You
Hey everyone, welcome to church. Can I get you to grab your hymnals and take a seat?
And
Can I get you to turn in your hymnals to hymn number one hundred and ninety one
Hymn number one nine one in my heart there rings a melody
Hymn number one nine one and when you found it, can I get you to stand please?
Hymn number one hundred and ninety one
Jesus
Oh
There is a melody
Let's open in a word of prayer dear Heavenly Father
I just want to thank you that we can be gathered in your house again this afternoon Lord
I just hope that you are be with us in this service and bless this service and in Jesus name. Amen
May be seated
Can I get to turn now to him number three hundred and thirty two in number three hundred and thirty two channels only
Hymn number three hundred and thirty two
Oh
Every day
This
Okay, uh for our final
Hymn before the Bible reading
Can I get you to turn to him number one hundred and forty seven?
Number one four seven leaning on the everlasting arms and number one hundred and forty seven
What a fellowship
Oh
Wait
I
Have blessed
God
Okay, good singing I can I get you grab your bubbles now and turn to John chapter 16
John chapter 16 and brother Jordan's coming up for the bubble reading
You
Hello
Okay, so John John 16
These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended that you should put you out of the synagogues
Ye that time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God's service and these things
Will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me?
But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them
And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you
But now I go my way to up to him that sent me
And none of you askest me
whether goest thou
But because I said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart
Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away
For if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you
But if I depart I will send him unto you
And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment
of sin because they believe not on me
Of righteousness because I go to my father and ye see me no more
Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now
Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come
He will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself
But whosoever he shall hear that shall he speak
And he will show you things to come
He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall reassure it unto you
And all things that the father hath are mine
Therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you
A little while ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me
Because I go to the father
Then said some of his disciples among themselves
What is this that he saith unto us?
A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me
And because I go to the father
They said therefore what is this that he saith?
A little while
We cannot tell what he saith
Now jesus known
That they were desirous to ask him and said unto them
Do ye inquire among yourselves of that? I said
A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me
Verily verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament
But the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow because her hour is come
But as soon as she is delivered out of the child she remembereth no more the anguish
For the joy that a man is born into the world
And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice
And your joy no man taketh from you
And in that day you shall ask me nothing
Verily verily I say unto you
Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he shall will give it to you he will give it to you
Heather too have ye asked nothing in my name ask ye shall receive that your joy may be full
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs, but the time cometh when I shall
No more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the father
At the day ye shall ask in my name and I say not unto you that I will pray the father for you
For the father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from god
I came forth from the father
And come into the world
Again, I leave the world and go to the father
His disciples said onto him lo now speakest thou plainly speaketh no proverb
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things we need is not that any man should ask thee
But this we believe that thou comest forth from god
Jesus answered them. Do ye know now believe?
Believe the hour cometh ye is now come that ye shall be scattered every man to his own
And shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the father is with me
These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world. Ye shall have tribulation
But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world
Let's pray
God, thank you for this time that we can spend freely glorifying your presence here in our church lord
Please fill pastor with your spirit in jesus name we pray. Amen
Amen
Thank you for that, um, so we are continuing the book of john chapter by chapter
I was doing it on the wednesdays, but i'm going to bring it back to sundays, uh
The chapter by chapter study for the book of john. So we're there in john chapter 16. Let's start there verse number one
These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended total for the sermon this afternoon is don't be offended
Don't be offended don't we live in a generation of easily offended people generation snowflake generation thin-skinned
Well, you know what jesus christ is giving you the remedy if that's you if you feel like you're easily offended
Someone says something nasty something's a little someone's a little bit critical and you get worked up and then the whole week
You're speaking about how you've been offended then this is a sermon for you
Okay, don't be offended these things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended now as we keep going through this chapter
John 16
It's still a continuation of everything that has been preaching through. John 15. John 14
After the passover event or the lord's table, I should say
This is just a continuation meaning that we're going to find a lot of similar teachings in this chapter that we've seen in the previous chapters
Um and some of the things going to overlap some of the things that i'm going to mention
You can say oh you really preached about that last week past or the week before
But here's the thing, please don't tune out, you know, just because something is repeated
To me that should not be a reason to tune out of the sermon
That should be a reason to pay attention to the sermon
Like if jesus christ is saying the same thing again a second time or a third time or fourth time
It's because he really wants us to nail it in
In fact, I believe this is the best way to learn god's word or to preach god's word or to be balanced with god's word
Is just to see what is emphasized in scripture what god emphasizes?
I will emphasize what god repeats multiple times. I will repeat multiple times
You know if god tells teaches something and it's like covered once or maybe it's not even covered that often in the bible
My goal in the past is trying to cover that not that often
Like god will know what the right balance is what the right diet is of knowing god's word based on how often you see things
In the bible and so once again if things overlap or you feel like it's similar preaching from previous
Weeks don't tune out. It's because the lord wants you to hear it multiple times. So it sinks in verse number two
What doesn't he want his disciples to be offended about?
Well, he doesn't want people to get offended if they say something nasty
You know, they might go soul winning and someone might say something nasty to them on the on at the door
And so god doesn't want you to get offended. Well
Let's look at verse number two then shall they put you out of the synagogues?
Meaning you're going to be rejected by your people. Yeah, the time cometh that whosoever kill of you will think that he doeth god's service
Reverend christ is saying that some of these people are going to die
Some of some of his people some of these believers are going to die for the name of christ
And he says don't get offended about it
I mean if you're going to get offended by something are you going to get offended by something nasty?
Someone sets you at the door or you get offended by someone trying to kill you or killing you
You know, god, jesus christ does not want us to be offended. He doesn't want his disciples to be offended
They're about to go through one of the toughest times, you know christ being arrested and taken away
Those three days and three nights are going to be hiding in fear
Okay. Now I don't believe any of his disciples necessarily died during that period or wouldn't have recorded for us in the bible
So of course, we know that after christ ascended to heaven
To sit at the right hand of the father. Yes, some of his disciples were killed
Okay, and so, you know, yes, we look at this passage. We look at the teaching of christ. Yes
It's applicable, you know for his disciples during those three days and three nights
But we can take those applications and apply to other places. We can apply today, you know
We should not be offended today, you know people do die for the name of christ in other places in this world
Today and so these are good teachers that we can still learn from today
It says, uh that who serve in verse number two that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth god service
And of course in this time as they persecuted the people of god, they thought they were serving god
They thought they were doing the right thing according to the teachings of pharisees and scribes and the chief rulers
Look at verse number three and these things will they do unto you? Why why do they do it?
Because they have not known the father nor me
But these things have I told you that when the time shall come you may remember that I told you of them
And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you
All right, so it says look this time is coming where you will be persecuted for the name of christ
And christ does not want us to be offended. Okay. I've got three major points the sermon this afternoon point
Number one is don't be offended if you lose your life for christ
Don't be offended
All right, if you're facing persecution if people are seeking to hurt you or to harm you for the name of christ
Don't get offended
You see what is your natural response?
You know if someone seeks to hurt you or harm you because of christ what's going to be your natural your your your your fleshly?
Or carnal response
Your kind of response would be to flee or like peter to deny, right? He denied christ
We're not up to that story just yet, but he denied christ three times
You know before the morning came
That is a natural response of your natural being is to hide yourself. Pretend you're not a christian
Pretend you don't love christ or you know of christ
Because it is concerned that I might be persecuted or lose my life over this and you might get offended say well
Why god why are you allowing me to go through such difficulties?
Why allowing my enemies to similarly, you know get be victorious over me simply because I stand for you
Well, you know what when that happens if it does happen in our lifetime if it happens here in australia
I don't want you to get offended christ warned us already not to get offended if these things happened
So point number one brevin is don't be offended if you lose your life for christ
You know, don't forget these very famous passages, you know, psalm 116 verse 15
Precious in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints
You know when someone dies and you're a saint of the lord, it's precious to him
Because you're going from from this wicked carnal life into eternity with him
You know when we learn not to get offended we start to really understand appreciate things that are eternal
You know the hope of being with christ and not having ourselves so grounded in fleshly or earthly things
It's good when you start to lose
affection for the things of this world
sometimes I talk to christians and they see the corruption of governments and
They're like, oh frustrated about the governments and they're doing this. They're taking away our liberties
Don't get frustrated. Don't get offended
In fact, that should help you
That should help you go. You know what? I don't care about this world
You know what when people get so frustrated by the wickedness of this world and how this world is taken away
It just shows you that your heart is still on this earth
Don't get offended set your eyes on the lord
Okay, the closer we get to our liberties being stripped away the closer we get to the end times
The greater rejoicing you should have knowing that christ is coming
Don't be offended if you lose your life for christ. Keep your finger then come with me to revelation chapter 2
Revelation I forget book of revelation was written by john as well
revelation chapter 2 verse number 10
These are the words of john toward or actually these are the words of christ, okay being penned down by john
but for the church
It says in revelation chapter 2 verse number 10 fear
None of those things which thou shall suffer
Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried
Look at this and you shall have tribulation 10 days
What's the instruction from jesus?
Be thou faithful unto death
So hold on if some of our believer some of our brethren get cast into prison for the name of christ
Should we not pray for their release? Yes, we should we should be praying for their release, you know
Should we pray that you know god will deliver them out of the hand of the enemy? Yes
But understand, you know god's will god's plan is that some will perish that some believers will die
My question to you is are you ready to perish for the name of christ?
Are you ready to give up your life for the things of god?
I don't know think about it. You know, you know, it's a past. I've got so many more things that I want to accomplish in life
You know australia is a good country in that regard that you know
We still have liberties to some extent of our freedom the freedom to be in church the freedom to read the bible
You know that so far has not been removed from us. So praise god for that. But you know what?
You know that you've really matured in the lord when you're able to say lord
If I have to lose my life for you, so be it i'm fine
I'm fine with that, you know, and it says that thou shall be be be thou faithful unto death
Look at this and I will give thee a crown of life
There is a special reward
There's a special crown that god will give christ will give if you lose your life for christ the crown of life
Like you're losing your life, but it gives you the crown of life
And I think i've covered this not that long ago that crown of life must be worth dying for
Like when you get to heaven and you if you've been given that specific reward that specific crown
Everyone's going to know. Wow, you lost your life for christ
You're willing to give up everything on this life to follow christ and to die for him
There must be great reward. There must be great riches great honor to actually
fulfill
That obligation and to have that crown of life
You know another passage i'm going to read to you. You're very familiar
You know, um and again because we don't want to get offended if things go bad in life
And we think god should come through all the time
God should all god, you know
God will see them through even if they have to lose their life for christ or you have to lose your life for christ
But I want you to remember this passage romans 835. I'll just read it to you quickly who shall separate us from the love of christ
share tribulation
or distress
or persecution
or famine or nakedness or peril or sword
You know what a sword is for?
to kill you
Will any of these things separate us from the love of christ
You know if you're facing persecution if you lose your life, does that mean god does not love you?
