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.
