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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 e e e e e e e e e e good morning everyone welcome to Free Grace Baptist church this morning I see there are a few visitors out there special warm welcome to you warm welcome to John and Molina I didn't I wasn't here last Sunday I know you've been here already but welcome back from the Honduras and then Jeff and Lizzy Gilmore welcome for those of you that haven't attended our church for more than a decade you may not know Jeff but he's from way back when I think you started coming well before it was free Grace Baptist Church when we were still the the Reformed Baptist Fellowship of chilak before Constitution must have been in 1995 somewhere something like that so A good many many years ago yeah a good many years ago and we were still meeting on uh Riverside before we had this building and before Pastor Butler became our pastor so welcome back it looks like uh married life and fatherhood's treating you well you haven't changed a bit blessings we are going to uh cover a few announcements briefly before we get to worship ship uh this evening is the Lord's Supper so our Ser service is at 5:00 p.m. come prepared for the Lord's Supper um after church this morning there's going to be a fellowship meal Just For Youth and Young adults so unfortunately I'm batching but I don't qualify uh but those of you that do there's going to be a fellowship meal today for the young adults and youth uh Julian van doop has applied for membership so that will be we'll be bringing him into the membership shortly down the road so if you don't know Julian get to know him and and and talk to him in the next few weeks uh I think other than that that will be it for announcements we're going to turn to our Bibles now for our call to worship to Psalm 89 Psalm 89 we'll read the first 10 verses for our call to worship a contemplation of Ethan the ezrahite I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations for I have said Mercy shall be built up forever your faithfulness you shall establish in the very heavens I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworn to my servant David your seed I will establish forever and build up your throne to all Generations say la and the heavens will praise your wonders O Lord your faithfulness also in the Assembly of the Saints for who in the heavens can be can be compared to the Lord who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and to be held in reverence by all those around him oh Lord God of hosts who is mighty Like You O Lord your faithfulness also surround s you you rule the Raging of the sea when its waves rise you steal them you have broken Rahab in pieces as one who is slain you have scattered your enemies with your Mighty arm amen we're going to start by singing from the sulter 104a psalm 104a and we're just singing the last four stanzas so 8 to1 of 10 4 a as an alpha please stand with me are your wonders why see you Happ them all Earth is full of all your Creatures Great and Small here the SE and his there the sailing sh all your creatures to you waiting for the when you give your creat from your open when you hide your face their trouble like bless they to us go down when you send your spirit youate them and re the ground the glory of the Lord Our God and eternally may the Lord rej in all his mighty works and glorious he looks on his alling her to sh Fe he makes all the mountains TR smoken flames of I will praise the Lord my God all my life and all my my him for [Music] the let all s be let be no more bless the Lord my soul Oh Praise Him my soul and praise the Lord you may be seated let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious Heavenly Father it is with thankful and joyful hearts that we come here this morning as your people gathered in your house to worship your great and awesome name name and we pray that this would be a day of glad rejoicing amongst the people of God here I pray oh God that you would encourage and comfort our souls I pray that you would give us a vision of Heaven may this service today even be a taste a foretaste of Glory yet to come help us as we worship you to worship you in spirit and in truth with our whole Hearts knowing that you have redeemed us with the costly blood of your precious son Lord we pray for any here amongst us that have not yet yet tasted and seen that the Lord is good that have not yet bowed the knee to King Jesus we pray that this would be the day of salvation bless Pastor Butler as he comes to preach to us I pray you'd give him unction from on high give him Clarity of thought and speech to speak to us the whole counsel of God and not to hold anything back Lord we thank you again for this opportunity we pray you'd bless the fellowship afterwards that the young people the youth are having pray you bless and encourage them we thank you for father for the many children and many young families and young people in this church and we pray oh God that you would continue to uh work in the lives of our little ones our young ones and our youth that they might fear you that they they might come to love the truth and they might Embrace that truth and be be born again Lord we thank you even for the babes in the womb and for those little ones that are nursing Lord we pray that your blessing would rest upon every single soul in this place this day Lord we thank you for the other churches in the city of chilak where the gospel is being preached this morning and we pray that your blessing would rest upon them likewise bless the Ministers of the Gospel as they speak your word Lord and as they impart as the mouthpiece of Christ himself the the word of God to their congregations Lord we pray for our sister churches bless the congregation this morning there in sui bless Pastor uh Mike as he ministers the word to them bless the work up in the north Okanagan in Armstrong I pray God that you would encourage them bless pastor malar's and his congregation and the work out in Dron Ontario Lord we pray that you would continue to cause that church to be knit together and to grow in Grace and maturity and bring more people among them we pray Lord we pray that across this land of Canada there would be many many more churches raised up and the gospel would continue to be preached and we pray that the Church of Jesus Christ would be Salt and Light a force to preserve this culture that is deteriorating so rapidly be merciful to us I pray oh God and I pray for our sister churches around the world specifically those who are being persecuted actively for the name of Christ and for their testimony we pray oh God you'd be gracious to your people especially to those that are currently in prison for the name of Christ be merciful to them this day on your Lord's day and that may they be encouraged even when they are in solitary confinement be gracious to your people I pray Lord we thank you for the work that you are doing all across this Earth we thank you Lord for the work there in Kenya bless pastor ogalo and his fellow uh servants there in in Elder we pray oh God that you would encourage that congregation and cause them to be a light throughout that nation of Kenya and throughout Africa Lord we pray again that you would continue with us this day as we worship you cleanse our hearts oh God make our worship fitting in your sight we pray in Jesus name amen amen for our next hymn we'll turn to number 153 in the Himel 153 and stand with me as we sing O day of rest and gladness [Music] joy and and sful high andly through ages join sing Holy Holy Holy to the great go Tri the creation the is for our salv Christ from Death of all Lord Victorious the spirit from glorious to Nation heav man of toly Sil where go is with and with s refreshing gra is ever from this our of we re rest to Spirit of the BL to Holy Ghost he praises to to father and to son the [Music] church prises to [Music] the you may be seated for our morning scripture reading today we're in Matthew chapter 26 we will we will be finishing the chapter today starting from where we left off verse 57 Matthew 26 verse 57 to the end of the chapter and those who had laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled but Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest's Courtyard and he went in and sat with the servants to see the end now the Chief priests the elders and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death but found none even though many false Witnesses came forward they found none but at last two false Witnesses came forward and said this fellow said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days and the high priest arose and said to him do you answer nothing what is it these men testify against you but Jesus kept silent and the high priest answered and said to him I put you under oath by the Living God tell us if you are the Christ the son of God Jesus said to him it is as you said nevertheless I say to you Hereafter you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven then the high priest tore his clothes saying he has spoken blasphemy what further need do we have of Witnesses look now you have heard his blasphemy what do you think they answered and said he is deserving of death then they spat in his face and beat him and others struck him with the palms of their hands saying prophesy to us Christ who is the one who struck you now Peter sat outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him saying you also were with Jesus of Galilee but he denied it before them all saying I do not know what you are saying and when he had gone out to the Gateway another girl saw him and said to those who were there this fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth but again he denied with an oath I do not know the man and a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter surely you also are one of them for your speech betrays you then he began to curse and swear saying I do not know the man immediately a rooster crowed and Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him before the rooster crows you will deny me three times so he went out and wept bitterly let's pray gracious Father in heaven we tremble as we read these words to see and to hear what happened to the very Son of God how he was beaten spat upon mocked and cursed and how he was abandoned by his own and Lord we think how could this happen and yet we know had we been there we would have been just like Peter just like the other disciples we too would have abandoned Christ because he had to go alone without any help and fulfill the assignment given him to redeem his people from their sins and to take upon himself the curse that was do for us thank you for what he did on our behalf amen for our final hymn we're going to sing Psalm 99a as in Alpha Psalm 99a and please stand again as we sing for r on high and all [Music] the all I for all the world and oh gra is great and all the [Music] holy might his [Music] forceing all the Lord our God and worship him his God the [Music] holy fores his and also [Music] his name may call the Lord we his and his word oh Lord our s God you answer oh God you were foring exal the Lord Our God before his mountain and worship God for he is for the Holy One well you can turn with me in your Bibles to John's gospel as we work our way through the fourth gospel we are in John 14 while you're turning there I'll just say that after the service I usually Pray when we have a fellowship meal I will just close the service and then all the young people can go upstairs we've asked uh Benjamin Hall to ask God's blessing upon the food so when the service is conducted the young people can head upstairs well John 14 our Focus this morning will be on the latter part of the chapter but I do want to read beginning in verse 15 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 not love me does not keep my words and the word which you hear is not mine but the father's 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 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 love 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 amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for this wonderful day we know that the Lord's day has been set apart by you for corporate worship for edification for fellowship and we just praise you for these good gifts we ask that you would uh be glorified now as we consider Holy Scripture that as we'd focus on father son and spirit we would be edified and strengthened and built up in our Most Holy Faith and God do forgive us for all sin and transgression and unrighteousness you call us to live in a manner that is worthy of our go of our calling in the gospel yet we find that remaining corruption we find that that that that good we wish to do we don't do and the evil that we don't want to do we find ourselves doing we invoke the blessing the the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ thanking you that he is the advocate with the father and that he is enthroned at the right hand for Sinners Like Us and for any and all who have not come to the Lord that do not know the joy of forgiveness we pray that today would be the day of salvation that you'd open their eyes and hearts to see their own sin and to see Christ and all of his offices to save as a prophet a priest and a king and may you draw them effectually by the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit and may He indeed guide us now and bring BR to remembrance all things that our our blessed savior has spoken and we pray in jesus' name amen well as we have seen on numerous occasions as we work our way through the upper room discourse that our lord Jesus as he is encouraging and fitting fitting his disciples for the task at hand is reminding them of their great God in fact what he is speaking a lot concerning is the nature of the Triune God and this particular section is no exception and so as we uh come to the conclusion of chapter 14 I think there's two particular points that we need to consider first the gifts given by Christ in verses 25 to 27 and then secondly the departure of Christ in verses 28-31 his departure being that he's speaking about it and what will occur when he does depart from them but by virtue of the fact that we have tried to slow down a bit to shine some light upon father Son and Holy Spirit we'll just take up that first the gifts given by Christ in verses 25- 27 and as we consider this there's two things specifically first the present encouragement in verse 25 and then secondly the future provision in verses 26 and 27 notice specifically the present encouragement in verse 25 these things I have spoken to you the things concerning God the things concerning the Father the Son the Holy Spirit the things things that we have surveyed up until this particular Point things like chapter 14: 10 and 11 Jesus says do you not believe that I am in the father and the father in me verse 11 believe me that I am in the father and the father in me remember we're in Christ by way of uh Grace and adoption Jesus is in the father and the father is in Jesus by way of mutual indwelling or that that term peric Caris so Jesus relates to the