In Me You Have Peace

Pastor Linnecar looks at the events leading up to Jesus’ death where, in a humble act, He washed the feet of all the disciples as a servant, and revealed to them who was going to betray Him. Jesus shared with the disciples about the Comforter that would come, the Holy Spirit who is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside us today.

John 17:1

To set John 17 in context, we’re going to go back to chapter 13. This was a very important time for Jesus – just think about the process of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet: it is the role of a servant, a humble act.

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John 13:12 - 30

After Jesus washed the disciples feet, including Judas, He was troubled in spirit, because he knew it was the time to reveal who was going to betray Him. The disciples were asking “Lord, who is it?” Then Satan entered into Judas and he went out.

All the words we have from John 13:31, up to and including John 17, Judas was not there and it was as if Jesus now opened things up.

John 13:3 - 35

It’s interesting that this is the first main emphasis of the intimate words that Jesus shares with His disciples. As a result of Judas’s actions, Jesus would be glorified. But now, Jesus is saying that they should love one another.

John 16:1 - 6

These were huge revelations to the disciples and Jesus was getting really specific about what was going to happen to Him. He says that even if you are killed, they will think they are doing God a service. Somehow in the minds of the disciples, Jesus was preparing them for the time that was going to come about. He was going to die and then be raised from the dead.

John 16:7 - 11

So the role of the Holy Spirit is incredibly specific. He reveals Jesus to you. And He is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside of you. Instead, now that He is with the Father, He has sent the Holy Spirit and He lives inside each one of us. And we can do His work because we have the Holy Spirit within us.

John 16:12 - 14

So the work of the Holy Spirit is very straight forward and marvellous. All He does is reveal more of Christ to you.

John 16:15 - 20

Whenever Jesus spoke, quite often He referred to the fact that even though you might see some things one way in the natural, it’s totally different to how God sees them. For the disciples here, this was a huge thing, because Jesus was going to be crucified in front of them.

It doesn’t matter what’s happening in your life, or how you see things, I want to confirm to you the way God sees things, and He is at peace with what is going on in your life.

John 16:21 - 22

And there’s something about the relationship you have with God, which no man but no man can severe. No one can become between you and your God. That hold on you is inviolate, and wonderful.

John 16:23 - 24

So this was a new concept. If the disciples wanted to check something out with Jesus, they would check it out with Him. Now He’s saying to them, “I’m not going to be here, but the Comforter will come and now I want you to ask and receive that your joy may be full”.

Another thing I want to confirm to you is that every prayer you have made and every time you have wondered whether He has heard you, He has heard you. I am constantly coming across people who say, “You know, it must be God. And I have seen an answer to my prayer”.

Sometimes we pray and then pray again about the same thing because you want to make sure.

John 16:24 - 33

Before Jesus left the disciples, He communicated to them a glorious, wonderful truth. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace”. Because when, in the midst of everything, you have a perspective of how God is doing things, you have peace.

John 16:33

It’s not a problem. Everything is being outworked according to God’s purposes, through His love to you and to me. Later, in chapter 17 we will have a glimpse at His prayer and it includes you.

Follow Thou Me

Pastor Peter Linnecar shares about the life of the disciple Peter, his denial of Jesus and about the moment when Peter knew that he was ‘accepted in the beloved’. Sometimes circumstances in life cause you to think that you have blown it, but you are accepted in the beloved and Christ came to give you His life. The call to ‘Follow thou me’ is still the same commission today as it was for Peter all those years ago.

1 Peter 5:6 – 7

This was written by the apostle Peter later in his life and when you read his letters, everything he refers to he has experienced and he knows. So when he writes, casting all your care upon the Lord, it’s true. There were times in Peter’s life where he was ecstatic, he was so caught up with everything, especially on the Mount with Jesus and at times he’d said to Him, “I’ll do anything for you”.

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John 13:36 – 38

When Peter spoke to Jesus he meant what he said. He wasn’t something on the outside and different on the inside.

Luke 22:54 - 61

Suddenly the words He’d spoken to Peter became vibrant. He’d said, “Lord, I’ll follow you wherever you go”. But Jesus knew what was going to happen and told him that he would deny Him three times and then the cock would crow.

As he denied Him the third time Jesus turned and looked at Peter, not in a ‘I told you’ so sort of way but He just looked and Peter remembered what Jesus had said.

