Inter-Community Church of God
May 2, 2021 Serivce
Psalm 23GNB
- Telling the Truth to OurselvesTruth or Consequences?We like the easy truismsWe like simple correlationsWe like superstitious explanationsWe like You Tube prognostications.We like sound bites instead of having to chew on the whole story.We like the truth if it sounds like what we want to believeChallenges to Truth Do Not Change the ConsequencesWe don’t like getting hit with the real truthBecause We don’t like unpleasant consequencesWe like to settle into our own ideas of consequenceWe discover consequences based on truth are not what we want.We really don’t like finding out we are not in charge of the consequences.But it isn’t up to us to control the consequencesWe Live In An Era of Untruths and OpinionsBut we will all face something greater:Jesus is going away; his disciples were not ready for this.But Jesus is sending to us the Spirit of TruthAnd mankind will start to know consequences of sinWhat the Holy Spirit will do is show us the truth about ourselvesWhen All You Can Think About is Loss
John 16:4–6 ESV But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.When All You Can Think About is LossJesus knew the disciples can only absorb so muchHere at the end of their time together, Jesus dives deeper into what will happen.Great discouragement is at handJesus needs them to hear they have a future comingYou have had me with you for 3 yearsNow I am going back to the FatherYou aren’t asking where I goBecause you are too wrapped up in sorrowToo focused on loss to imagine what you will gainYou are barely listening, and things will get worse before they get better.Truth is About to Dawn on YouJohn 16:7 ESV Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.Truth is About to Dawn on YouI go for your goodI must go so the Helper comesI must send to you the one who will stay with youThis is you strength for the days to comeThis is your teacher for the days to comeThis is the power you need for the futureThis is the truth-bringer that will be your helpHere Comes the Truth from GodHe’s coming—Jesus sends himThis helper is the Spirit of TruthJohn 15:26 ESV “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.The Spirit of Truth at WorkJohn 16:8–11 ESV And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.The Spirit of Truth at WorkSin, Righteousness and Judgement all get checkedThe Spirit convicts the world, not usConcerning Sin: People haven’t truly believed in JesusJesus has repeated this need throughout this Gospel:We must believe in Jesus, the One Sent from God, the Son of Man, the Son of God.John 6:29 ESV Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”Many say they believe; do you really?Have you told yourself the truth about your faith in Jesus?Have you believed something about Jesus, but not believed in Jesus?We must tell the truth to ourselves.Concerning Righteousness: How do you stand before GodGenesis 15:6 ESV And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.Concerning Judgment: It starts with Satan, the chief of the guiltyJohn 12:31 ESV Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.The Spirit of Truth is Our GuideJohn 16:12–13 ESV “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.The Spirit of Truth is Our GuideSo much more to teach, but not for now: there must be the preparation of experienceThe Spirit of Truth will Guide You Into all truthMore than you can now knowInto God’s truth, for he will speak from the Father and SonInto truth about our tomorrows and our eternityThe Spirit Works to Glorify ChristJohn 16:14–15 ESV He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.The Spirit Works to Glorify ChristChrist is glorified when the Truth is ToldTold by the Spirit, his truth is verifiedThe “I told you so” of Jesus’ wordsThe things yet too precious to bear will be givenThere will be nothing left out.The Spirit will teach the Truth of the FatherThe Truth of the Father is the Truth of the SonThe Spirit of Truth bears witness to truthIt is not the liar who is glorified.It is not untruth that is glorifiedThe truth is not always convenientBut it is always true.The Consequences of Lies we Tell Ourselves will be EternalTell yourself a lie about being a ChristianYet your are not really a follower of ChristTell yourself a lie about your righteousnessYet it must be the righteousness Christ givesAny other won’t stand up before the FatherTell yourself a lie about God’s judgementYet if we choose to follow this world’s ruler we too are condemnedThe Spirit of Truth is Given For Our Good John 16:4–6AV1873
John 16:7AV1873
John 15:26AV1873
John 16:8–11AV1873
John 6:29AV1873
Genesis 15:6AV1873
John 12:31AV1873
John 16:12–13AV1873
John 16:14–15AV1873
John 16:7AV1873
John 15:26AV1873
John 16:8–11AV1873
John 6:29AV1873
Genesis 15:6AV1873
John 12:31AV1873
John 16:12–13AV1873
John 16:14–15AV1873
Inter-Community Church of God
(626) 967-2728
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