father is not altogether like ours he is by virtue of nature unified with the father in the way that we are not and so he conveys that and as well he introduces the Holy Spirit as I mentioned when we looked at chapter 14: 16 the spirit has been mentioned in John's uh gospel up until this point but we see as it were more exposure more Revelation more of a light shining upon him in his history and so as the world is collapsing around or about to collapse around these disciples Jesus teaches them concerning the Triune God so when we look at his statement here in verse 25 these things I have spoken to you while being present with you the emphasis is upon his Earthly Ministry we know from John 1 verse one in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God and then 114 the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld it is Glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth so during that Earthly Ministry Jesus taught during that Earthly Ministry Jesus engaged in signs and wonders during that Earthly Ministry Jesus engaged in in a whole host of ministry and so he has said to them while I am with you I have spoken these things to you and then based on what he's about to say he speaking of the future in terms of the provision for the people of God he promises to come to his people in verse 18 I will not leave you orphans I will come to you the Lord fulfills that Promise by the sending of the Holy Spirit according to verse 26 the Lord fulfills that Promise by leaving and giving his Peace So presently in the upper room Jesus speaks these things to them to fit them to encourage them to ready them remember they're going to go from this place after the Ascension of Christ and they are going to go into the then Known World preaching the go gopel of the Lord Jesus and they're going to face all kinds of opposition and persecution and hardship and woe they're going to face it later from the Roman Empire but initially it's going to be the unbelieving Jews those who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah those who had resisted the glory of God as revealed in the face and in the person of our Blessed Redeemer they would oppose the church they would oppose the apostles they would imprison them they would beat them they would ultimately execute them so when we look look at this Upper Room discourse and we hear Jesus In this passage say don't let your hearts be troubled neither Let It Be Afraid Jesus understands The Human Condition Jesus knows what he's asking of these men Jesus knows what these men are facing and so when Jesus comes to encourage them it is with Divine disclosure it is with a revelation more fully of who God is in himself and that Brethren is what we need to investigate now in terms of the future provision in verses 26 and 27 if you're taking notes there's two gifts that our blessed savior gives first the gift of the spirit in verse 26 and then secondly the gift of Peace in verse 27 let's look first at the gift of the spirit in verse 26 he promises this so verse 25 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 notice that the Lord Jesus is confident that the father is going to answer his prayer remember previously in the section that I read specifically at verse 16 and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever as man Jesus prayed as God he was prayed unto and here specifically he requests or invokes the help of the Holy Holy Spirit for the people of God in his absence so that they are not left as orphans so that he may indeed come to them so that he may indeed dwell with them or abide in them forever it is through the ministry of the holy spirit that we know The Nearness of God most high as our good and with reference to the spirit notice again in verse 26 but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name look back at verse uh 16 he will give you another helper he's called that in our verse in verse 26 and then he goes on to say in verse 17 the spirit of Truth Now the word helper often times we refer to him as the paraclete which is basically a transliteration of the Greek word because it's a bit of a difficult word to fully Encompass in one basic sentence uh a famous or popular dictionary of the Greek language uh uh defines parete this way one who appears in another's behalf mediator intercessor helper the language is applied to the Lord Jesus in 1 John Chapter 2 we have an advocate a pericet a helper with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous van mastri says that a paraclete is one who takes up the cause for another and indeed for his benefit so again look at what Jesus is saying to the Saints to the disciples to the apostles these things I have spoken to you while being present with you he's already announced his departure he's already already told them it would be bloody he's he already told them that he would be resurrected they know they understand that the time is short in terms of the hour has come but he says that that's not going to change the dynamic here that's not going to leave you as a as orphans it's not going to leave you untethered it's not going to leave you alone but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name and that causes us to reflect on what we call the procession of the spirit notice the father sends the spirit in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and this teaches us wonderful truths about our God again Brethren this isn't Jesus sort of haphazardly hoping the church figures it out this is Jesus intentionally as it were peeling back the veil and causing us to be able to peer inside and see something true of the Living God in other words when we see the temporal missions or the historical application of redemption when we see in the full of the time God sends forth his son born of a woman born under the law we learn something about the relation between the father and the son the father sends the son well in Galatians 4 we learn that the spirit is sent by the father as well so we call those temporal missions things that happen in time things that happen in history things that happen concretely we can see Jesus in the Incarnation we can see the spirit or the effect of the spirit in the day of Pentecost so those temporal missions that we see very vividly displayed in scripture again help us to to peek behind the the veil to see something true of God in himself in other words the temporal missions reveal something of what we call Eternal processions the father is unbegotten the son is begotten by the father and the spirit proceeds from the father and the son so these temporal missions provide for us a bit of a scope to to look behind and to see what is true of God as God doesn't exhaustively tell us doesn't teach us everything but the ad extra operation of God in creation shines the light to some degree on what we call AD intra the relation of God in himself and that's what Jesus is doing here that's what Jesus is highlighting here so notice the temporal Mission we see him say but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name look at 15:26 but when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father the spirit of Truth who proceeds from the father he will testify of me there's two movements in verse 26 and when we talk about movement with reference to the persons of the Trinity it's not local motion it's not like the father moves from one space to another or the the son moves from one space to another according to his Divine Essence or that the spirit moves from one place to another God is omnipresent God is IM this kind of language of movement is