I will never leave you
John 14:15-29, Exodus 14
Good Morning everyone
As we continue in the series navigating the journey- Jesus words “I will never leave you or forsake you”
Remember the journey is our first breath to last breath
Prayer-
Start to finish in life Jesus gives us choices and gives us chances to draw near to Him. He desires for us to have a relationship with Him. He choose us and we have a choice wither we will choose Him.
How many have had someone say “I will be there for you”? “I will love you forever”? “You can count on me”? ‘Trust me” We all have and we have all been hurt by people that have said that and not kept their word.
Life is hard and life does not usually come with a roadmap and clear directions on how to navigate through those relationships and those hardships.
But for a believer, a follower of Christ, Jesus has said that He would not leave us or forsake us- both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain these words.
Words that God won’t leave the Nation of Israel (warning others to not mess with Israel) and Jesus won’t leave the believer (those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus)
What can we expect from Jesus as He says those words to us?
America is in trouble- because the glue that has held us together has been removed.
This country was dedicated to God as they sought out a place to worship - they were united in their cause and they were kept by the promises of God.
There was a covenant made between God Almighty and the people of the USA. The covenant said I will be your God and you will be my people. It starts unraveling, not because God does not want to be our God anymore but because we say to God that we do not want him to be our God.
Division is not a new thing. Sinning against God created an open door for each of us to make a choice and the choice we make is the choice we will live with for eternity if we die in our sin without God.
John 14- This chapter is (1) Jesus comforting his disciples, (2) instructing his disciples and (3) promising his disciples that they would not have to do things by themselves or do it in their own strength. THAT JESUS WOULD BE WITH THEM!
There are some this morning that would say they are tired and they are holding on for some answers and Jesus is saying to you this morning- I will not leave you or forsake you.
Jesus says take my words to heart and learn from me!
He comforted them by saying that their hearts should not be troubled, that He (Jesus) was going ahead of them to prepare a place and that He is coming back so that where He is now, we may be later- that brings me comfort, especially after Becky moving to her new home. He prepared a place for her and He prepares a place for us as we put our trust in Him. The disciples didn’t totally get it and we struggle also with the unknown and the super natural- if we cannot see it or touch it, we have a hard time with it. He says that the comforter (Holy Spirit) has to come and then after the comforter comes, he will return and bring his people back together.
John 14:15-29
There are several things we need to see if we are to grab the truth that for a believer that Jesus will not… leave us or forsake us. Those are not just words. They are a promise.
I will not leave you
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever”
If you love me, I will empower you!
Love for Christ is proven and demonstrated by our obedience to all that He says.
The comforter, counselor, advocate, encourager, intercessor, Holy Spirit, Helper.
The Greek word for it is “parakletos” DEFENSE ATTORNEY- “ One that stands in for us as all these things!
“Savior who moves mountains” for us who protects, defends, and saves us from ourselves and our enemies.
Word picture of the Holy Spirit coming to end the curse of sin in our lives.
Jesus saying to his disciples- when I go, He will come (Holy Spirit) and to us today- When I left, The Holy Spirit came.
Jesus prophesied that He must go so that He can come!
There are three ways Jesus will come-
He returned from the dead and was resurrected. (Already done)
He came in the person of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Already Done)
He will return a second time (One day soon)
The Spirit of truth has come to us and brings us promises of God! The world does not accept it or believe it
“The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
The essential difference between the old and new covenants is the promise of divine power to believers to love God and be able to obey God. The Old Testament, the power fell on a servant to accomplish a task from the Lord and the New covenant is the power of the Holy Spirit to dwell within a believer- “dynamas’- power like dynamite.
The power of the Holy Spirit is a gift of the glorified Christ.
The helper comes so that we can be witnesses to this world that cannot accept Him because they do not know Him and they need to know Him so they can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives!
Boom! This is what our world needs! A lot of Jesus and the power of God working in our lives!
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
In a world that encourages us to believe in ourselves, we are to trust the Lord and look to the Lord for our strength.
I will never forsake you
Definition of forsake is simply that God says that he will not abandon us- in the army of God there should never be wounded warriors left on the battle field and God says that He would never abandon us in our time of need.
When we promise always and we say never, we are not able to back that up- but God is able to back it up. We can fully trust that He will honor his word.
Joshua following behind the great Moses- no pressure and God says to Joshua that you will lead these people- Joshua 1:15- “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you .”
Solomon as the temple was completed- “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors, may he never leave us or abandon us.” 1 kings 8:57
Are you seeing this morning? Once we truly understand the fact that Jesus will not leave us or forsake us, we can understand how we can live out our lives in this temporary world of confusion and people who don’t understand the God that wants to be with them and they chose to ignore him and reject Him.
Once we understand the Lord saying that He will never leave or forsake us does not mean that we will never face adversity and trials, it just means that we will never have to face them alone and that the God who you have put your trust in will never… repeat never abandon you!
Once we understand that He will never abandon us, we will understand that He is enough! No matter what life deals out to us!
Exodus 16
Jesus is enough!
Big daddy weave- I know
2nd verse
I don't understand the sorrow
But You're calm within the storm
Sometimes this weight is overwhelming
But I don't carry it alone
You're still close when I can't feel You
I don't have to be afraid
And though my eyes have never seen You
I've seen enough to say
I know that You are good
I know that You are kind
I know that You are so much more
Than what I leave behind
I know that I am loved
I know that I am safe
'Cause even in the fire, to live is Christ, to die is gain
I know that You are good
Christians use the phrase Jesus is enough, but what does it really mean? Jesus is “enough” for what?
Jesus is enough to save us. Jesus has “by one sacrifice . . . made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). Peter preached that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only name that can take away our sin and save us.
Jesus is enough to provide for us. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This echoes Jesus’ words about God’s care for His creation.
Jesus is enough to bless us. Paul said that God “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). He didn’t say a “few” spiritual blessings; he said “every” spiritual blessing. Since we can’t add anything more to “every,” Jesus is truly enough for every spiritual need we have.
Jesus is enough to equip us. We have the promise that God’s “divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness” Nothing but Jesus is needed to equip us for living a life that pleases God.
Jesus is enough to strengthen us. When Paul prayed three times to the Lord to remove the thorn from his flesh, the response was “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Even when we are weak, Jesus’ strength is enough to carry us onward. In fact, our weakness only perfects His power, which leaves no room for adding another power source.
Jesus is all we need; there is nothing and no one to add to Christ. His person and His work are perfect.
He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
He is the only one who can save, provide, bless, equip, and strengthen. Having faith in Christ involves trusting in His complete sufficiency.
“I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that he died for me” (E. E. Hewitt).
Closing,
Let Jesus be Enough
No matter what life seems to throw at you, we must come to understand that Jesus is enough.
When you’re in pain.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” –2 Corinthians 1:3-4
2. When you’re confused.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:7
3. When you’re scared.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6
4. When you’re broken.
“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” –Psalms 147:3
5. When you’re stressed.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” –1 Peter 5:7
6. When you are weak.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” –Isaiah 40:29
7. When you are hungry.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:19
8. When you are tired.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28
9. When you are lonely.
“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” –2 Corinthians 6:18
10. When you are abused.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” –2 Thessalonians 3:3
Jesus is enough and He will never leave you or forsake you as you put your trust in Him!
Amen. Prayer-