Does that mean god's forgotten about you? No the bible says that nothing will separate us from that love
Verse number 36 as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter
All the day long, you know, this tells me that every day on planet earth someone is dying for the cause of christ
I mean, I I think we should pray that that doesn't come to australia
Like I think that we should be praying that you know, we have the liberties to continue doing work a work for god
Or you know
We should pray that we should not take for granted the liberties that we have
Because you live in other places of this world. You can't be in church
You can't you know, oh for the cause, you know for or you lose your life potentially, you know, this is just a reality
And then it says in verse number 37 now in all these things we are more than conquerors
Through him that loved us
For i'm persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities
Nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor death nor any other creature
Shall be able to separate us from the love of god, which is in christ. Jesus our lord
So if someone dies for the cause of christ, you know what it just shows how much
Not only that do they love god, but god's love toward them
That god will actually give them the crown of life. You know, what something to rejoice in for all eternity
Back to john 16 john 16 verse number five
So brethren if god if jesus christ does not want to get us to get offended if we die for him
Then who are we to get offended because someone said something nasty to us
Who are we just to get offended because someone said something nasty about our kids
Should we get offended really when other christians are losing their life that kind of persecution
You know
We are we are whiners i'm telling you
We are we complain we whine we murmur about just the littlest inconveniences in life
Again, go back to covid think about all the wine taking place during covid. You didn't lose your life over it. Did you?
It's still here
You know god's people are still able to be in church to serve him
To read our bibles to pray to him
You know, it's not like the days of babylon being cast into the into the fiery furnace
You know being made eunuchs imagine that
Oh, I was forced to get vaccinated. Okay, but you didn't get it cut off
Like god's people did when they were taken into babylon
I mean that i'd rather the vaccination not that i'm not pro vaccination, but rather that than being made a eunuch of men
I don't know which is the worst procedure out of those two. I mean, I think most of you would agree with me that
Being made a eunuch is worse
But we complain about everything where wine is about everything it surprises me because we're god's people should not get offended
We're not taking this body to heaven are we I don't want this body in heaven and corrupt the place
Take my soul take my spirit and my new resurrected body to heaven. That's where I want to be
That's what I want to be in
You know, I just want to challenge you because i'm tired of whining i'm tired of complaining I honestly I just think
What is wrong with god's people we should be the ones rejoicing
When things get tough and our liberties get removed, we should be the ones
Bring it on
Bring on some difficulties. Maybe we need it
We need the humility
You know, we need to be able to detach ourselves from the world and attach ourselves greater to the cause of christ and eternity
I'm not having to go you i've wanted i've won plenty
You know, this is why it kind of you know, when we hear god's word and we realize man
Are we we can offend what are we getting offended at when christ is, you know, he's talking about death here
We're still ticking along and we still get we still whine and complain and get offended
verse number five john 16 verse number five
But now he says to his disciple now I go my way to him that sent me
So he's sent by the father now he's saying i'm going back to the father
And none of you ask of me with a ghost now
Like none of them are asking him where you're going
Because then he says this but because i've said these things unto you sorrow have filled your heart
So instead of them being concerned about where christ is about to go to back to the father
They're more concerned about the sorrow that they're going to miss christ
Because christ is not going to be there on the earth for these next days or whatever
So, you know, they're starting to get worried. They're starting to get fearful. They're being full of sorrow, you know, where is christ going?
Verse number seven
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient or profitable for you that I go away
For if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart I will send him unto you
And so christ is starting to teach. Look you're going to have the comforter, you know, some people teach well
This is this this starts to lead into modalism
Where you know the reason christ had to go is because the comforter had to come
And god can only operate in certain modes at certain times
The comforter would not come if christ is there like you can't have christ and the holy spirit on the earth at the same time
I don't believe that at all. I think that's just ridiculous
In fact at the baptism of christ, we heard the voice of the father and the holy spirit, you know came upon christ
okay, so that that's just
What we see here is that there is an order to things, you know
It might seem disorderly christ about to be arrested and being crucified but everything's playing out with the timing of god
You know christ has to be taken be crucified rise from the dead and then the holy spirit
This is just a timeline. God does things in an orderly manner. Okay in an orderly fashion
And again, we're looking at the comforter here
We're looking at the holy spirit and as we keep going through this chapter
You will understand the importance of the holy spirit in our lives and and why specifically christ is saying the words that he says
To his disciples at this point in time
But I have point number two for you here and when offended
The holy spirit is your comforter, okay when offended the holy spirit is your comforter. All right
Listen, if I offend you at church, and I hope I don't I probably have I know I have some people
Okay, and if I offend you i'm sorry
But when you get offended, all right, what I want to do is remind yourself of what christ taught you. Okay, whatever offense you take
run to the lord god
The holy spirit is your comforter
Okay, sometimes we get offended we get fired up get emotionally we've got hot and bothered
But is it really worth it? You need to figure some things, you know, sometimes people don't mean to offend you and you get offended
Sometimes things can just be so minor that you should learn to just let it you know, let it be water under the bridge
But what you need to do is you need to go to the holy spirits and say holy spirit. You're my comforter
Please tell me if i'm getting am I getting offended over the wrong things here?
Or am I getting offended over the right things here?
You know, the holy spirit is your comforter, you know, if you instead of being you know
Getting hot and bothered every time you get offended if you take this first step
I guarantee you most of the things you get offended about you're going to just be comforted by the lord god
And you're able to put it behind you and just get on with life and focus on the things that matter
That are more important that you know that matter to you
but when offended the holy spirit is your
Comforter now, why would he be a comforter in a time of being offended? Well
If you can just keep your finger there and come back with me to john 14 just a few pages back john 14
Let me just remind you that the holy spirit obviously has many ministries in our life. But what is the key ministry?
