JCSLK #66 Jesus Teaching In The Upper Room 2 Power, Praying an the Paracletos
JCSLK #66 Jesus Teaching In The Upper Room 2
Power, Praying an the Paracletos
Text: John 14:10-21
Sermon Video Link
Beyond Zebra by Dr. Suess
Said Conrad Cornelius O'Donnell O'Dell, my very young friend who was learning to spell, "The A is for Ape, the B is for Bear, the C is for Camel, the H is for Hair, the M is for Mouse, the R is for Rat ... I know all twenty-six letters like that. Through to Z is for Zebra, I know them all well," said Conrad Cornelius O'Donnell O'Dell. "Now I know everything anyone knows from beginning to end, from the start to the close, because Z is as far as the alphabet goes."
Then he almost fell flat on his face on the floor when I picked up the chalk and drew one letter more. A letter he had never dreamed of before. And I said, "You can stop if you want with the Z, and most people stop with the Z, but not me. In the places I go, there are things that I see that I never could spell if I stopped with a Z.
"I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends, my alphabet starts where your alphabet ends. My alphabet starts with this letter called yezz, it's the letter I use to spell yezzametezz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found, once you go beyond Z and start poking around. So on beyond zebra explore like Columbus, discover new letters like wum, which is for wumbus, my high-spouting whale who lives high on a hill and who never comes down till it's time to refill. So on beyond Z, it's high time you were shown that you really don't know all there is to be known.”
Now what does Dr. Suess have to do with John 14 and the upper room discourse of Jesus? The poem is about never thinking you know it all, or have discovered all there is to know, of life, learning and living. The application to Christians is the same and it is badly needed today. Christians often grown complacent, settled in the routines of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We settle for mundane things when Jesus promises us extraordinary things in our relationship with Him. Knowing Jesus should never be routine, a comfortable, satiated rut. Like Conrad Cornelius O’Donnell O’Dell we need to go beyond Z, its high time we realize that you really don’t know all there is to be known about knowing Jesus.
John 14-16 contains Jesus’ last great lesson to the Apostles and it will push them beyond anything they have experienced in the 3 ½ years of their relationship with Jesus. What had become a day by day year by year routine with Jesus, was now going to be overturned by his arrest, trial and crucifixion. A person they trusted and loved will not only walk away but will betray their Lord. By the early morning hours the band of brothers, the first church will be scattered and on the run. Jesus knew had to prepare them, remind them and encourage them as they faced the crisis of their lives and faith.
Some of the things Jesus said in the Upper Room that evening apply only to the apostles but much of it applies to all believers in our own times of upheaval, sorrow and loss. We need to listen now, because our own time of overturning could come at anytime and we will need to hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Believe In Me.”
Power of The Father In The Son - John 14:10-11
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Jesus' Promise of Seeing God In Him
We talked about Phillip request last week, “Show us the Father and that would be all we need.”
Jesus replies, John 14:9 Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Jesus never did anything outside the power and the presence of His Father. The works that Jesus did are proof of this power of the presence of the Father with Him.
By saying John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” Jesus is once again declaring that He is God.
He is the visible manifestation of the invisible God. In Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. That word “express image” is χαρακτήρ, charaktēr; an exact engraving a “character”, an exact copy, or in this case the physical image on earth of the invisible Father in heaven.
Jesus gives his assurance to Phillip, the apostles and to us. If you see me, then you are seeing God. You don’t need a theophany, a vision or a visit to heaven, all you need is me.” All we need is to see Jesus.
Paul’s Declaration of Defiant Faith
Romans 8:35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (super victorious) through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Faith on the Death March
Philip Crosby, in his book March Till They Die, tells of a forced march of American and European soldiers in Korea. In November of 1950, the North Koreans were being pushed north, and they were taking with them the Americans and Europeans they had captured as prisoners of war. It was a terrible march. They were forced to go sometimes twenty miles a day though they were emaciated, hungry, suffering. Soldiers who couldn't keep up would fall back, and shots rang out. They had been executed.