for us it's accommodation so that our puny brains can get get it wrapped around but notice in verse 26 when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the father this happens on the day of Pentecost according to acts 2:33 again for anybody who questions or doubts the spirit is present in the Old Testament when David is repentant of his sin he pens Psalm 71 he says take not thine Holy Spirit from me spirit of God is present in the Old Testament but in the New Testament New Covenant with the coming of the Lord Jesus and the coming of the third person the spirit of God we see more revelation we see more Glory we see more Majesty displayed and then notice the day of Pentecost but then he says the spirit is of Truth who proceeds from the father as Sanders points out that's the only place in the entirety of the New Testament where this particular verb is utilized proceeds now in and of itself that's not anything to write home about but when we're considering the Triune God and the fact that Jesus is who was it I don't know from the reading yesterday one of the old brothers said that that Jesus was the uh uh uh the greatest of theologians or something to that effect when the greatest of theologians uses a particular verb that isn't used anywhere else we should probably listen to what he has to say so you've got Pentecost but you also have Pentecost the temporal Mission revealing something uh uh something true in terms of God at intra father Son and Holy Spirit so when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the the Father the spirit of Truth who proceeds from the father he will testify of me look at 167 just to see more of this nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away the helper will not come to you but if I depart I will send him to you and then over in John 20 specifically at verse 22 well 21 so Jesus said to them again peace to you as the father has sent me I also send you and when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them if you retain the sins of any they are retained so when it comes to this encouragement that our lord Jesus gives to the disciples in the upper room as I said it is theological in nature it's not man centered go to the culture find out what makes them tick go to the culture find out what kinds of weird food they eat go to to the culture and figure out the the the exchange rate in ter of their in terms of their monetary system go to the culture and you know be hip just like the culture that's not how Jesus prepares his disciples to take the gospel into foreign cultures he prepares them with theology he prepares them with who God is he prepares them with the encouragement that this God will not leave them on their own when they Venture holy into these unknown regions to Proclaim Christ and him crucified to polytheistic regions that despise the thought of a one God as well to unbelieving Jews who despise the thought that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah they loathe that Brethren it's not a little intramural debate between our religion and their religion I think Christians have that in their well we just get on a few things they despise Jesus they reject Jesus they loath and abore Jesus the idea of Jesus is a offensive and so these disciples preaching Jesus are going to go to synagogues where they hate Jesus what do you think gets them there knowing the culture or knowing their God Brethren the church needs more not less more theology not less not more practical helps on how to be a better you the church ain't Joel oin brethren the the church is Jesus Christ and when we look at what we have in this upper room he is instructing the people of God the disciples that are going to go out in his name with the Theology of the Trinity it it is most excellent so the holy spirit is sent by the father through the son the Holy Spirit notice in 15:26 is sent by the father he says in my name notice as Gil says that is at his request through his mediation and intercession in his room instead acting the same part bearing the same name of an advocate or comforter and for the glory and honor of his name which act of sending does not suppose any local motion which cannot agree with an infinite and immense Spirit nor inferiority in him to the other two persons since he since he uh who is sent by Christ and in his name is also the sender of Christ but it denotes The Joint consent and agreement of the father son and spirit in this affair he will send him in my name look back at John 5 specifically at verse 43 and see the name in whom Jesus came John 5:43 I have come in my father's name and you do not receive me if another comes in his own name him you will receive again with the tri Unity of God in this Divine and infinite being there are three subsisten the Father the word Son and the Holy Spirit each having the whole Divine Essence yet the essence undivided what distinguishes the persons the father's unbegotten the son is begotten by the father and the spirit proceeds from the father and the son so the second London divines basically imitating the Westminster and the savoo who basically imitated Caledon and NAIA didn't just make these things up Wow Let's just confuse the people of God with this whole talk of Trinity no they're accurately expounding what we find in passages like John 14 concerning the relation between the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name this as I said this temporal Mission reflects something of the Eternal procession how would we describe the spirit he comes from the father through the son so he's from Sanders makes the point behind the sending of the spirit into salvation history stands the Eternal procession of the Holy Spirit within the life of God again Brethren as we've gone through this trying to go slow don't want to confuse anybody there's no tests or quizzes today you're not going to have to try to V for a star because you got all the answers right it's trying to introduce to you some stuff that the church has utilized to help navigate the doctrine of the Trinity so that we don't end up in some sort of contradiction or in some sort of a heresy or in some sort of a twisted mind because we can't comprehend it we can comprehend propositional revelation we can comprehend hand it with the help of the church that has gone before us that has provided to us unique strategies and tactics hermeneutical methods and principles such that we aren't confounded or that we aren't twisted or that we aren't confused or worse that we aren't Heretics being exiled from chilak off to some Island somewhere because we're the new judices not that that's going to happen but watch yourselves just kidding Sanders says behind the sending of the spirit into salvation history stands the Eternal procession of the Holy Spirit within the life of God in fact the Salvation historical firness depends on the Eternal internal fress and manifests it for us on the basis of the spirit sending we can recognize that even within the life of God the third person is eternally from the Father the fact that the father sends the spirit in temporal Mission reflects something of Eternal procession that the spirit proceeds from the father we would argue as well from the son but the specific emphasis here is that Jesus is conveying this blessed reality this is to basically say what the nying Creed captures I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of Life who proceeds from the father and the son who with the father and the son together is worshiped and glorified then it goes on to say by whom uh who spake by the prophets so we have