Luke 22:62

“And Peter went out, and wept bitterly”

Inside Peter thought, that’s it, that’s the end. Sometimes in your life, you promise so much and then it goes wrong. For Peter at this point, he thought that was the end of everything.

Throughout his life, I think Peter remembered this point, where he really thought that was the end. There are some people that have got to a stage in their life, where they think they’ve had it. We are involved with a living God who wants to be your heavenly Father and your Lord. It does not matter what your natural circumstances of life are doing, God is your heavenly father and He cares for you.

Peter was weeping, thinking he had blown it: what Jesus had said was true. It did not matter whatever else he tried to remember of the things Jesus had told him, at that point you could not have talked to Peter – he was in despair, thinking “That’s it, I’ve had it”.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, he came to the disciples again.

John 21:1 – 14

It was the same disciples who had the miracle in Luke 5: 1 - 11, when the fish appeared from nowhere. Now Jesus refers back, as it were, with a similar miracle but this time the nets didn’t break. He called the disciples to the shore and Peter was now sitting round the fire with Jesus, knowing what he had done before in denying Him and it bugged him. The disciples did not know what to say, it was strange – here was someone they had seen nailed to a cross, buried and now here He was, large as life, sitting with them and eating.

John 21:15 – 19

Three times He asked the question, here is the parallel, and three times he denied Jesus, and now it’s as if each question that He asked him was removing that guilt that Peter had felt ever since denying Him. As Jesus asked those three questions, “Do you love me Peter?” Peter knew he was accepted. He was accepted in the beloved. Sometimes in your life there are circumstances where you think you’ve blown it. I want to confirm to you, you’re accepted in the beloved. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, to give you His life.

It’s interesting that Peter said, “Thou knowest all things”. He knew that was true because he had thought back many times to what Jesus had told him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice”. Then it happened and he did deny Him and he had been trying to figure out a way forward. He’d seen Jesus die but now in His resurrection life He was operating a recovery programme for Peter. God’s major recovery programme was for you and me on the cross. God was recovering you from yourself in His resurrection. In your first birth you’re against God and you denied Him. You thought you’d do things your way. It does not matter what you have done, however contrary you were against God, you are in the position you are in now because God is confirming to you, despite everything, despite the cause and effect of some things you have done in your life, He loves you, is going to provide everything for you and the solution is already on its way.

In verse 15, “Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Jonas means dove, gentle, the spirit.

John 21:19 – 22

This is where it gets very personal. Jesus is saying to you, personally, “Follow thou me”. You don’t have to worry about another person. Obviously we care for one another, but keep your focus and don’t be a busybody in other people’s lives. John’s destiny was directed by God. God has a specific purpose for each one. As each person zeroes in and focuses on this very thing, where Jesus says, “Follow thou me”, there are going to be people who will blossom to fulfil what God has for your life.

It’s not freedom to do what you want. I want to do what pleases Him, and that’s it. His life is inside you. God is saying to you, “Follow thou me”. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. The previous years in your life have not been wasted. Nothing has been wasted. Everything has been for a purpose.

Peter’s character was totally different from John’s. Jesus was saying to Peter, “You are going to do things different to John”. Later John wrote the book of Revelation, they were different characters and you are different from the person next to you.

Romans 14:7 – 9

He’s your Lord and Saviour. When Jesus said those words, Peter gradually allowed in his mind that he was accepted again. If you read the sermon at the beginning of Acts when Peter speaks to the people, he knew inside himself that he was accepted in the beloved.

I’m sure a lot of knife problems and gang warfare are because people do not feel accepted anywhere. As the weeks and months go ahead we will reach out to others in need. God will bring across your path people that you can share with. You’ve got to share it. It’s what God has done for you inside. He cares, and He took the trouble to make sure that you’re accepted.

1 Peter 5:6 – 11

Think about your situation. Cast all your care upon him, for He careth for you. His name is above every name. No other name, but the name of Jesus.

If you adopt a mode of thinking in bitterness, it will destroy you. The flip side of that is that you set yourself in your mind to realise who God is. He’s our loving heavenly father. Cast all your care upon him, for He careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6 – 7

Power Love and a Sound Mind

I want to talk to you this morning about something which will help you. And it’s important that we understand what the difference is between having a spirit of fear, as opposed to having the opposite of that, which is of power, and of love and of a sound mind.