Philip Crosby and his Christian friends, as they passed close to those GI's who were having a hard time keeping up, would say slowly in a whisper, so the North Koreans would not hear, "God is near us in this dark hour. His love is real. His mercy is real. His forgiveness is real. His reward is waiting for us." - Don McCullough, "Reasons to Fear Easter," Preaching Today, Tape No. 116.
Jesus reminded the apostles in their dark hour, that God was near, standing in the same room with them. If they had Jesus then they had all they needed. In your dark hours just listen for the whisper of God’s word, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. “Jesus is with you in this dark hour.”
Now we come to the part of Jesus answer to Phillip that we didn’t cover last week. Having Jesus means having all you need. Then Jesus adds another reassurance in his answer to Phillip.
Power Of Prayer In Son’s Name - John 14:12-15
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jesus Promise of Power In Prayer
Not only have the apostle seen God the Father in Jesus but now Jesus is going to impart to them His power through prayer.
Once again, he emphasizes belief in Him. John 14:12 12 Verily, verily, (Amen, amen) I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.
That is an incredible assurance, Jesus says even when I am gone, my power will not be gone. If anyone believes they will do the same works and even greater works. Now wait, how can anyone do greater works than Jesus? The answer to what Jesus is saying is in the reason he gives, “Because I go to the Father.
Jesus while on the earth, He was limited by the physical body he took on be become fully man and God. In that body, he could not be all places at all times, he set aside omnipresence, but when he returns to heaven this limitation will no longer exist. His works on earth will be carried out by those who believe in him and the power for those works come through prayer. The great is not in quality, no one can do greater miracles than Jesus, if anyone uses this verse to make such and claim and there are many in the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches who do just that, mark that person and that belief system as blasphemous heresy. These works are not greater works than Jesus did, they are more works of the greatest work Jesus did, telling the world He came to die for them and to believe in Him. All through our access to God through prayer.
Power through Prayer. Jesus vs. 13 teaches the way in which this access will be gained, prayer.
"Ask"- the condition of prayer.
James, Jesus’ brother said, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”
If you do not ask you will not receive the power you need to do the work of Jesus.
"In my name"- the ground of prayer.
This means to ask as Jesus would ask. You are to pray in Jesus stead, to pray as Jesus would pray. When you pray with the heart, mind and purpose of Jesus then such a prayer is always answered.
"That will I do"- the certainty of prayer.
When I ask, and when I ask as Jesus would, then I can have certainty that the answer will be yes.
"That the Father will be glorified in the Son"- the purpose of prayer.
What a revelation! This is why I should be praying. My prayers are answered in Jesus’ name, his authority, his power and those answered prayers will bring glory to the Son.
Do We Pray As Jesus Taught?
If we lack faith to do the works of God today, it is because we do not go in prayer to the throne room of Heaven and open the floodgates of His power.
When I understand and practice this truth, then doing great works is promised by Jesus. My hope of success, of superseding is not based on what I can do but what Jesus will do through me.
Remember the story of crossing the seas in Luke 8:22 A terrible deadly storm arises and the disciples , in fear of their lives, wakeup Jesus who is asleep in the bottom of the fishing boat to save them. After He stills the storm he rebukes them, “Where was your faith?” Their faith should have been in Him and He was right there.
One our hymns sings, “if Jesus goes with me I’ll go anywhere.” Another sings out "No water can swallow the ship where lies the master of Ocean and earth and skies." If Jesus is with you, if he is at home in the ship of your soul. The what power can confound you, what work can daunt you, what evil can haunt you? Jesus power and presence through the power of prayer.
But, when I forget this truth, when I fail to meet with him daily in prayer, then my life can be nothing but a series of failures, fiascos and frustrations. When I live the truth of prayer in Jesus name, then even death cannot frighten, nor affect me. We will the greater works of God, if we truly trust His promise of powerful prayer.
Jesus has yet another promise to encourage the Apostles, to them it was the fulfillment of 1000s of years of promise but to us many times it is overlooked and underutilized in our work for the Lord.
