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Image: The Helper
WELCOME
Sunday, June 6, 2021
The Book Of John
Series: LOVED BY JESUS
Message: The Helper
Scripture: John 15:18-16:15 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
Scripture Reading Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV
Hebrews 10 ESV and Audio
The Full Assurance of Faith
The Full Assurance of Faith
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
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“I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” 1876 by P. P. Bliss
"Follow On", also known "Down In The Valley With My Saviour I Would Go" and "I Will Follow Jesus", 1878 by William Orcutt Cushing and 1880 Music by Robert Lowry and W. Howard Doane
Scripture: John 15:18-16:1-15 ESV
John 15, 16 ESV and Audio
SERMON NOTES
Sunday, June 6, 2021
The Book Of John
Series: LOVED BY JESUS
Message: The Helper
Scripture: John 15:18-16:15 ESV
Pastor Philip Miller
The Helper: Does our suffering grant access to a deeper relationship with God?
In this passage from John 15-16, we are in the early hours before the crucifixion. Betrayal, arrest, whipping, and crucifixion awaits Jesus, and He knows it. But Jesus doesn't fixate on the tidal wave of agony that is about to break up on Him; instead, he focuses on preparing His disciples for the battles ahead.
As American Christians with sizable religious freedoms, we often read past verses like this rather quickly. But you know who doesn’t read past them? The vast majority of our brothers and sisters around the world and throughout history. Those of us in America may just need these words sooner than we realize. Perhaps Jesus is preparing us for battle too.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for the suffering, persecution, and hostility they will face in this world. Because followers of Jesus are not like the world, the world views us with suspicion. Because we’re different, we’re distinct.
We’ll look at three points to prepare us for what’s coming:
1) Distinct Allegiance
2) Distinct Witness
3) Distinct Bearing
1) Distinct Allegiance: Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit and bear Christ’s presence in the world have a polarizing effect of both attraction and repulsion. Jesus’ followers shouldn’t be shocked when they experience the same hatred their Leader did. Why does the world hate us? Because this world is not our true home; Jesus has chosen us out of the world. In other words, we’re citizens of Heaven. We follow the way of Jesus and His Kingdom. Jesus is telling us that we will encounter hostility from the world, because we bear the name of Jesus in the world, not because we’re obnoxious. If we’re encountering hostility because we’re winsomely shining the light of Christ to the world, that’s to be expected. But if we’re encountering hostility because we’re tactless and obnoxious, that is nothing to be proud of.
Distinct Allegiance (15:18–21)
• We follow the way of Jesus and his kingdom.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 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 also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
2) Distinct Witness: We embody the convicting presence of God.
When we go out into the world, we never go alone. We bear the presence of God into the world, and wherever God goes, people are convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It’s not our job to convict people of sin; the Holy Spirit does that. Our job is to share the good news that Jesus died for our sin, that He offers us his righteousness, and that He has already won the judgment and his victory can be ours if we will believe in Him.
Distinct Witness (15:22–27; 16:7–11)
• We embody the convicting presence of God.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
7 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 go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
3) Distinct Bearing: We suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit.
All that the Father has is Jesus’, and all that is Jesus’ is ours through the Spirit. And here’s what’s amazing: it was Jesus’ hour of suffering that most convicted the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and it will be our hour of suffering that convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment as well. As we suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit, we embody the convicting presence of God in the world and proclaim our ultimate allegiance to the way of Jesus and His Kingdom. Our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world tell us that a suffering church is an unstoppable church. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Persecution breeds perseverance, hostility unleashes holiness, and crucifixion is the only way to resurrection.
What if suffering like Jesus grants us access to the depths of all that God is for us?
What if suffering like Jesus is our greatest witness to the world?
Distinct Bearing (16:1–6, 12–15)
• We suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit.
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Takeaway: Stand strong in the Lord.
As we suffer in the glorious strength of the Spirit, we embody the convicting presence of God in the world and proclaim our ultimate allegiance to the way Jesus and his Kingdom.
Philip Miller Senior Pastor
PASTOR TO PEOPLE
Congratulations to the class of 2021!
Today we honor our high school graduates! This momentous step represents countless hours of diligent effort and commitment in their educational journey as well as the support of their friends and family along the way. We are delighted
to join in celebrating these achievements and commit to prayerfully supporting these graduates in their next steps.
To our graduates: We are so delighted in who you are becoming and celebrate with you on this graduation day! Wherever you go, whatever you accomplish, please know that your church family will always be here for you, and will always be on your team. We will cheer for you, encourage you, and advocate for you. Most of all, we will pray for you, that you will abide deeply in the love of Jesus.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
~ Hebrews 13:20–21
You are loved, more than you know!
Pastor Philip
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