Uh there in john 14 verse number 26, but the comforter which is the holy ghost whom the father will send in my name
He shall teach you all things
So this is his primary mission
Now he's got like I said, he's got many many ministries
But he's come to teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance
Whatsoever I have said unto you, so whatever christ taught the holy spirit is reminding the disciples of these teachings
But notice what he says in verse number 27
So now that you've learned the teachings, you know, you learn doctrine you learn the bible notice what he says verse number 27 peace
I leave with you
This is important because it's about to say you're gonna you know, some of you're gonna die for my name's sake
But he says peace. I live with you my peace. I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you
Let not your heart be troubled neither. Let it be afraid
You see when you tap into the holy spirit the comforter you will have a peace that this world cannot give you
You know when you get offended you're gonna have a great peace about it
You're gonna be like, yeah. Well, so what?
Right. I have a clear conscience. I'm serving my lord
Everyone has an opinion and you know what? I can't please everyone and so be it
I can please the lord. Let me focus on pleasing the lord
Instead of pleasing everybody that great peace will give you great comfort
But it comes from the holy ghost and it comes by bringing all things to your remembrance. It comes by you knowing god's word intimately
Knowing it more as you continue to learn and grow in the word of god
I promise you this the more you read your bible the more you meditate on his word
Or memorize it if you need to memorize it
Okay, the more you spend in god's word. I promise you if you're doing it the right way with the help of the holy spirit
That you will find yourself being offended less and less and less
Say why?
Because you know when you read god's words, you know what god wants from you
Okay, and with that clear conscience you do what god wants and you're going to care less
For what men think of you you're going to have more care about what god thinks of you than what men think of you
And if men think of you poorly who cares i'm pleasing jesus i'm pleasing god
Why should I get offended at what man has to say?
I'd rather think about the great peace that god gives me and the clear conscience that he gives me by following his word
In fact the old testament scriptures
Uh touch upon this if you can please turn with me to psalm 119
Go to psalm 119 this same truth is illustrated here in the old testament in psalm 119
Psalm 119 and verse number 165
I'll give you a moment to turn there. I want you to see this psalm 119
And verse 165
What does it say?
great peace
Have they which love thy law?
And nothing shall offend them
You know why you get easily offended
Because you don't love the law of god or you don't love it the way you ought to
You don't spend enough time in the words of god. That's why you don't have the peace and you get easily offended
All right, brethren great. Peace. Have they which love thy law?
This is this is a guarantee
You spend more time in god's word. You learn to love god's word. You have peace
Peace with god doesn't matter what man thinks and nothing shall offend them
Number one
Nothing that you read in the bible will offend you
People get offended just because of what bible says you start to love it
What people find offensive you'll be like, I love that
You know, you know what god commands for same-sex people the death penalty that's in the law of god
So how can you say that i'm not offended I love god's law I think it's perfect
The law of the lord is perfect converting the soul
But the world gets offended at that
But if someone gets offended at that and go pastor. Oh that pastor, you know, he's such a wicked man
He's full of hate. Should I get offended by that? Like bring it on who cares?
I know what god says
So i'm not gonna get offended by anything in god's word, but secondly i'm not gonna get offended by the opinions of man
I'm gonna have great. Peace
And again, it's the comforter's job to teach you god's word
Okay, you've got to open the bible give the holy spirit the time to teach and to guide you
Again i'm thankful that you're in church
But i'm telling you more important than church is that you read your bible yourself
You know, I want to teach you I want to guide you and teach you but i'm you have more time
You get one hour sermon out of me, maybe
Okay a week or maybe three hours of sermons if you come every service
But you've got a lot more time in your hands to spend time with god in his word
You know, please don't neglect reading the bible allowing the holy spirit to give you his great. Peace and nothing will offend you
Back to john 16. John 16 and verse number eight, please. John 16 verse number eight
He says and when he is come that's the comfort of the holy spirit
He will reprove the word of sin and of righteousness and of judgment
So we see another responsibility of the holy spirit here to reprove means to rebuke or to correct
Okay
So he will reprove the word of sin
All right. So what is the job of the holy spirit?
Yes for the world to realize that they are in sin
You say what sin in particular?
Well, we don't have to wonder if you keep going there verse number nine. It says of sin. What's in particular in particular?
Because they believe not on me
Brethren what sin is the holy spirit going to work in the hearts of the lost?
The sin of rejecting christ or of not being
Being non-believers of jesus christ and brethren as the holy spirit uses us to be a witness
Okay, that is yes. We're all sinners, but the sin that we're we're really targeting
To the lost is that they've not trusted christ
They've not believed on christ and with the help of the holy spirit
We'll be able to help them see the truth of god's word and for them to place their faith
Holy on the finished work of christ
Then he says of righteousness
What's the next thing that the whole spirit was working on righteousness because I go to my father and you see me no more
All right christ is saying there's coming a time when you're not going to see me anymore
Like we're used to that because we've never seen christ physically walking this earth like for us
It's like oh, yeah, but for them it's not that easy. They've been walking with the lord for free that for three years now
Okay, they're used to seeing the physical presence of jesus
Okay, but he's saying look he's going to teach you righteousness he's going to correct the holy spirit
That's his job to guide you to direct you into righteousness
You know, you don't have to go to a physical man. You can tap into the holy spirit
Okay through the word of god and know what is righteous
Then he says in verse number 11 of judgment
You know because the prince of the world is judged
The ability to pass correct judgment, you know deciding what is right and what is wrong
Okay, the holy spirit is going to help you make those decisions
Again in line with god's word
I think it's usually because the prince of the world is judged. I think what that is talking about
I'll just give you my opinion. I could be wrong
I believe it's just saying that you know by passing by helping us with judgments, you know
It's helping us to overcome the confusion that satan has brought into this world. I mean, isn't this world confused?