Power of the Paracletos In Us- John 14:16-20
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Jesus Promises The Paracletos In Us
Jesus says He will pray for another comforter. In the Greek the phrase is a Paracletos of the same kind. Jesus was their first comforter, but now he Holy Spirit, the paracletos would take His place among the apostles.
The Paracletos means “one called alongside to help.” The Amplified Bible, explands it this way, “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.
Jesus was all those things and now the Holy Spirit would take His place, but with one big difference. Jesus promises that Spirit of Truth will dwell in them, not just with them but in them, available at all times to help us and comfort in every need, every crisis, every turn of our life.
To make sure they and we understand this great gift, Jesus equates the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to his own presence in our life. “I will not leave you comfortless (the word means orphans) I will come to you.”
Do We Appreciate and Trust the gift of The Spirit?
How important is the Holy Spirit to us today? Well, just look again at the words which describe Him.
Counselor, not your conscience but your guide, advisor and the one who impart wisdom for any and every decision and action of your life.
Intercessor, He is the carrier of our prayers, our petitions and our passion to God’s throneroom.
Advocate. This means he is our champion, our paladin and He fights on our behalf in the spiritual battles of life.
Strengthener. The Holy Spirit, the Paracletos, gives us of the strength of God. And don’t we need it today? Don’t we need it so greatly in this wicked age and in the overwhelming strife in our days on this earth.
Paul expounds on the power of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:1-17 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¶ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Farmers Son and the Lantern
One night a farmer and his young son were working on a wagon. The farmer realized he needed a tool he didn't have. "Son, go to the barn and fetch me that big wrench."
The son looked at his dad and then at the darkness of the night and said, "Daddy, I'm afraid to go by myself." The father remembered something his dad had told him and he grabbed a kerosene lamp and handed it to his son.
"Son I don't want you to be afraid of the dark. Only walk as far as the light shines and you'll be okay." The son still fearfully took the lamp and looked out a few feet in front of him to where the light stopped. "I can walk to there," he thought. As he walked to the place where the light had been he looked out and saw that the light had now moved a few more feet in front of him. I can walk to there. Again he walked where the light had been. Slowly without realizing it he made his way to the barn without ever walking in the darkness. The lamp that he carried continued to keep him in the light no matter where in the darkness he went
As Christians we have been given a great gift calms our fears, leads our way and empowers our service to God. Don’t underestimate the gift of the Paracletos, the One called along side to help you, guide you, strengthen and comfort you. We have been blessed with so many gifts from God but I believe the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is most important gift, except for eternal life itself.
Jesus told them “At that day” the day when the Holy Spirit would be given to all believers on the Day of Pentecost, then they would know the Father’s love, His love and show Himself to them. The other apostle, Judas, who was also called Thaddeus, then asks, “John 14:22 Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” Jesus tells him that only those who love him and in that love obey him will see God and dwell with the Father and the Son.
Then Jesus has one more promised gift to bestow upon those who love him its in John 14:25 and we will conclude with this promise.
Conclusion: Jesus Promise Peace In Us
John 14:25-27 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave 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.
The Promise
With this promise of peace Jesus returns to the first words uttered in the Upper Room discourse, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Jesus has told them, “Believe in Me.” He has promised them a home in His Father’s House, He has reminded them that He is God in the flesh, He has given them the power of Prayer in His name. He has promised them the comfort, help, guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit and that He and the Father through the Holy Spirit would dwell with them.
Now He tells them I am leaving you the gift of peace, not the world’s idea of peace but true, powerful, spiritual, eternal and overwhelming peace. I believe this peace is the end result of all that Jesus had promised to them and to us. When I pause to pray, when I set my sight on Jesus, when I sustain myself in the Spirit, when I grasp the reality of dwelling with the Father, Son and Spirit, then there is true and unconquerable peace
How Can I Keep From Singing?
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1 My life flows on in endless song, 2 Through all the tumult and the strife,
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3 What though my joys and comforts die, 4 The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, Refrain: No storm can shake my inmost calm
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