Jesus uses more “I Am” statements in today’s reading. Jesus has all the words as He speaks on the role of the Holy Spirit and how He should be evident in our lives. Praise His name.
John 14: I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
4 And you know the way to where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered 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.
24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
26 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 that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
John 15: I Am the True Vine
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The Hatred of the World
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.
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.
Things to think about…
1. “The statement in John 14:1 is a proclamation of Christ’s divinity, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” Our Lord is identifying Himself with the Father. Why believe in the Father. Simply because He is God almighty. This identifier also belongs to Jesus.
2. In John 14:1-14 Jesus says He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house. Philip says “Show us the Father”. Jesus responds by saying He is the example of the Father. Those who have seen Jesus have seen the Father. I find immense comfort in this statement. We have the words of Christ, but we also have His Spirit to give us understanding. We know where we are going and that a place is being prepared for us. But more than this, we know the character of the Owner. What an incredible privilege.
3. This statement, “"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”, John 14:6 is the central truth of the gospel. It is not Jesus plus something or someone else. It is Jesus alone that makes the way to salvation from sin. Coming to Christ means walking away from self. This is the ultimate embracing of life.
4. Jesus speaks about aspects of the role and function of the Holy Spirit – who is described as the Helper and One who does not leave us as orphans. But more than this, He brings to mind things we need to understand regarding the words of Jesus in John 14:26. What ‘things of comfort’ has the Holy Spirit brought to your mind lately that reveal more of the character of Jesus?
5. Jesus prepares the disciples hearts for imminent bad news, John 14:27-31. He is about to depart. He does not want their hearts to be troubled. In fact, he says He is leaving His peace with, them, vs 27. When we know some news that will trouble the hearts of family and friends, it gives us an opportunity to reveal that truth in a way that can show them our faith and trust in the Lord. We display the confidence we have that we are going to a better place.
6. In John 15:1-17 we see that God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility working together. We are called to be ‘in Christ’ and to bear fruit. But look at vs 16. We did not choose Him, He chose us. Both of these truths are found in the scriptures. The point for the fruit and the choosing is found in vs 17 – ‘so that you will love one another’. If love is not on display by Christians who claim to know Jesus, then one or both of the initial truths is not true. Let’s meditate on this.
7. Jesus in pointing to the ultimate expression of love, does so through the example of sacrifice. He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends”, vs 13. The Christian life in following Christ should display a life of sacrifice. Especially focussed so we point others to who Jesus is. Let’s think about this more as we head into Christmas.
8. Does the world hate you? If so, Jesus says this is normal for the Christian, because our identity is in Christ and the world also hated Him, John 15:18-23. However, if the world does not hate you then you have an identity crisis. Are you in Christ or of the world? Of course, this all depends on how we define hate. This hatred comes from a faithful witness in Christ. The Helper, the Holy Spirit enables us to witness for Christ. We can enjoy the things of the world but in comparison to the glory of Christ and the hope of heaven, these things pail into insignificance. The Holy Spirit is the One who should captivate our hearts.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “Israel an object of mercy” – Reading Ezek 28:20-26
1. Australia is a land that has received undeserved mercy. So have you. Discuss.
2. Israel was about to be judged, but Ezekiel speaks of future blessing, vss 25, 26. What is your understanding of how this will outwork?
3. Israel is very religious, but only have 2% Christians. Most are atheist or have some form of Jewish mindset and belief system. How will they come to see Yeshua as their Lord and Saviour?
4. How are we to provoke Israel to jealousy to follow Christ? Read and discuss Rom 10:19.
5. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel.
Prayer Points
1. AGM – 6th Nov after the service.
2. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon 3pm-7pm.
3. Christmas Day Service
4. Pray for the leadership of our country.
5. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
6. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
7. Health of Ross Goltz, Zac - sciatica
8. More young families and youth into the church.
9. Ministry leaders within the church.
10. Our One for Israel ministry.
11. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. The marriage of James and Kirstine Smith.
2. Visitors to church on Sunday.
3. Some returning back to church after a while away.
4. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Suzy, Gina, Ashley. Bec on Words and Doug on sound. Thankyou. Suzy and Maddison in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Members Meeting – AGM 6th November after the service.
2. Remember to check your duty rosters.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