I mean this world doesn't even know what a man is anymore or what a woman is anymore
All right, and I feel like I don't even need the holy spirit to tell me that but
Like really, you know, um, the world is getting so
so weird
How can you not know what a woman is? How can you not know what a man is? So I mean, this is like
Someone not knowing what one plus one is
that's that's how
What's all i'm looking for? That's how depraved the world is getting
They can't even tell the basic things
That's why listen we don't go to society to society to know what is right and wrong
The holy spirit is the one that teaches us
Yeah
And so satan confuses things but the holy spirit comes and makes it black and white
Man is a man woman is a woman. Okay, if things are black and white according to god's word verse number 12
Christ says I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now
Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth
For he shall not speak of himself
But whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will show you things to come
All right. So the holy spirit is not going to teach anything new
Okay, he's going to teach the same things that the holy spirit has heard
Okay, so who did he hear from?
obviously the father because given christ has many times the things that he says are the things that the father has taught him to
To to not just teach but also to do the holy spirit is doing the same thing
Okay, and i've covered this before but just one more time
If you come to me partly say pastor the holy spirit has told me x y and z
Okay, but if it's contrary to the bible, it's not the holy spirit that told you that
It's your own selfish desires
or
Like many in the charismatic world. It's some devil that told you those things
No, the holy spirit will tell you the things that you've already heard in god's word that's the job of the holy spirit
And he will show you things to come I I what I think this is talking about is obviously the new testament scriptures were not
Yet fulfilled. All right, and the bible says in second peter 120 knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
Interpretation for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man
By the will of man, but holy men of god spake as they were moved by the holy ghost
And so it may very well be the things to come future events might be the fact that the holy ghost is going to utilize
Men to complete the writings of the new testament
but again, everything
Is aligned with the teachings of christ like there are no contradictions in scripture is what i'm trying to say
You know some people teach well jesus christ, you know the teachers of christ
That's for the jews the teachings of paul that's for the gentiles
And you need to always maintain a separation of these things no
Okay, everything is consistent everything the holy ghost teaches will be the same thing that christ taught
And what they taught are the same things that the father taught them to teach
Verse number 14
About the holy spirit he shall glorify me
and by the way
the spirit of the charismatic and the pentecostal churches
What I find from the testimonies that i've heard is the whole their spirit glorifies themselves
It's all about them. It's all about what they've been able to achieve and how how you know, no the holy spirit. He shall glorify me
The holy spirit points you to christ
It's not about man and the glorification of man
Now he shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and show it unto you
Again, it takes what christ has taught and shows it verse number 15 all things that the father hath are mine
Therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you
He says look I got what i'm teaching I got from the father
And the holy spirit is going to take what I taught and show it to you and it's all coming from the father again
Showing us the triune nature of god
Showing us the trinity how it operates
The father is the one that has the highest authority
And then he passes that on to the son, which he did as he walked the earth 2000 years and then as christ left
Okay, well, you see him no more
He gave us the holy spirit to continue teaching us the same things that christ taught the same things that the father wanted his people
to know
verse number 16, please
Now it gets a little tricky here. We're going to read all of it verses 16 to 20
Thank you for that brother
This all gets kind of in fact the disciples start saying why are you talking to us in parables?
Because it is it's not very clear and you know as we read this if you kind of get confused
I want you to understand why it is a little bit confusing, okay?
But i'll give you what I believe and if you have a different thought well, you know, that's all right
But verse number 16 a little while
And you shall not see me
And again a little while and you shall see me
Because I go to the father
Okay, so I believe that's the same. Look he's he's about to be arrested and we're coming to that point
Okay, a little while not long. He's going to be arrested and you shall not see me
He's going to be taken away from them
and again a little while
After the resurrection of christ you shall see me because I go to the father
Then said some of his disciples among themselves
What is this that he say fun to us a little while and you shall not see me and again a little while
And you shall see me and because I go to the father
By the way, um, they're not saying this, uh verbally they're saying this just
Within themselves, but christ knows what they're saying
Like they're like what are you saying? Well a little while a little while
You know
What he's referring to here jesus, you know verse number 18
They said therefore what is this that he saith a little while?
