John 15.16 - Hey, great job!!...Somebody?…Both of you??

Discovering God is sovereign in salvation can feel like a sucker-punch to self-esteem. “Really, do I need Him to even give me the faith to believe…!?” Jesus brusquely reminds the eleven remaining Apostles – probably patting themselves on the back that they did not leave like Judas – “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15.16) Taking self-importance down a few notches may be a good thing…at least mine! But aren’t words of appreciation an important social currency? Paul’s prayer teaches a biblical balance, because many times we simply fuel a  person’s pride when we praise them. Yet, to say nothing can discourage and disappoint. Paul commends the Ephesians for their faith and love (remember Scripture teaches both our responsibility and God’s sovereignty…even if we can’t figure it all out!) and he credits God, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you” (Ephesians 1.16).

John 15.18 - You Might Never be Cool Again!

Pastor Louie Giglio is cool. Last month he gathered 60,000 people from 54 nations and 2,000 universities for “Passion 2013” in Atlanta. Great speakers, musicians, artists, and lots of other cool stuff.  Through “End It” they are striving to end global slavery and human trafficking. So cool that President Obama noticed and asked him to pray for his Second Inauguration. But…uh oh…somebody scoured through Louie’s sermons from 20 years ago and found something uncool. He actually said being gay is not God’s best for people. Even worse, he still believes it! That took Louie off the President’s platform. Jesus says in today’s text that no matter how we try to be wise and winsome in the way we look, or act, or sing, or dance, or vote, or seek to help others….if you love Him, the world will hate you. It’s Christ or cool.

John 16.8-11 - Have I Gone Too Far?

Only the most foolish soul does not hope to somehow be forgiven. Those of us who claim to follow Jesus are the most guilty! Having now understood and experienced His saving grace – we still sin – regularly! We know better and get worse. Are our forgiveness funds overspent? What about that really bad _______ that you’d be ashamed for your best friend to find out? Do you feel bad about what you have done? Really bad?? Great!! God is at work. Without God we’re dead in sin. Remorse must precede resurrection. The Holy Spirit “convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16.8-11). Matthew Henry rightly wrote, “Those who fear they have committed the unpardonable sin give a good sign they have not.” But real security comes when feeling bad leads to true belief, “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16).

John 16.33 - Victim and Victor

This week a Christian sister from “down under” sent me a prophecy she claimed to receive about their elections and the establishment of righteous laws in her homeland. Well, their votes are still being counted. God’s final chapter has not been written for our nations. We should hope! But we should also see from our Lord’s example that Triumphalism and Tragedy are BOTH clear Gospel themes.  Here Matthew presents a beaten Jesus who does not even speak. While John who, wrote decades later - perhaps after His glorious Revelation – reveals that our victim is also a Victor. John knew what Matthew had written, and makes no effort to “harmonize” their messages, because both are true. All the writers of Scripture served the Primary Author – the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33)

John 17 - The Prayer our Lord Prayed

“The Lord’s Prayer” is our common moniker for the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. This famed prayer is a great one to recite from memory, “When you pray say…” (Luke 11.2); and as a guide for the key subjects of your own extemporaneous prayer, “Pray then like this…” (Matthew 6.9). What a great blessing that Jesus gave us such a useful tool to approach God! Pray it, memorize it, and follow its themes in your prayer life. My first pastor urged our church to reflect on each petition for a week at a time. But Jesus did not need to recite that prayer for Himself, specifically the phrase “forgive us our sins / debts / trespasses” (they’re all good!). However you say it, He did not need to!  Our Savior is sinless. One prayer Jesus ‘needed’ to lift to His Father is in John 17.

John 17.15-18 - In, Not of, but Into….the World

Flee Babylon?...while still paying down credit card debt here??  Yet, Jesus prayed for us; “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17.15-18). In: We now belong somewhere we don’t yet live. In Him we love and light up this dark world by being different from it. Not of: Do you love your cool phone more than the Bible on its app? What would change in your life if you did not have Jesus? What captures your heart? Into: Do you advance His kingdom, glory, and grace in all you do? Jesus – the ‘friend of sinners’ – shows us Biblical separation is not where we are or who we are with. It is about motive and mission. Follow Him and invite others!

John 17.17 - Jesus Loves Me…the Bible Tells Me So!

There are 5,686 Greek manuscripts in existence today for the New Testament… thousands more than any other ancient writing. The internal consistency of the NT documents is about 99.5% textually pure. That is an amazing accuracy. In addition there are over 19,000 in copies in the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic languages. The total supporting New Testament manuscript base is over 24,000. The N.T. documents were all written before the close of the first century. As Jesus was crucified about 30 A.D., then the entire New Testament was completed within 70 years…there were plenty of people around when the N.T. documents were penned who could have contested the writings…But, there are absolutely no ancient documents contemporary with the first century that contest the New Testament texts.

Source: Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry