29 Days of Promise
“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS; I WILL COME TO YOU”
John 14:18
Great Commission Church
Intro: Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was a professional golf course architect who designed or re-designed over 500 golf courses in 45 states & 35 countries over a 70-year career. When Jones redesigned the fourth hole at the Baltusrol Golf Club's Lower Course in Springfield, N.J., prior to the 1954 U.S. Open, the club President, Hobart Ramsey, and some of the members thought the par-3 over a pond was unfair. He offered to play the hole along with the club pro, Johnny Farrell, and two members, while others watched including Ramsey and a few sports writers. Playing from the 165-yard members’ tee, Johnny Farrell and the two others each impressively hit their golf balls onto the green. Robert Trent Jones, who was a recreational golfer at best, stepped up to the tee box with a cigar in his mouth and swung his 4-iron. His ball also landed on the green, but then it kept rolling…and sank right into the cup for a hole-in-one. Turning to the assembly, Jones said, “Gentlemen, you’re wrong. As you can see, the hole is eminently fair.” And he walked off the course.
What does it mean to be vindicated? Can you think of any “I-told-you-so-moments” in the Bible? The first that comes to mind was when it started raining after Noah and his family and two of every animal had already entered the ark and God had shut the door. That’s when heaven said to mankind, “You were wrong. You should have listened to my preacher.” But we don’t necessarily want to rub it in the face of sinners. Christians want sinners to believe the Gospel and be saved, the same as happened to us. There will be one final moment of vindication for the Christian church one day. Jesus will return to earth to set all things right. He told His disciples, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” That’s our final promise of our 29 Days of Promise series.
[walk through John 14:12-21]
Promises along the way…
“You will carry on My ministry and increase it.” (14:12)
“…he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
“I will hear your prayers.” (14:13-14)
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
“I will enable you to obey Me.” (14:15-17)
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper…”
“I will come to you.” (14:18)
“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
Orphans are those with no caring support. “I will not leave you to be orphans; I will presence Myself to all of you.”
You will not be abandoned. I will not leave you defenseless. I will not leave you unprotected. I will not outsource your security.
This is not true for unbelievers. Jesus is the only way to the “Father” (14:6). Apart from Jesus, we are orphaned. Only His coming to us overcomes this condition.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS THE LORD JESUS COMES TO HIS DISCIPLES?
(1) In His Resurrection appearances (confirming the good news)
John 14:19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
He appeared to them after He rose, turning their sorrow into joy and overcoming their distress.
The resurrection of Jesus inaugurates the dawning of the kingdom. The King has overcome death.
The disciples gain not only fresh understanding, but resurrection life (“Because I live, you also will live”).
(2) By sending the Holy Spirit (empowering the mission)
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:28 “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”
With the coming of the “Helper,” the exalted Jesus would make Himself present with His disciples in the here and now.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is more than creating godly character in and granting spiritual gifts to Christians. He also makes the risen Lord Jesus present with believers!
(3) In His Return (vindicating the Church)
John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus Christ is coming back to earth! It will be the most dramatic vindication in all of history.
We anticipate it. We celebrate it. We prepare for it. We tell others to do the same.
Application:
Obey the Gospel
Walk in the Spirit
Live for His Return