We cannot tell what he saith
But look at this verse number 19 now jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him and said unto him so
He knows they want to ask this like we're confused, you know christ just realized, you know
He can tell obviously within themselves that they're confused and said unto them
Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said a little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall
See me
Verily verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament
But the world shall rejoice. I mean just think about that for a minute his disciples will weep and lament
But the world will rejoice shall rejoice
And ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy
You again what time frame is christ speaking about here where the disciples are going to be sorrowful, but the world's going to be rejoicing
The only thing is the death of christ
I mean, it's the only thing that fits in fact, it's about to happen
We know that, you know, obviously what's going to take place in in the ministry of christ. Yeah
Obviously seeing your leader seeing your savior being taken by the hands of the enemy and puts death the way that he did
You know, of course
It's going to bring sorrow and sadness to the his friends that loved him and disciples that were following him but notice the world rejoiced
We got rid of this, you know
And again not long because we said we saw earlier in verse number 11 the prince of the world speaking of satan
Yeah, you know the world the wickedness of the world, you know, you know satan and his minions they rejoiced
They thought they put an end to christ by killing him an end to his ministry
But I love what he says at the end of verse number 20, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy
Because it's going to be resurrected
Right, they're going to see him again. He's going to be resurrected from the dead and then christ uses and again
It's all a bit, you know a little while here a little bit while I get if it's a bit confusing
But then christ uses this illustration. He says in verse number 21 a woman when she is in travail have sorrow
Because her hour is come
It's talking about the labor pains
And ladies for you that have had children obviously it's a lot of work a lot of pain because her hour is come and
But then I love this but as soon as she's delivered of the child
Now ladies, I mean i'm not a mother i've never had to
give birth in that sense so
I mean i've given spiritual birth, you know, I give the gospel to someone they trust the christ
Yeah in that sense. They've been born again spiritually speaking
It does require a bit of travail doesn't it, you know pretty given the gospel it can be you know
It can be time consuming. It can be difficult sometimes it can be tiring
But i've never had to you know, push a baby out
But as soon as our ladies, I don't know you tell me if this is correct
I mean it has to be these are the words of christ, but as soon as she is delivered of the child
She remembereth no more the anguish
For joy that a man is born into the world
That's what christ says about ladies. I don't know i've had to experience many
Births, right just watching my wife travail and go through the pain and even after the baby's born i'm still
Traumatized
I've seen my wife having to go for that pain and when the baby's born. Yes, I have tears my eyes
But i'm not sure if i'm tearing because of the new life. I'm just like it's finally over for my wife
But apparently for the ladies as soon as that period is over and you set your eyes on that little baby
The joy comes the rejoicing and you know, the pain is quickly forgotten and the focus is put on the birth of that baby
Well jesus using that example that you know, yes, you're going to be full of sorrow during his death
They're going to be fearful and troubled but as soon as christ is resurrected from the dead, you know, they're going to be full of joy
And it's really interesting that christ decides to use the illustration of a birth
Okay
And I want to show you just a few interesting things in the bible
If you can keep your finger there and come with me to acts chapter 13. Come with me to acts chapter 13
acts chapter 13, please
And verse number 29
Acts chapter 13 and verse number 29
So, yeah, I think the illustration that christ is is really interesting
because
His resurrection in some ways is like a birth
Okay in acts chapter 13 verse number 29
And i'll give you some context here and then we'll get to the verse that I want to show you but acts 13 29
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree
That's the cross obviously and laid him in a sepulchre
But god raised him from the dead
And he was seen many days that's what he told him right once this happens you'll see me again
All right, and you'll see many days of them
Which came up with him from galilee to jerusalem who are his witnesses unto the people and we declare unto you glad tidings
How that the promise which was made unto the fathers?
So again, this is talking about the resurrection and notice that you know, these are glad tidings. This is good news
We're excited about christ being raised from the dead
But then he says in verse number 33. This is what I want to show you
God have fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he have raised up jesus again
As it is also written in the second psalm
Thou art my son
This day have I begotten thee
Let me ask you what day was christ begotten?
Well, god says this day have I begotten thee which day the day of the resurrection
Resurrection
That's what it means to be the begotten son to be to be raised from the dead
Like when you think of being begotten we think of a birth, don't we?
Well, you can see that there is some level of similarities here that christ's resurrection is the day that the father begat the son
I'm, not saying that this is when christ became the son christ has been the son for all eternity
Okay from everlasting that's the very nature of god, but there is something unique and something special about the resurrection of christ
In fact, if you can turn one more passage with me come to revelation chapter one come to revelation chapter one
Verse number five revelation chapter one verse number five. Just look at these words again revelation chapter one verse number five
It says and from jesus christ who is the faithful witness
the first begotten
of the dead
The first to rise from the dead in glorified body is christ
And the prince of the kings of the earth
Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood
So being the begotten or you know, we can see that this is the first begotten of the dead
Christ is the first to rise
in a glorified body
Now for christ, it was the same body that he died with don't get me wrong
Okay, but for us who have a sinful nature we're going to be given bodies like christ, you know
He's the first begotten but one day we're going to be begotten as well
Okay, one day we're going to be resurrected and given new bodies as well and so I can see the
the link between a child's birth
Like like this nature being begotten or to be brought forth out of and christ was brought forth out of death in this process
Anyway back to john 16 verse 22
It says and ye now therefore have sorrow like this is now happening for you, but I will see you again
And your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you
Okay, so christ saying look when you see me again, you're going to be full of joy and that joy will
Will remain so this is point number three
overcome offense
And I've I had this point in the last chapter. I know but overcome offense with the joy of christ
overcome offense with the joy of christ
Okay, if you're easily offended you got thin skin
You know you get asked something
Well
You know what i'm talking about
It's it's epidemic
It's a real epidemic. I wish it was a vaccination against being offended so easily
But you need to just rejoice in christ
You get a little bit offended you get a little something didn't go your way
Something didn't go the way you prefer, you know, someone said something to you
You know
Listen just rejoice in christ. You're saved
You're saved you're god's people you're god's children
You're going to heaven
You're going to rule forever with christ
Or his thousand years and then we'll be serving the lord god for all eternity
How do we get so bothered about little things that happen in this vapor of life?
