ought to do is to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ what stabilizes you when things are hard these Five Points these five tips no they typically make you far worse because you're not really doing those things anyway what what helps you to keep your focus up when everything down here seems to be a mess is it the five tips or is the glory of the Triune God this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God in Jesus Christ whom thou has sent Brethren never underestimate the role of theology in settling the the soul never underestimate the role of theology in the midst of a hardship or a trial or an Affliction what's job do when everything is stripped away from him well I better go learn my five hints he worships God he confesses that I came into this world naked I'm going to return from this world naked blessed be the name of God Brethren there needs to be a blessed be the name of God in each of our hearts that's what stabilizes the downcast saint that's what keeps us on track when everything else is off track perhaps you're like me or on Twitter and you're following our our Prime minister at the G7 conference and you're starting to do the math and you're thinking there's no way anybody could ever for you know pay this back he's giving money to every other country out there well what is it that brings stability the five tips or the fact that God is on the throne and this man is Tethered what was it that brought Comfort to the Saints of old when they were under an Ahab or brought Comfort to the Saints of old when they were under a a jezebel the mother of the year what was it was it the five tips or was it that God most high Reigns Brethren when you turn to the Book of Revelation that seems to be the recurring theme see we took the we take the Book of Revelation we think it's all gloom and doom and some in the history of the church have turned it into that that's a pathetic way to read the book of Revelation you know what the Book of Revelation is about the Lord God omnipotent Reigns that's what it's about if I had to summarize it the focuses upon the crown of our Lord Jesus Christ the ruler over the kings of the Earth the one in whom is all glory and power and majesty and Excellence it is good theology that lifts the heart it is good theology that stabilizes The Battered Soul it is good theology that we need to pass on to our children and to our grandchildren it's good theology that our young men ought to be studying when it comes to being equipped for gospel ministry again they can learn Lear culture they can learn monetary units they can learn all those things elsewhere well best time is when they're there they need to learn that in this Divine and infinite being there are three subsisten and he is most high most glorious most wondrous and most worthy to be praised when Jesus comes to encourage his disciples for the Greater Works he does so by revealing unto them Father Son and Holy Spirit notice then the expectation of Triumph he's mentioned his departure he's not going to just leave it out there I'm going to go and I'm going to go to my father I'm going to return to my father well that in and of itself is caused for rejoicing if you're his disciples because the father is greater than him but we might be inclined to say well you know what about us maybe not you I'm the only selfish one here I think but what what about me what do I benefit what what do I get out of this whole situation of of death and burial and a return to the father again Jesus spoken to this all around throughout the entirety of the Gospel here in the upper room as well but I think this is how verses 30 and 31 function when he speaks of his departure he speaks of the effects that that departure imparts or the fruit or the benefit or The Virtue so notice in terms of the expectation of Triumph he speaks of two things first vict over the devil in verse 30 and then the demonstration to the world in verse 31 note first the victory over the Devil he's bringing the the discourse to a conclusion so in verse 30 I will no longer talk much with you that doesn't mean we don't have a 15 and a 16 but he is winding down the public Ministry the hour of his departure is at hand he's going to be arrested chapter 18 he's going to be delivered over to pilate and he's going to be crucified the time is short and so Jesus again is preparing them with those specific things that they need desperately to hear so verse 30 I will no longer talk much with you and then he says for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me now the ruler of this world has already been identified you can turn back to chapter 12 specifically at verse 27 chapter 12:27 now my soul is troubled and what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this purpose I came to this hour father glorify your name then a voice Came From Heaven saying I both glorified it and will glorify it again therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered others said an angel has spoken to him Jesus answered and said this voice did not come because of me but for your sake now is the Judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out and I if I am lifted up from the earth will draw All Peoples to myself and then turn to chapter 16 chapter 16 specifically in verse 8 and when he has come he's speaking of the spirit he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of Judgment of sin because they do not believe in me of righteousness because I go to my father and you see me no more of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged he's talking about the devil John who wrote John's gospel also wrote the Book of Revelation we see more information about this devil in Revelation 12 it's the devil that gives power to the beast from the sea and the Beast from the land that you see there in Chapter 13 other words the Civil power and the religious power that is demonic it's fueled by the devil giving again emphasis to that Ephesians 6 Motif we don't wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities uh principalities and Powers so here Jesus announces the coming of the devil in terms of the their battle at the cross I will no longer talk much with you for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me what I think that simply means is best expressed by the Geneva Bible Satan will bu and bu set upon me with all the mighty can but he has no power over me so Jesus here says that he's coming the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me now I don't want to you know be the you know crass or or slight here but you mean he doesn't spend a chapter in outlining how he's going to Vanquish the effects of the devil no he just says he has nothing in me do do you know in the Book of James and Peter James and Peter miss the boat in terms of the modern day prophets modern day prophets will teach teach you how to deal with the devil you just have to buy their DVD series or when I was younger their cassette tape series most of the kids here what's a cassette tape well some of us even knew what an eight track was wow yeah that was right after the stone and chisel these modern prophets will teach you they'll give you five tips 10 tips 20 tips however many DVDs you're willing to buy on how to deal with the devil you know what James and Peter says resist him and he will flee from you not going to sell a lot of tickets to that conference not going to be a lot of DVDs produced for that message but but that's it resist him and he will flee from you Jesus simply mentions that the ruler of this world is coming but he has nothing in me there's no power over me he has no way to upgrade me he has nothing by which he can Sidetrack me from the mission that was given to me by the father namely to come and save my people from their sins he just says it so matter of factly and continues to teach the disciples again trinitarian theology boy wouldn't it be nice to know that if you go into a demonic culture you know seven strategies on how to deal with demons no it's better to know that in this Divine and infinite being there are three subsisten the Father the word or Son and the Holy Spirit it's better to know your God it's better to know your truth it's better to know your lord and savior then spend all kinds of hours studying the devil again there's some sense where you got to know your enemy but when James and Peter tell us to deal with the Enemy we just simply need to know resist him and he will flee from you so Jesus Jesus very matter of factly and very earnestly says I'm going to dispense with the devil for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me now Brethren by way of a practical application if I were to ask you what are your biggest fears death yeah I mean I suspect some of us aren't afraid to die we just don't want to be there when it happens you know the old bullet in the head The Sword and the I don't know if it's going to be bullets and heads probably some bad somewhere where the life just oozes out of us we don't want the pain associated with it but we're saved so at least in principle we're not afraid to die but if you ask people generally there's there's a fear right I don't want to die I don't want to get hit by a car if all things being equal I'd rather not um uh sin yeah you should have healthy fear of what goes on in your heart should have a healthy fear to resist your own uh inclinations and proclivities and temptations but the devil Brethren greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world Christians that are obsessed with the devil or get dangerously close to being obsessed with the devil we need to follow our blessed savior he doesn't do that the ruler of this world is coming but he has nothing in me well I'm in Jesus Now by virtue of God's glorious Grace so that must mean that I'm okay relative to the devil now he does roam about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour I I get all that Brethren but you're not supposed to live your life Paralyzed by the fear of the devil you're supposed to understand that greater is he that is in you than than he that is in the world so Jesus says that he's going to have victory over the ruler of this world but then notice he says there's going to be this demonstration to the world something of Jesus love for his father notice in verse 31 but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandments so I do arise let us go from here interesting he sees that in the cross that cross which communicates The Father's Love To The World John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so the cross proclaims to the world that the father loves the world but the cross also proclaims to the world that the son loves the father in other words the one sent by the father who always does what pleases the father does this from The Reflex of love to the father it's not a grudging obedience it's not a you know knuckling and under it is rather when he goes to that cross he loves God and we ought to be thankful that he loves us look at John 131 the very context of the Upper Room John 1331 now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart from his this world to the father having loved his own who were in the world he loved them to the end so he has this love for us but in the cross there is displayed this love for the father but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandments so I do and we might ask the question does the world look at the cross and hear the communication of the son's love to the father well one way through that is John Gil he says the world of the elect the world of the elect those who are by God's grace saved those who by God's grace believe on the Lord Jesus Christ when we look at the cross we hear communicated to us God's love for the world when we look at the cross we see communicated as well Jesus love for his father but it could also envisage the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ see right now if you went out on the streets of chillak and you ask the unconverted do you think that the cross demonstrates the