John 14:15-18 The Promise of an Ever-Present Father

Union Gospel 

Title: The Promise of an Ever-Present Father

5/13/2023

 

Opening Prayer

 

God our Father, open the eyes of our heart to see that Jesus is still present and ever so true. Help us to fight off the distractions with Your sword of truth and love, Help us to cling to the shield of faith. May Jesus's sacrifice on the cross always be real and precious to us. As we share your gospel this afternoon, let it be the light that guide us back to God’s family that we may no longer the orphans of this world but transform into children of God.

 

Text: John 14:15-18

 

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

17 the Spirit of truth. 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.

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

 

Introduction:

 

Fundamentally, we all are looking for something or someone to fix things, to fix out situation, to fix our state of existent, to fix all of our issue. Could we ask that this book is missing something? That is a fair question; however, we must conclude that it is sufficient. In John chapter 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the sufficiency of the Bible.

 

Our text today presents us with a farewell speech by Jesus. In most farewell speech, the author intention is to bring comfort to those that are left behind. This speech is given as Jesus prepares to be sent to the cross. Jesu is telling the disciples” do not worry, I will be with you”  These are comforting words of Jesus found in the book of John, chapter 14, verse 18. He assures His disciples, and each one of us, saying, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." These words hold immense significance for us as believers, as they reveal God's heart for His children and the identity we possess as followers of Christ. Today, let us explore the profound message hidden within this verse and discover the hope, assurance, and purpose that it brings to our lives.

 

I. The Orphaned Heart: The primary definition of orphan is “a child whose parents are dead.” However, as we examine the term "orphans," we discover that it extends beyond its literal meaning of children without parents. It also represents a state of being that encompasses feelings of abandonment, loneliness, and a lack of belonging. Sadly, many of us has been trapped, carry the burden of an orphaned heart. The brokenness of this world often leaves us feeling disconnected, isolated, and searching for a place to call home. Our biological parents are temporarily earthly and tied to the physical. The only lasting and eternal parent is God. If we are not of the Father, we are eternally orphaned. The promised of verse 6 is very critical to the message of verse 18. He will not leave us orphaned be cause we are in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father and if we are in the Father, that is eternal.

 

II. The Father's Promise: In the midst of our orphaned state, Jesus extends a powerful promise: "I will not leave you as orphans." These words affirm that God acknowledges our longing for belonging and lovingly responds to our deepest needs. Jesus came to reveal the Father's heart and to restore our relationship with Him. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus bridged the gap between humanity and God, offering us the opportunity to be adopted into His family.

 

III. The Presence of the Father: Jesus continues, saying, "I will come to you." These words bring us the assurance of God's presence in our lives. The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent after His ascension, dwells within every believer, establishing an unbreakable bond between the Father and His children. We are never alone; we have a constant companion, a divine counselor who guides, comforts, and strengthens us in every season of life.

 

IV. Embracing Our Identity: Understanding that we are not orphans but beloved children of God transform our perspective and gives us a sense of purpose. We are no longer defined by our past or our circumstances but by our heavenly heritage. As God's children, we are called to reflect His love, grace, and compassion to the world around us. Our identity as adopted sons and daughters empowers us to live with confidence, knowing that we belong to a loving Father who will never abandon us. We often define ourselves based on our professions, material standards, or family legacy. This is why our current identity is provisional identity—this is just for this span of time while we on this earth. However, our true identity is only found based on our relationship with Christ. 

 

V. Walking in the Father's Love: To fully embrace our identity as children of God, we must cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. Through prayer, studying His Word, and seeking His guidance, we draw closer to Him and experience the depths of His love. As we grow in our understanding of His faithfulness, we can cast aside any orphaned mentality, knowing that our Father will provide for our every need.

 

Conclusion: Let us rejoice in the promise of Jesus, that we will never be left as orphans. We have been adopted into the family of God, and He lavishes His love upon us. As we live out our lives in the assurance of His presence, let us extend that same love and compassion to those around us who are still yearning for a place to belong. May our lives be a testimony of the transformative power of God's love, drawing others into the embrace of our heavenly Father. Remember, you are not an orphan but a cherished child of God. Walk confidently in this truth and let His love shine through you.

 

 One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to do to get him out.

Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well was already dry and needed to be covered anyway; that it really wasn't worth pulling the donkey out of the well....

He invited all his neighbors to come help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to throw dirt into the well.

The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly loud. Then, to everyone's surprise, he quieted down after a few shovelfuls of dirt.

The farmer finally looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw... with each shovelful of dirt, the donkey was doing something incredible: It was shaking off the dirt and stepping on top of the dirt.

Very soon everyone saw surprised how the donkey reached the mouth of the well, went over the edge and trotted out...

Life is going to throw dirt at you, all kinds of dirt... the trick to getting out of the hole is to shake it off and use it to step up. Each of our problems is a step up. We can get out of the deepest holes if we don't give up... We are no longer orphaned, we are children of God 

Remember these 5 things that you are a child of God 

1. Free your heart from hate.

2. Free your Mind of distractions.

3. Simplify your life.

4. Give more and expect less.

5. Love more and... shake the dirt, because in this life you have to be a solution, not the problem!

This how children of God live, We are the solution! 

 

Closing Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this reminder from your Gospel, that You are our comforter, You will never leave us. Thank You, Lord, for Your never-failing goodness and grace toward us. May we draw ever closer to You and declare the wonderful works of God in our lives, knowing that our times are in Your hands and our future is secured for us in heaven. God we ask that each one of us find this security in Christ, we are no longer an orphan but leave our lives in Christ. We ask, if any of us have not accepted You, Christ as Lord and Savior, today is the day. That we become your children not only on this life but eternal! We pray In the name of most graceful Lord Jesus'  AMEN.