Rejoice in christ, let me encourage you to rejoice you've got so much to look forward to I mean you got so much to enjoy even today
You know
If you're saved, you know, you have no doubts, you know what christ has done for you
Doesn't matter if your life ended tomorrow. You're right with the lord
You know god sees you in the righteousness of christ. There's so much to rejoice about
I mean you're going to get someone said something about me. Oh
All your sins were dumped on christ
And he did it willingly and lovingly lay down his life for you
So we'll actually just appreciate what christ has done and then you'll realize the little things that you go through are nothing in comparison
Even if you lost your life for the cause of christ
It's nothing to the comparison of christ was in his life bearing the sins of the entire world in his body
At least when you die you go righteously to the lord god for eternity
You're redeemed brother
You don't have to face the wrath and the curse of god upon you
You
So overcome offense with the joy of christ find joy find happiness in life and find it in christ
John 16 verse number 23. John 16 verse 23
And in that day
Now this is again sounds cryptic, but I think once I explain it to you, it's it's pretty obvious in that day
You shall ask me nothing
Verily verily I sent you whatsoever you shall ask the father in my name. He will give you
Here the two have you asked nothing in my name ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full
All right. So in that day what they were talking about his resurrection again talking about their joy the joy to come
He's going to see them again at that day. So after the resurrection is this point
He's saying that you're not going to ask they're not going to ask jesus for anything anymore
Again, put yourself in their shoes
They've been going these last three years of ministry walk in with the physical presence of christ
Everything they needed anything they wanted they could just turn to christ's physical presence and ask him
You know if they were without food christ can perform miracles and feed the five thousand
Okay
Christ is telling them there is coming a day when you're not going to be able to ask of him anymore
Yes, he he's resurrected from the dead. Yes, they see him, but we know eventually he ascends to the father
Okay, and this is the reality for us you and I we don't have the physical presence of jesus on this earth right now
Christ is telling them you need to learn to ask of the father in my name
you know, um
the disciples they even you know, um
In fact, i'll just read it to you. I've got it here luke 11 verse 1
It says and it can't and it came to pass that as he was praying as jesus was praying a certain place
When he ceased one of his disciples said unto him lord teach us to pray
And john as john also taught his disciples and he said unto them when you pray say
Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done as in heaven
So enough christ saying look when you learn to pray you pray to the father
And then obviously in the name of christ in the power of the name of christ and he's telling them look
You can't just depend on a physical presence of a person you need to start applying your faith
Directly to the father in prayer you ask the father in prayer
As we keep going through this you'll see that christ is trying to get them to stop relying on that physical presence and to act on
faith
And this is how we operate today
You know, we haven't had to deal with the physical presence of christ, but we act on faith, right?
As we go and we pray to the lord, you know, we by faith believe that he hears us
We by faith believe he's going to answer those prayers and give us what is best for us
But this is not what these disciples are used to you know, because they're so used to having christ physically in their presence
verse number 25
He says, uh, sorry, john 16 25 these things have I spoken unto you in proverbs?
So christ acknowledges what he's saying is kind of you know, not very clear
He goes but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs
But I will show you plainly of the father
I'm going to show you something that is very plain from the of the father
all right now
Let's keep going there verse number 26
At that day
You shall ask in my name
And I say not unto you that I will pray the father for you
He goes you're going to ask in my name, but i'm not going to go to the father for you
Like you're going to be able to talk to the father directly you can go to the father directly in prayer
Okay, they don't need to rely on again the physical presence of jesus at this time
He says for the father himself love of you
Because you have loved me
And I have believed so and have believed that I came out from god
I came forth from the father and i'm coming to the world
Again, I leave the world and go to the father
Christ is now teaching a different period of time here. He says, uh
I leave the world and go to the father and I personally believe this is about his ascension
Uh sitting at the right hand of the father where he literally just leaves the world
Now let's keep reading now. I'll explain to you all in a moment verse number 29. His disciples said unto him lo
Now speak us out plainly and speak us no proverb now we're getting what you're saying. All right
Now are we sure that they are knowest all things look at this and need us not that any man should ask thee
Now we get why we don't have to ask you anymore
By this we believe that thou came us forth from god
Jesus answered them. Do you now believe?
Is they've always believed christ has already told them they believe and he's already acknowledged that they believe they believe that christ has come from the father
but
This is a change of process for them
Again, they're so dependent on the physical presence of christ to fulfill all their needs
Now they're learning by faith to call upon the father in the name of jesus
And when they see that the father answers their prayer
They're going to be shown the love of the father toward them. Remember christ is going to show them of the father
He's going to show them the love of the father that the father answers their prayers
They don't need the physical presence of christ they can act on faith alone that god will answer those prayers
Now, why do I believe this is about the ascension to christ at the right hand?
Just because of the words that he says there in verse number
If you look at verse number 26
He says at that day say what day again look at verse number 23 at
And it says in that day. You should ask me nothing
Okay, so again the whole thing that has led up to this is his resurrection that they're going to see him again
Okay, and when they see him again, he's going to give them the comforter. He's going to give them the holy spirit
So we're talking now a period after the resurrection of christ when he's going to leave the world
As he has okay, and he's sitting at the right hand of the father and we as the disciples can pray directly to god
The father and ask of all our needs and when we see the father answer prayers
We know that the father loves us
Have you ever had your prayers answered?
That's your proof that the father god the father loves you that's that's the proof that he hears you
We don't need to rely on the physical presence of jesus
Okay, we act on faith
You know we are in christ and christ is in us
You know and we can ask the father all things by the name of our lord and savior. Jesus christ
Um
In fact, I just want to prove this a little bit further if you can go back to john 14 again a bit of repetition
But I just want to show you that it's all connected
Okay, it's all connected go to john 14 verse 18
john 14 verse 18
It says jesus christ says I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you again
He's going to give the comfort up. We know this is after the resurrection
Yet a little while and the world seeeth me no more
But you see me because I live you shall live also
So the little wild thing is there again then he says these words again verse 20 at that day
Going to continue this is chapter 16 is a continuation of what we've seen in chapter 15 to the 14 at that day
You shall know that I am in the uh that I am in my father and ye in me and I in you
Okay, so they're going to have this sort of full realization
That they can act upon faith
You know, yes that christ resurrected from the dead at that day after the resurrection
They can just directly send their prayers to god and god alone and they can have the faith those prayers will be answered
And so I think I think this is really important because
like for us
I know I'm kind of like
I don't know. I hope i'm being clear with what i'm trying to teach
I'm trying to teach the difference between us and them like since we've been born we've always acted on faith
You know by faith and of course they had faith in christ as well
But they were helped by the physical presence of jesus, you know at his teachings at his works, you know
And and and his answered prayers to god, but we've never seen christ. We've never seen
The holy spirit we've never seen the father
And yet I feel like i'm not trying to say that i'm this great guy, but I feel like I know god
More than I know a human being that I can see face to face
Like i've never seen jesus, but I believe a hundred percent
That he walked this earth and that he died on the cross and he arose from the dead
And that he did that to pay for my sins. Like I feel like I know jesus
I don't know. Is that how you feel, you know
You know, i'm not saying that just because i'm a pastor even before I was a pastor. I felt that way
Did I know who jesus is i've never seen him
Like I don't think of a painting with blonde hair and blue eyes or something like that and so i've seen jesus some statue
I've seen him in faith
Like I feel like I know jesus
I feel like he's my friend and he loves me and he takes care of me
And again, i've never seen the father, but I feel like I know the father
Because how many times have I prayed to my father in heaven and i've had those prayers answered
And that shows me that he loves me and that he loves you
You know that he cares about me that he's not just his being somewhere far away. He really cares about my every day life
My every need I feel like I know that love. I know that that walk with the father
I feel like I know the holy spirit
You know as I read my bible and things that may have been confusing. I now read it again and go wow now I understand
You know the things sometimes that I prepare for church on a saturday night and i'm like, I don't know what that's saying
I don't know. What is that talking about a little while in a little while or yeah creates a problem whatever
I'm just giving an example, right
And then i'm like lord and i'm gonna sleep my my head's tied here
I'm gonna go to sleep and then I wake up in the morning. I say lord. Can you show me? Can you help me?
