THREE THOUGHTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT- - JOHN 14:1-3

THREE THOUGHTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

JOHN 14:1-3

Introduction:

Why were the disciples’ hearts troubled? Christ had told them He was leaving them (13:33), that one of them was a traitor, and that Peter would fail Him (13:36–38).

Jesus was encouraging His disciples to trust Him. The disciples had grown very close to Lord and would miss Him so He was preparing them for when He would be gone.

Here the Lord Jesus speaks of a PERSON, a PLACE, and a PROMISE.

I. A PERSON --- THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF

A. Believe in Me, John 12:44, “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.”

1. You trusted Christ as your Savior, Ephesians 1:12, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

2. Now He asked His disciples to trust Him even more, Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

a. God’s ways are not easily understood, Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

1) God’s plan is something people would have never dreamed of, 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

2) Waiting upon God in faith and trust, is an evidence of love for him, Isaiah 25:9, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

b. Therefore, we wait by faith, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

c. We walk by faith also, Hebrews 11:8, “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.”

B. Jesus will be the central figure of heaven.

1. He sits at the right hand of God, Mark 16:19, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

2. He is the King of Kings, Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

C. His presence is what makes it special.

1. For God is love, 1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

2. For God is holy, Leviticus 20:26, “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

3. For Jesus is holy:

a. He knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

b. He did no sin, 1 Peter 2:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

c. He took away our sin, 1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

D. The separation from Jesus will only be temporary, v. 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “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.”

II. A PLACE: HEAVEN

A. “My Father’s House,” v. 2; 2 Corinthians 5:1, “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.”

1. A place of perfect joy,

2. A place of Peace,

3. A place of beauty,

B. A better place, Hebrews 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

C. A place of “many mansions,” v. 2; Genesis 26:22, “And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth [room]; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

III. A PROMISE

A. The promise is that all who believe on Him have God's guarantee of eternal life, John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

B. The promise that they would be with Him, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

CONCLUSION:

Trust in the Lord. He has never fail us nor will he ever. He has prepared us a place in heaven and soon He will come again.