the Holy Spirit speaking by the prophets in the old Covenant we have the Holy Spirit coming upon the Lord Jesus in terms of promise promise and prophecy in Isaiah 11 the full disclosure the Revelation comes in the temporal missions of the Son and the spirit the Incarnation in Pentecost opens the veil so that we can Behold our God in a way that we hadn't been able to prior to this it's blessed it's beautiful and this is what Jesus uses to encourage the people of God so notice the promise of the spirit in verse 26 the first part of the verse but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name now notice the purpose for the gift we we'll see that here I mean the the the section these three small verses or two verses are beautifully structurally similar I'm I'm going to give you a gift and there's a reason for the gift right when when you give your child or your spouse a gift there's not usually a reason okay I gave you this now get in there and clean your room I mean I guess that's probably latent in the heart at some level um well I just gave you this you should go do that but Jesus specifies that he's providing these two gifts for two particular functions in the ministry of the disciples so notice what he says concerning the provision of the gift of the Holy Spirit he will teach you all things and he will bring to your remembrance all things so let's just ponder that for just a moment I would suggest first of all the all things is biblical and Theological truth not chemistry and auto mechanics he says specifically that the spirit will teach you all things I believe it's all things that Jesus had taught the gospel of Christ the mission of Christ The Glory of Christ the power of Christ the Savior good of Christ notice as well the all things ultimately become crystal clear at Pentecost remember Pastor barcelos when he was here at the conference he made that observation on a few occasions prior to Pentecost the disciples got things wrong didn't they I'm not saying they were reprobate heretic Arch fiends of the the the devil and no no no no they got some things wrong l l Lord when are you going to restore your kingdom acts 1:6 prior to Pentecost there there was some melon scratchers for the uh for the uh disciples there there were times when on the heels of divine revelation given in a very powerful way Jesus then rebukes Peter and says Get Behind Me Satan but on the day of Pentecost what happens the Holy Spirit comes again not that he had never been on the scene but he comes in a full or more powerful measure in accordance with the prophet Joel to enable and empower the church for Missions to the end of the Earth of the earth and so when that Spirit comes what what does he do what do you think he's teaching these disciples again it's not auto mechanics not that auto mechanics are bad but they're being taught the truth as it is in Jesus such that when that Spirit takes up residence in them and they pen gospel narratives or when they write write Epistles to churches they do so infallibly and inherently not because they're infallible men or inherent men but because the Holy Spirit had been given to them to teach them these things and then notice to bring to remembrance all the things that I've spoken did John have a pen and paper in hand probably not do you have anybody in your life that always has a pen and paper in their hand no why cuz that's weird right it's weird wh why do you always have a pen and paper in your hand because I'm writing down everything I ever see those people don't exist how do you think John several years after the events is able to pen the fourth gospel because the helper the spirit of Truth whom I will send or the father will send in my name he will teach you the significance of gospel truth and he will bring to remembrance these things so that you're able to pen infallibly and inherently the authoritative abiding blessed word of God Almighty and when it comes to this passage again look at the second half he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you are we supposed to sort of dissect the Triune God and say well the only minut Ministry that the spirit has is to teach and to remind us wait a minute doesn't Jesus teach and remind us yes doesn't the father teach and remind us yes so why the focus upon the spirit here with reference to teaching and reminder well remember the strategies that I've at least tried to introduce to you that the church has developed or implemented to protect the the unity of the divine nature Inseparable operations everything outside of God is done by the one and one living and true God everything at extra creation Providence Redemption it's all ascribed to the one true and living God well what happened or what would happen if there were no Appropriations we would never think of trunity the Appropriations help us to appreciate and to understand and again see behind the veil as it were that this Divine and infinite being exists eternally as three persons father son and spirit so to say that the spirit will teach and remind us is not to suggest the father doesn't is not to suggest that the son doesn't it is rather to suggest that in this one Divine infinite being there are three persons and when Jesus appropriates teaching and reminding to the Holy Spirit it helps us to remember one true and living God who who exists eternally as Father Son and Holy Spirit see with the Christian God or the Christian doctrine of God you cannot be just okay by maintaining monotheism that's to put yourself with the Jew and the Muslim there is something uniquely distinct about Christianity and our doctrine of God he is one true and living but he exists eternally as Father Son and Holy Spirit and we're not to we're not supposed to think otherwise Augustus makes the observation on this particular passage he says the whole Trinity therefore both speaks and teaches but where it not also brought before us in its individual personality Visa the spirit will teach and remind it would certainly altogether surpass the power of human weakness to comprehend it for as it is altogether Inseparable in itself it could never be known as the Trinity were it always spoken of inseparably so in other words if all we ever focus is focus on is inseparable operations we never look at Appropriations we're going to have half of God if all we ever look at is appropriation and we never consider Inseparable operations guess what our problem is then tritheism or some other type of heresy that'll land Us in Hell say well that's pretty grave it'll land Us in Hell Brethren there's a difference between persons who haven't been taught and persons who have been taught and reject that right there's a difference between non-al and anti-al I would suggest that every church that is not reformed is probably non- creedal the nyine what the Caledonian who the London what they they just don't have those things but when taught the truth of those things under the power of the inspiration to see that they accurately expound scripture they should confess it they should amen it they should embrace it because if they don't it is a rejection of the true and living God and again as it Faithfully those documents Faithfully represent scripture so Augustine was a bit little bit difficult I read this the other night at Family devotions to my beloved wife that's when you know that you don't have little children anymore I don't suggest Augustine's lectures on John's gospel at least in the upper room discourse to your 5-year-olds cuz it's it's a bit of a melon scratcher but I think Gregory of nazianzen says says it in a