You know
I may not I don't necessarily know every verse of the bible, but sometimes I just what lord
Can you just tell me you know and I wake up sunday morning and as soon as I wake up. Oh, yeah, that's the answer
Is it because i'm such a smart man? No, it's the holy spirit
He's the kind he teaches you all things
Have you ever had that have you ever, you know, you know open the bible?
Then you spent time you ask god to help you and now it all makes it
That's the holy spirit. That's the holy ghost teaching you I feel like I know god
You know, I like like I know I feel like I know god more than even
Okay, my family know them pretty well, but even my church members
Because I spend time with you a few hours a week and we can talk
They don't really know the deepest things in your heart. Maybe I don't want to know
But I know the lord because his word reveals everything there is to know about him like he wants us to know him
I'm not some mysterious god that can't be related to he knows when I go through pain. He knows when I fail
He knows my weaknesses
He helps me in life
I've seen his hand
You know his helping hand his guidance
So I understand what christ is trying to teach them here
Stop relying on me my physical presence. I'm gonna go and I want to be full of comfort
I want you to be full of joy
I don't want you to get offended because the father loves you and the holy spirit's going to teach you everything I taught you anyway
Like you're not worse off by having christ like having have gone
God's going to reveal himself in even a greater measure
You know through the power of the holy spirit and by the answered prayers from the father
So I hope that kind of clarifies what jesus christ is teaching his disciples there verse number 32
Is that what i'm up to verse number 32
Uh, yeah verse number 32 behold the hour cometh. Yea is now come that ye shall be scattered
Every man to his own like he's been trying to prepare them this whole time
Every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet i'm not alone because the father is with me
These things have I these things I have spoken unto you
That in me you might have peace remember don't get offended be at peace
Be at peace in the world ye shall have tribulation
But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world
What a way to end that chapter?
Okay
I want to notice how verse number 33
Um how the chapter ends these things have I spoken unto you
That in me you might have peace, right?
Look how verse number one starts in the same chapter these things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended
So we understand when christ says don't be offended what he really means is that you have great peace
That's the opposite, you know from god's from christ perspective that you're at peace
When things bother you when you get thin-skinned when you get offended
Okay, you're not at peace
You're not at peace with god
Okay, and it's a peace that christ can give you
Reverend if you find that peace
And god wants to give it to you
Okay, then you'll find that you'll you won't have thin skin you'll have thick skin
You'll find that you can read the bible not get offended by god who gets angry
A god who is angry at the wicked every day the bible says
Some pastors teach you being angry is a sin. Don't be angry. God is not angry
God is angry at the wicked every day the bible says
Oh get offended don't get offended because that's who god is
Is
We should get angry at the things that god gets angry about we should hate the things that god hates
And we should love the things that god loves
Instead of getting offended learn to be learn to submit your will to god's will
And then you won't get offended
You'll be at peace
Even better than not being offended. It's having that great peace that jesus christ can give you
so brethren in summary
Let me just tell you that just the three points that I had for you under don't be offended number one
Don't be offended if you lose your life for christ
And you haven't lost your life for christ. So you've got no reason to get offended
Number two when offended the holy spirit is your comforter run to the holy spirit lives right here right in you
And number three overcome offense with the joy of christ. Okay, let's pray heavenly father lord
I want to thank you so much for your word. I want to thank you
Lord for revealing yourself
um
So clearly lord through your word and lord the words that I spoke to the church
This afternoon is true. Lord. I thank you that I can know you for your word lord. I thank you for loving me
Lord, I thank you for loving each one of us and for being a god that answers prayer
Lord, I thank you for sending your son the lord jesus christ
And as much as I wish I could be on the earth when christ walked this earth. I realized that lord
We're not worse off at all lord by faith. We've given us your holy spirit lord. You teach us your word
Lord you you answer our prayers
And lord we can ask all things in the name of your son the lord jesus christ
Lord, I thank you for revealing a god that we can know not like the not like the muslims that say god is unknowable
Lord. No, you are a god that can be known
And help us all to know you more help us not to be offended help us to love your word
Help us to love thy law and nothing shall offend us. We pray these things in jesus name. Amen
All right hymn number 355 hymn number 355
What a friend we have in jesus 355 what a friend we have in jesus
Oh
Trials and temptations
We should never hear this
Is
Take it to the lord
Heavy
This
Is