love of Jesus to the father they're going to probably look at you like what huh we're getting a sort of a postchristian age in in Western excuse me in the western world where these Concepts they're they're not sort of as uh in volley as they used to be but when that second coming happens the Apostle tells us on that day that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and of those on Earth and of those under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father in other words on that day of judgment the entirety of the moral Universe whether for their Glory or their shame are going to acknowledge the great reality that Christ came into this world Sinners to save that he is now by virtue of that finished work Lord King Messiah uh blessed one he he is all those things but this demonstrates it and so on that day there will be that recognition that what he did was out of love to his father but before we end this chapter we should notice something what Jesus does here sort of reinforces what he's done previous l in our chapter he declares his obedience to the father verse 31 but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment so I do again a recurring emphasis in John's gospel I always do the will of him who sent me remember when he tells the disciples my meat is to do the will of him who sent me why does he say that because it was his meat to do the will of the father who sent him having assumed our Humanity being the mediator of the New Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ goes about this willingly he goes about this with resolution he goes about this with determination he obeys the father it's by virtue of his obedience to the father that you and I receive that righteousness when we believe on him our sins are forgiven and we receive his righteousness it's imputed to us and received by faith alone but notice how this works in the context the son obeys the father and as a result and so doing this he he is doing it out of love go back to Chapter 14 verse 15 if you love me keep my commandment verse 21 he who has my Commandments and keeps them it is he who loves me and he who loves me Will Be Loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him verse 23 if anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with that what's Jesus saying that it's his relation to the father according to his Humanity wherein he lovingly obeys the father that sets the pattern or the example for the disciple we lovingly obey the master so what do we do in light of that we we we honor him we go out and seek by grace to do his will we we love him because he saved us we loved uh love him because he justified us freely by his grace so loving obedience is not the reason for our justification it's rather the result it's the consequence it's the effect of what God has done in saving us from our sin so Jesus lovingly submits to his father and yet at times we as God's people aren't lovingly submitting to his Rule and his yoke and his authority over us we need to follow the master even in this particular way and then that last sentence is tough arise let us go from here I think there's one or three ways you can understand this bad editing which is not the way you should understand it bad editing that you know this directional note was put here in the mouth of Jesus at a place where obviously the discourse had not ended you could understand it as practically you ever been with close close friends or family you get up you go get your coat you put your shoes on and then you stand at the door and talk for another 10 or 20 minutes that happens doesn't it people are nodding that means you actually have real friends all the rest of you too bad it it happens they could have relocated the fact that he starts the vineyard discourse in the first part of chapter 15 May indicate travel now past a Vineyard where their ultimate Destin destination is going to be Gethsemane in chapter 18 I I don't know I know it's not bad editing could be the hey let's get our coats and stand here on the porch for another 15 minutes and talk or I don't think there's anything keeping us from saying that yeah they left and on the way they saw the vineyard and Jesus talked them about the vine and then they ended up at their final destination which would be Gethsemane where Jesus would ultimately be handed over to the Lawless and crucified so that last statement there I don't think it's Faith shaking in terms of which option you pick certainly it is not bad editing I want to just F finish this section this chapter with three emphases first the provision of Christ let's not leave that UND with again he gives us the spirit he gives us the pericle the comforter the helper it's so beautiful that the holy spirit is called by that term comforter what do you often need in your life I just need good lessons yeah I need to be taught yeah he does that I need to be reminded yeah don't you just need a hug I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit just gives you a hug I'm not getting weird on you but comfort kindness presence how is it that Jesus can promise in chapter 14 at Verse 18 I I will come to you I'm not going to leave you as orphans he does that by the spirit Spirit dwells in our hearts the spirit is our our companion the spirit abides with us forever remember in verse 17 the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you verse 16 he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever we don't get the spirit a little bit today and then he takes them away we get the spirit we get the comforter we get the paraclet we get the one who is an advocate with us we get help from on high Brethren that's not always easy to see is it that's not always something tangible it's not like the spirit sitting on the edge of your bed where you can reach out and grab by the shoulder and say I'm so glad that you're here the fact that the spirit is present Among Us the fact that the spirit's power is operative in us doesn't defang this world of the afflictions and the trials and the