bit more of a popular way it's kind of a way that that uh I think is more worshipful promoting not that Augustine isn't I think Augustine's absolutely bang on but listen to Gregory no sooner do I conceive of the one then I am illumined by the Splendor of the three no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the one when I think of any one of the three I think of him as the whole and my eyes are filled and the great part of what I am thinking escapes me I cannot grasp the greatness of that one so as to attribute a greater greatness to the rest when I contemplate the three together I see but one torch and cannot divide of measure out the Divi undivided light beautiful so when Jesus says here these things I have spoken to you while being present with you he is speaking this for their encouragement with the absolute realization that he's going to depart from them he's told them that he has announced that hours upon him he's going to make that crystal clear as we consider God willing next Sunday morning in verses 28-31 but these promises of the spirit and of peace is to help them is to be the balm of Gilead to their souls to prepare them for the work that is at hand so the gift of the spirit verse 26 notice the gift of Peace in verse 27 he makes a promise verse 27A and then gives the implication in verse 27b remember I said you you give a gift typically with no strings attached well here he's saying I'm giving you this gift and the string that's attached isn't go clean your room the string that is attached is don't let your heart be troubled neither Let It Be Afraid Matthew Henry said that when Christ left the world he made his will you do that right you got to get your Affairs in order even if your affairs aren't that multifaceted you don't want the government getting its greedy paws on any any scent so you better get your your Affairs in order so when Christ left the world he made his will his soul he bequeathed to his father and his body to Joseph his clothes fell to the soldiers his mother he left to the care of John but what should he leave to his poor disciples who had left all for him silver and gold had he none but he left them what was far better his peace notice in verse 27 peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you remember the context Brethren there's a General application for us Christ is our peace who has made peace through the blood of his cross the specific application is for this ragtag team of fellows that are sitting around him that are having to go out into the Roman Empire to preach the glory of Christ in a very hostile environment so what is it that they need how to figure out the culture no you need my peace this is his bequeathment this is what he gives so the Lord Jesus leaves his peace and gives his peace to them the Lord Jesus as well makes a contrast between his peace and the world's peace thinking about this when I was a Youngster that's old man language when I was a Youngster my piece as the world conveyed it was sex drugs and rock and roll really Pastor I grew up in Southern California in the 70s and the 80s what do you mean really Pastor in in your situation it may have been fundamentally different peace for you is industry hard work making a million bucks whatever it is whether it's good piece or bad piece in a general sense whatever the world offers ultimately comes up short what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul listen to Gil he makes a distinction between jesus' peace and the world's peace the peace Christ gives is true solid and substantial the peace the world the men and the things of it give is a false one the Peace of the world is at best an external one but the Peace of Christ is The Giver of is internal the peace the world world affords is very transient unstable and short-lived one but the Peace of Christ is lasting and durable the Peace of The World Won't support under the Troubles of it but the peace which Christ gives cheerfully carries his people through all the difficulties and exercises of this life I think that's a good way to get out that contrast not as the world gives it's temporary may feel good for a time but it's fleeting it's transient it's not lasting as well it's orchestrated for the external it feels good it feels right that's the the glut of our age is what is emotionally stimulating because that must be true or that must be right no that's not true and that's not right and when the world comes along and says this will provide you peace they usually do it when they're selling you something so always be mindful of that he gives not as the world gives and then if we parse this out a little bit more what is what does he what does he mean like what what kind of piece is he talking about I would suggest that the rest of the scripture as we reflect upon it provides for us grounds to say there's both an objective Concrete in place absolutely true peace and then subjective our appropriation of that peace objectively already at least alluded to Ephesians uh 24 to18 he himself is our peace why is he himself our peace because he reconciled us to himself through the blood of his cross that's objective what about Romans 5 well understanding Romans 5 you got to kind of back up to Romans 3 and 4 what's Paul do in Romans 3 and 4 well the middle part of Romans 3 he's summarizes his case that all the world is liable before God for their sin their Rebellion their wretchedness they deserve the wrath of God that is targeted against them 3:21 he then changes gear to say but now the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith being witnessed by the law and the prophets this isn't some new thing the spirit who spake by the prophets spake concerning justification by faith we see it in David we see it in Abraham we certainly see it in any new covenant Israelite so when Paul declares justification by faith in chapters 3 and four how does he start 51 therefore he says having been justified by by faith we have peace with God objective Rock Solid intransient never ever going away how do you think Paul can say what he says in Romans 81 there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus do you ever reflect on that do you ever ponder that that that is now our transition into the subjective peace objectively what God has wrought in the gospel of our blessed savior Life Death Resurrection justification which involves forgiveness and righteousness what God has done is objectively true it's most excellent it's most glorious it's most wonderful but again subjectively do we appropriate those things do we think through those things do we consider soteriology soteriology is the doctrine of salvation when we Ponder soy we are considering what we have in the gospel we have have forgiveness we have a righteousness we will be glorified but we also ought to ponder theology who we have in the gospel Father Son and Holy Spirit see the objective is concrete it's done God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life it's a done deal subjectively though we struggle subjectively we don't use means subjectively we don't Ponder soteriology I'm not lecturing I'm not scolding I'm simply suggesting that this is often times one of the problems in terms of a lack of assurance or in terms of any subjective comfort in the objective truth of what Christ is accomplished brethren we need to think through these things we need to be glad when they said unto us let us go to the house of the Lord we need to be glad to turn to The Upper Room discourse we need to be glad to study the benefits of our Redemption and the The Giver of those benefits so the Lord Jesus promises that peace it's both objective and subjective and then notice not the string attached that sounds pretty cheesy but the string attached it's a good one notice in verse 27 peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you and here it is let not your heart be troubled neither Let It Be Afraid oh that God of the Bible he's a harsh Taskmaster really H he doesn't want my me to be troubled and he doesn't want me to be afraid how is that I I think a harsh Taskmaster would want me to be troubled I think a harsh Taskmaster would want me to be afraid I think a harsh Taskmaster would crack the whip so that those things always obtained in my life notice what Jesus does I'm I'm conveying this peace upon you because I want you to be stable you're not going to go wander in to the to the devil's gates in a synagogue of the Jews and then ultimately end up in an in an Amphitheater in Ephesus in Acts chapter 19 and not have at least the possibility of a bit of Soul trouble and a bit of fear think about it Brethren again he's encouraging and setting them up for this there's a similar exhortation in 141 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me see for Jesus trinitarian theology is intensely practical what we know of God ought to stabilize Us in terms of our exploits for God he recognizes the inclin inclination toward heart trouble don't let your heart be troubled what is he saying how dare you ever let your heart be no he's saying I know that you are but dust I know your frame I know you by Nature I know you by sin and I know the City and I know the propensity and I know the tendency in your heart is to be one of fear or or of trouble so so don't let your heart be troubled well how can I not be troubled cuz I've given you my my peace that's how but then notice what he goes on to say neither Let It Be Afraid why do you think he mentions that what's fear going to do with reference to the mission it's going to sideline it right if these are Nancy boys and they're filled with cowardice and they don't want to meet the unbelieving Jews in a synagogue they don't want to meet the unbelieving Romans in the theater they're going to not do it right they're going to choose the path of least resistance so I'm giving you my peace so that your heart won't be troubled and I'm giving you my peace so that your heart won't be afraid well does Jesus know something don't sure he does absolutely he does look at 1518 if the world hates you you know that it hated me before it hate you hated you if you were of the world the world would love its own yet because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world therefore the world hates you remember the word that I said to you a servant is not greater than his master if they persecuted me they will also persecute you if they kept my word they will keep yours also look at 162 he says they will put you out out of the synagogues yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service and these things they will do to you because they have not known the father nor me but these things I have told you that when the time comes you may remember that I told you of them we've got the similar situation in in in Matthew and in Mark and in Luke when Jesus tells the disciples when you're brought up before the synagogues on that day don't don't worry about what you're going to say the spirit the helper the spirit of Truth is is going to ride in you and give you what you're supposed to say the book of Acts is one long demonstration that what Jesus Was preparing them for was going to be hard and so he bequeaths upon them his Peace So that their hearts aren't troubled but neither shall they be afraid and as I said if these men are afraid if these men are you know simpatic of the sorts of guys that we see today and they're not going to go out and fight the battles that God has ordained for them they're not going to accomplish what the Lord Jesus purposes for them so before we bring this all to a close I just want to focus on the problem of a fearful heart yes generally you shouldn't be afraid each and every day you you shouldn't be afraid God is good God is great God is glorious God is wonderful but in the specific context of these men going in to turn the world upside down I would suggest that the the presence of fear demonstrates a lack of Kingdom priority the presence of fear demonstrates a lack of Kingdom priority Matthew 6 now the particular issue there is carnal anxiety but I think there's some overlap carnal anxiety and fear carnal anxiety is basically fear in the dayto day what am I going to eat what am I going to wear what am I how long am I going to live Jesus hushes all that four times do not worry do do not worry do not worry do not worry you might say do not fear do not fear do not fear do not fear what's his point 633 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and and then these things will be added to you see when we are sidelined with paralyzing fear it shows a lack of priority in the kingdom and I'm not just making this up I think it's pretty evident not only the New Testament but the history of the church I would suggest that the presence of fear as well indicates bad theology it indicates bad theology when Jesus gives the missionary discourse in Matthew 10 to the disciples to Canvas the the the area of Israel he he tells them you're going to be delivered up you're you're going to be tried you're going to face this opposition you're going to face all kinds of hardship and affliction and difficulty do you know how he encourages them don't fear those who can kill the body only but fear Him who has the power to kill both body and soul in Hell In other words if we are paralyzed by fear relative to men it reflects something of bad theology we should fear God not men what's Paul say in Romans 8 he who did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things so if we're Paralyzed by fear we doubt that the one who did the greatest delivering up his son is going to provide for us the Lesser Grace to meet whatever opposition we face I would suggest thirdly that the presence of fear destroys Kingdom Advance when the pastors are all hiding on their couches what's happening well the pastors are hiding on their couches remember what we looked at in Acts 14 on Wednesday night in fact you can turn there because I think it illustrates the point beautifully we this isn't you know this this is one isolated spot of a great many in the New Testament documents but we looked at Paul in Iconium in the first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas and we noticed in verse one of chapter 14 now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the Brethren jump into the 21st century well these guys are causing problems for us these guys are speaking ill of us these guys are making it hard for us so we better leave verse three therefore note the connection because the Jews did this therefore see for today today it's because the government does this therefore we'll go sit on our couch that's not the way it's supposed to be Brethren therefore they stayed there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord who is bearing witness to the word of his grace granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands now to show you that the disciples took seriously Matthew 10 be be harmless as as does but be cunning as serpents and Matthew 10 when he says if they they they persecute you in one city then then flee to another they had that wisdom as well there are times that you shake the dust off your feet and it got