Seven Stitches of Truth to Mend a Troubled Heart
Subject: Mending troubled hearts.
Text: John 14:1-14
Theme: How to mend a troubled heart?
Introduction:
In this sin-cursed world, we often face tremendous heartache and pain. Uncertainty clouds the mind and troubles the soul. We deal with sickness, financial distress, and lives destroyed by sin on a daily basis. Sometimes we feel crushed beneath this unbearable Load.
Our loving Savior is now preparing the eleven remaining disciples for the heart-wrenching events of Calvary. We have seen Him teach humility through His lesson in foot washing. We have seen Him teach and command these disciples to love each other. In our passage today, we see Jesus teach that no matter what, He will never fail His own!
So, if you come here this morning with your heart aching from this world’s awful curse, listen with these disciples of old to the stitches of truth that will mend your troubled heart. These are Jesus’ promises to every believer.
I. You can trust me! (v.1)
A. You already know you can trust the Father in troubled times.
1. Psalm 43:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
2. Isaiah 26:3-4, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. [4] Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
3. Isaiah 43:1-2, “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. [2] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
B. You can trust Jesus too!
1. 2 Cor. 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
II. I have a plan for you. (v.2)
A. This place has been in construction over 2000 years.
1. 2 Cor. 5:1-2, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.”
B. Heaven will be a place for all the saints of God.
1. Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: [10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
2. Col. 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
3. Rev. 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
III. I am coming back. (v. 3)
A. Work until He returns.
1. Acts 1:7-11 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. [9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. [10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; [11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
B. Look for his return.
1. Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
2. 1 Thes. 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
IV. I am your saviour! (V.4-6)
A. Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
1. Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
B. Jesus is the giver of abundant life.
1. John 10:10 the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
V. I am the Father. (V.7-v.9)
A. Jesus is the Father Incarnate.
1. Isaiah 9:6 for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
2. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
3. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
B. The Father is seen in Jesus’ works.
1. 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. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
VI. Greater works than these shall ye do. (v.12)
A. Your works will have eternal results.
1. Acts 2:41-47 Then they that gladly received his word and were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. [42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
2. Romans 15:18-19 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, [19] Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
3. If you need an infusion of joy go out and win somebody to Jesus!
VII. Your prayers will be answered. (V.13, V.14) (John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.) (James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)
Conclusion:
Once again we see our Savior, equipped with the perfect, chilling knowledge and dread of the coming anguish of Calvary, stopping to make sure that these disciples are equipped with the truth that their broken hearts will need. If you languish with a torn heart tonight, meditate on these seven stitches of truth. 1. You can trust Me. 2. I have a place for you. 3. I am coming back. 4. I am your Savior. 5. I am the Father. 6. You will do greater works. 7. I will answer your prayers. Will you simply allow the Holy Ghost to comfort your heart with these truths from John 14 or will you allow the Devil to rob of your joy and comfort? The choice is yours?