hardships and the difficulties we Face we walk by faith not by sight trusting that the Christ who promises to be with us is with us by the presence and the power of His holy spirit but as well that peace that Jesus leaves to us that peace that Jesus gives not like the world gives not just some temporal fleeting temporary thing but rather it is lasting it is objective it is concrete it buoys the soul through the midst of all the heartaches and all the afflictions and difficulties that this world has I would suggest that Christ himself in our understanding of who he is is probably one of the best means of Peace listen to Owen he says by beholding the glory of Christ by faith we shall find rest to our souls our minds are apt to be filled with troubles fears cares dangers distresses ungoverned passion and lusts by these our thoughts are filled with chaos darkness and confusion is Owen describing anybody here is Owen Owen speaking anybody's language here I think he is I I I think that this is precisely where many of us find ourselves on not just once in a while but kind of in a regular way he says but where the soul is fixed on the glory of Christ then the Mind finds rest and peace for to be spiritually minded is peace the Christ who gives peace is himself our peace he gives himself to us Verse 18 the spirit communicates that to our souls to help us along the narrow way and then I want to look finally at the power of Christ his victory over the devil you see it here in John's gospel you see it in several other places says we'll just quickly rush through these or run through these turn to the book of Acts acts chap 26 one of the very purposes for which Jesus came in terms of the Gospel in terms of what was going to be accomplished the Apostle sets forth to us before agria notice in 26 18 well verse 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I now send you to open their eyes in order to turn them from s Darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are Sanctified by Faith in Me In Christ there is Deliverance in Christ there is freedom look at Colossians 1 Colossians chapter 1 the Apostle uses I think the similarities between the children of Israel and the old Covenant in Egypt and bondage there and he shines the light this way notice in Colossians 1:13 he has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love in whom we have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of of sins so there was this power of Darkness over our minds and hearts we were subject to the prince of the power who works in the air and yet by God's grace we've been transferred by God's grace we've been translated by God's grace we've been conferred into the kingdom of the son of his love notice in 2:15 having disarmed principalities and Powers he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it Hebrews chapter 2 Hebrews chapter 2 specifically at verse 14 in is much then as the children have partaken of Flesh and Blood he himself likewise shared in the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the devil there's power in the Lord Jesus to deliver one from the devil to deliver one from their own sins to deliver them into the kingdom of the son of God's love look at first John chapter 3 1 John chapter 3 again the emphasis upon the power of Jesus relative to the devil 1 John 3:8 he who sins is of the devil for the Devil is Sin from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and then in Revelation 12 1-17 it tells us in a four-fold sense that the devil is a loser he loses to Jesus and the Incarnation he loses to Jesus the exaltation he loses to Jesus with reference to the church in the first century and he loses to Jesus with reference to the church and the subsequent centuries that's what Revelation 12 is all about not some gloomy for boing oh depressing book if the people of God read the book of Revelation more Pro profitably with a better hermeneutic and they sang sang the Psalms of David there's probably not a lot that would get us down there's probably not a lot that would cause us to to be all mopy and sad we have Christ at the right hand of the father where he ever lives to make intercession for us where he has promised to build his church and the Gates of Hell itself shall not Prevail against it so the victory over the devil the demonstration to the world the glory of the father the glory of the son the salvation of Sinners see when we read this Upper Room discourse the Lord Jesus is encouraging his disciples to look God word to be faithful in the Greater Works and to understand the power of the Gospel that you wield the spirit is with you go therefore Make Disciples of all the nations baptize them and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you and Jesus promises lo I Am With You Always even to the end of the age well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for our blessed savior we thank you for his victory for his Triumph for his glory for His Majesty we thank you as well for so great a Salvation we know we're not heavenbound because of our good works or our lawke keeping or our Merit we are Heaven bound because of God's grace because you chose us in him before the foundation of the world that in him we have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace that because of him we have a a a a righteousness and because of him we have forgiveness we rejoice in these many benefits and we pray that this would encourage us that you would build us up in our Most Holy Faith and help us God to glorify you and we pray through Jesus Christ the Lord amen well please take your hym books and turn to 564 As we sing a portion of Psalm 72 in terms of doxology and praise to our God so 56 four we'll stand as we sing [Music] together is all you GL bless glor to all his GL glor the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace go with us now most high and bless and strengthen us help us to call this day a delight and we pray in jesus' name amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation e e e [Music] e for