to that point notice in verse four but the multitude of the city was divided part cided with the Jews part with the apostles and when a violent attempt was made by both je uh both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to abuse and ston them they became aware of it and fled to lisra and Derby cities of lonia and to the surrounding region and they were preaching the gospel there we see the spirit do that in the book of Acts he brings persecution so that the people of God will disperse and when they disperse they go and preach the gospel elsewhere so when it comes to this issue of Faith or rather fear we are by God's grace to try and displace it with the Peace of Jesus Christ why we have in the gospel who we get in the gospel ought to go a long way to helping us to put to death this carnal fear wherein man becomes far more threatening to us and far more forboding to us than the god of unrivaled sovereignty there ought not to be fear in our hearts and this is why Jesus bequeaths at uh peace to his disciples and the last thing I would say before we move into application wasn't that it Butler yeah we'll just have a brief brief moment here in a moment but the presence of fear characterizes those in the Lake of Fire turn to Revelation 21 for those of you who've been here with me for are with us here for a while you'll know what I'm about to say so you can check out for the next 48 seconds to use a cism it's never 45 or 40 with Cam it's 48 43 it's a good nemonic helps us to resonate I guess notice in 218 the Cowardly unbelieving abominable murderers sexually immoral Sorcerers idolators and all liar shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death I mean that's a list I think we could all approve of right if we skip that first term but of course in verse eight we'd say oh yeah all unbelievers everybody abominable certainly murderers certainly sexually immoral those Sorcerers those idolators Liars they all belong in the in in the Lake of Fire but cowards I kind of have a fear of snakes I I don't really but I guess if they're wrapped around my neck I do but from a distance I don't have a fear of snakes but sometimes people people do people have a fear of all kinds of things people have a fear of the night dark the NightLight industry has thrived on fear of the dark is is God the spirit through John the Apostle telling us that if we're afraid maybe you know I got somebody in my life that's afraid to drive over Bridges and when I ponder that and I look around it does give me a little bit of a weird feeling when I'm going over that bridge but does that mean that person goes to the Lake of Fire for that fear no you you got to have read the rest of Revelation turn back to chapter 2 chapter two the seven churches of Asia Minor all end on the same refrain notice in 27 He Who who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches to him who note the language overcomes I will give to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the par Paradise of God look at verse 11 to Smyrna he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death look at pergamos in verse 17 he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches to him who overcomes I will give some of the Hidden Mana to eat look at thyra in chapter 3 uh two specifically at verse 26 and he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end to him I will give power over the Nations look at Sardis in chapter 3 specifically at verse 5 he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from The Book of Life notice the church in Philadelphia specifically at verse 12 he who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go out no more look at leoda 3: 21 to him who over comes I will grant to sit with me on my Throne as I also overcame and sat with it with my father on his throne could it be that the persons listed first in the Lake of Fire identified as the Cowardly are those who at least at one time made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ but didn't overcome well why wouldn't they overcome because they were afraid of what the world said they were afraid of what their family would say they were afraid to actually step out in faith and do great things for the glory of God the men women boys and girls who do not overcome end up with the sexually immoral they end up with the Abominable they end up with the murderers they end up with the Liars they end up in the Lake of Fire the bottom line is simple Jesus gives us his Peace So that our hearts aren't supposed to be troubled and neither are we supposed to be afraid he gives good gifts to serve his people to help his people and I will end on this particular note if you are looking today at the peace that the world gives you as something that is going to satisfy you you're wrong you are wrong ask anybody here that professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ after the service do this so many times after the service well what about this what about that what about what about you tell me about your life how' you come to know Jesus Christ do you want to go back to that oh no wait are you kidding why would I go to the city of Destruction when I'm on my way to the New Jerusalem why would I go back to hell when I am heavenbound when it comes to this blessed reality the peace that this world gives is fleeting it is temporary it is external it is here it is there it is gone the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ surpasses all understanding it is that good conscience not because we're good but because the Christ who's good it's that good conscience before God that our sins are forgiven that we have the righteousness of another and that on that day when we stand in his presence we will be welcomed in good and faithful servant again not because of us but because of the good and faithful servant the Lord Jesus Christ the only way to him is through faith believe and you will be saved well let us pray Our God and our father we thank you for your word we thank you so very much for our Lord Jesus Christ and the gifts that he gives in terms of the Holy Spirit and peace God we are equipped to do what you've called us to do in this present evil age I pray for your blessing upon this church I pray for succeeding Generations in this church bless the young people that gather today I pray that from our ranks you'd raise up men with a call for gospel Ministry missions and evangelism and that you would do great things in this country it is a wretched country it is a horrible country not in terms of how you made it but the way it's governed and we know that ultimately it's not politics it's not horses it's not chariots but it's the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Lord that this land desperately needs needs bless those churches we have communion with now be gracious to each of them use the pastors cause them not to have heart trouble and heart fear cause them to boldly proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ in this age and we ask this in his Most Blessed name amen well let us stand together and we'll sing by way of doxology number 569 569 will stand as we sing together all bless Praise Him All Creatures Praise [Music] Him Heaven host praise Father Son and Holy Ghost Lord we thank you for the provision of your son we thank you for his life death and Resurrection for us men and for our Salvation I pray you'd go with us now cause your face to shine upon us keep us by your grace and For Your Glory and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we please be seated for a brief time of meditation sh e e e e e