John 14:1-4

1. For a few months, I focused on the letter of 1 Peter for my initial sermon series at our church. During this time, we looked closely at why Peter wrote this letter. He didn't want to give a long list of rules only for Jesus' followers. Instead, Peter's main goal was to remind them why they had chosen to follow Jesus in the first place. He wanted to encourage them by saying that it was right to face hard times and persecution because of their strong connection with Jesus Christ. Also, he wanted to emphasize their reason for doing this: because they were seeking to be part of God's kingdom.

2. When we think about Christianity, we see it as a life that has two important parts: the Bible, which has God's teachings, and actually living out these teachings in our lives. Key to Christianity are knowing God and having a personal experience of the Divine. These two things are like the strong base of our faith. With this in mind, I'm really excited to tell you about our upcoming series of sermons. We'll be exploring the idea of truly knowing God through personal experiences. This series will take us on a meaningful journey to get to know God better and understand Him on a deep, personal level. To start, let's read John 14:1-4 and 15-21.

John 14:1–4 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

John 14:15–18 NKJV

“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.

John 14:19–21 NKJV

“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.”

3. As the time got closer for God's plan to happen, Jesus made a special promise. He told his followers that he would send them someone to help them. This promise showed how much he cared for them as he neared the end of his work. This promise came true when the disciples received the Holy Spirit. When we look at this part of the Bible, one word that really stands out is "Helper."

John 14:16 AMP

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

4. The Greek word for "helper" in the Bible, as shown in the NKJV, is "paraclete." This word has many important meanings, which the Amplified Bible (AMP) helps us understand better. It can mean Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. These various but connected explanations highlight how the Spirit helps us in different ways as we go through life. However, it's important to know that even though the Spirit guides and supports us, the Spirit doesn't take the main role; instead, it works as a dedicated helper for us.

Romans 8:5 NLT

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

5.Both John and Paul provide clear teachings about the Spirit's role in our lives. The Spirit's job is to help us understand God, how He showed Himself through Jesus Christ, and His plan for us. Acting as our guide, the Spirit helps us deeply feel God's love and experience it ourselves. What does the Holy Spirit help us do? The Holy Spirit lets us see and be part of God's actions in a real way. But first, the Spirit helps us understand God through the Bible. The Bible is undeniably God's words, which He gave us so we can know Him better. When we talk about "experience," it means personal things like "seeing" and "knowing." Throughout the Bible, God always reaches out to His chosen people, so they can personally know Him.

Exodus 3:1–3 NKJV

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

Exodus 3:13–14 (NKJV)

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

6. Moses might have heard about Yahweh during his time in Egypt, but he didn't directly experience God back then. His understanding of God relied on stories he had heard. However, when God revealed Himself to Moses, he finally felt God's presence firsthand. This experience convinced Moses to choose to follow God. This mix of learning about God and truly feeling His presence made Moses's belief in God strong. Consequently, Moses could talk directly with God, having real conversations. God would talk to him, and Moses could reply, which helped them build a close and personal relationship.

Exodus 33:11 AMP

And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses returned to the camp, but his minister Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the [temporary prayer] tent.

7. God spoke to Moses as a friend, establishing a personal and affectionate relationship with him. This profound bond was built upon Moses' understanding of God and further solidified through his own firsthand experiences. Hence, if we aspire to cultivate a more profound relationship with God, it is imperative to acquaint ourselves with His teachings through His word and to encounter His presence through the experiences of our lives. Before moving to Saskatchewan, I only knew about it from my friends and an encyclopedia. I had heard that it was a rural area in Canada and located in the middle of nowhere. In 2015, when I visited Pelly, which is about an hour north of Yorkton, I was surprised to find that my phone could not find any cellphone signal. After passing by Canora, I was shocked to discover that I could not use Google Maps even in 2015! It was literally the middle of nowhere, just as my friends had said.

8. However, since moving to Saskatchewan, I've had the chance to understand its special qualities, especially because of the wonderful people here. I've been able to go to different parts of the province and share God's love. When I've met people, they've been friendly and welcoming. Our interactions have been enjoyable and have helped me learn and grow. At first, I was a bit nervous about exploring Saskatchewan more, but actually being part of it has been really eye-opening. Being directly involved has taught me a lot and given me a fresh way of looking at things.

God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me

9. Our God is amazing and kind. He guides us on the right path. He's not just a concept we know about, but a God who lets us feel His love and follow His ways. Our God is truly wonderful and compassionate. He leads us in the right direction. He's not just an idea we're aware of, but a God who allows us to experience His love and follow His teachings. That's why, even though our personal experiences are important in understanding God's actions, we should always rely on God's Word once we've experienced it, because our personal experiences can be inconsistent and uncertain. God's Word is the only truly dependable source.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

10. Once we have an experience, it's important to analyze and understand it in the context of God's teachings. Some pastors and churches celebrate God when they achieve a large building or a successful church event. Some individuals experience God's healing in their lives and give thanks. Initially, it may seem like they have the right attitude and respond faithfully to God.

11. However, we often notice that their praise diminishes when they face hardship or trials. Some even abandon their faith, similar to Judas Iscariot. By reading the Bible, we can learn that we should continue to praise the Lord even in the midst of great trials. We can worship the Lord even when our hopes and desires remain unfulfilled. If we base our belief in Jesus solely on our circumstances, we may conclude that Jesus isn't real. Similarly, if we seek to follow God based solely on our experiences, we might wrongly conclude that God is not benevolent.

12. As I sing, I proclaim that God is always good. I recognize that God's plan and guidance surpass my own thoughts and plans. Let's focus on the Lord. When we hear His voice, let's answer His call. And as we listen, let's follow His path based on His teachings. We belong to Him, and He is our caring God.

Communion - Sept. 03. 2023

Today, we openly expressed our faith in the Lord and praised Him for His incredible blessings in our lives. God has blessed us with faith in Jesus, enabling us to follow His path. This means we have the incredible gift and opportunity to share in the salvation achieved through Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection.

Partaking in the Lord's Supper is more than just verbalizing our faith; it involves living our lives in harmony with the faith we proclaim. Therefore, the Lord's Supper is not simply a ritual; it requires a genuine declaration of faith in Jesus and represents our active participation in the salvation and work that Jesus has graciously bestowed upon us.

The Lord's Supper, often referred to as communion, serves as a memorial supper to help us remember Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and His work and love for us. In our church, we extend a warm invitation to anyone, including children, who share a common faith and perspective, irrespective of whether they have undergone baptism. We emphasize this shared "faith and perspective," which signifies our belief in Jesus Christ and His teachings.

1. I acknowledge Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

2. He endured the crucifixion and, miraculously, rose from the dead three days later.

3. Being a disciple of Jesus holds great significance for me because He serves as the perfect role model for how I should conduct my life. I endeavor to emulate His actions and lead a life that brings honor to Him alongside my fellow believers.

If you embrace and adhere to this statement, you are welcome to participate in the Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,

“Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying

This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Now, you can come forward to the table and take a piece of bread and a cup of wine. After obtaining these, please return to your seat and take some time to reflect on His love and sacrifice until everyone in the congregation has received them.

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father,

We gather before you today, remembering your sacrifice and Resurrection through communion. Your grace, greatness, and majesty are immeasurable. Through your sacrifice, we can approach your presence and be in communion with you. Your Resurrection signifies a fresh start for us, where old things have passed away, and new things have emerged.

Father, our deepest desire is to lead lives that bring glory to you. We humbly request your guidance in our faith and daily lives, that we may live in accordance with your divine plan and not our own desires. We pray for the Holy Spirit's empowerment to carry out your work and to steer us in the right direction.

In your magnificent name, we offer this prayer. Amen.

13. Benediction

Hebrews 13:20–21 NKJV

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.