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If you look at the news, if you look at papers, there is seemingly an increasing fear of the future. And I’ve been speaking with a few people this week who are weighing up the future and are weighing up where they stand before God and the foundation of their life - what is the foundation of their life?

And towards the end of his life, Paul the Apostle thought I will write another letter to my young colleague, brother in Christ. And it was towards the end of Paul’s’ days so he was quite focused, very focused as to what to convey because he knew he wouldn’t be around much longer. What shall I convey to this man, Timothy, before I go?

And it’s good that this letter is so practical, and the reason why it is so practical is that he wanted to make sure that Timothy was on the right foundation. It’s good to be on the right foundation.

So I want you to turn to the book of Timothy, the second letter of Paul to Timothy.

And we’re going to look at some verses in the first chapter.

2 Timothy 1:1-6

Warm greeting, an acknowledgment of where Paul stood in Christ, as an Apostle by the will of God, confirming to Timothy how much he remembers his faith which started off with his grandmother and his mother. Never underestimate the influence you have as a grandparent. Your grand parentage, in some senses, is more important than your parentage, as it were. What you way has a direct impact on the grandchild. And for you to be able to convey to your grandchild something about Jesus Christ and your faith and then for them to have faith in Jesus Christ is very important.

You will have more influence on your grandchild than the parents will because they will listen completely to what you have to say. You’re not with them that often, you see them periodically. It’s important. Now I’m not underestimating the influence of parents, obviously that’s paramount. But don’t underestimate is all I’m saying the influence you have as a grandparent. Vital. With Lois and then the mother Eunice, the faith continued down with Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:7

Without God, inevitably, you’re afraid. Without God, inevitably you’re going to worry and be anxious about anything. Here it’s even referred to as a spirit of fear. And I’ve read somewhere that there in the whole scriptures, the phrase ‘Fear not’ which we saw a few weeks ago – you remember when the children of Israel were facing going through the Red Sea: fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord – ‘Fear not’ is mentioned 365 times, one for each day of the year, as it were. Very important that we don’t be afraid. And for some of you here this morning, I know, from what you’ve spoken to me about during this week, but I’m certain that it’s more widespread, so it will help more people here this morning. With Christ, with your faith that He’s given you, you are the complete opposite of what the world is, and what the world is, is a world full of fear, anxiety, concern, worry.

I thought I’d list what people are afraid of: the future, the upbringing of children, the security of a job, fear of rejection, the fear of betrayal, the fear of being lonely, the fear of failure, the fear of ill health, the fear of violence, and the fear of financial provision not happening. Fear is not the place of a Christian. Now, you might say “Well it’s all very well you telling me that this morning but I find when I start thinking about things my mind sort of wanders around and sometimes at night, and I’m lying there and I’m thinking about things, and I do worry about the future. I do worry about X or Y.”

As a result of what we’re going to see here this morning, what is to be conveyed to you is: there is no need to worry, worry does not have a place in your life, and God is going to remove it. God has not given us the spirit of fear. Instead he’s given us, if you like, the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. Power, love, a sound mind. Let’s look at power for a moment.

Matthew 28:16-20

“Ah” but you say, “That was to the disciples, that’s not to me”. Hang on a minute. You’re sitting here this morning, in faith, that God’s given you, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came, he went on that cross, he carried the burden of your sin, he broke the power of sin in your life, he was buried, he was resurrected from the dead, and the power that brought him back to life was the power that resides in you this morning, with Jesus Christ inside you.

And here Jesus is saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” So when Paul writes to Timothy and says, “Look, don’t have a spirit of fear, Timothy. I’ll tell you what: what you need, the first thing I would say to you is, power. A spirit of power. A recognition of who’s inside you, Timothy.” A recognition, person sitting in this church this morning, of who you’re immersed in, whose life is inside you.

“All power is given unto me…” So when God looks at your future and when God looks at the things you worry about, as far as he’s concerned, he has all power to sort things out for your good. The good news is, He’s already sorted out the solution for you; it’s just that you haven’t come across it yet, but its coming.

“Well you’ve mentioned this a few weeks now.” I know. I need to mention it again this morning. “All power is given unto me.” And as far as Jesus Christ is concerned with that power that raised him from the dead, there is nothing, but nothing that can stand in God’s way of his purposes for your life, which are for your good. “All power is given unto me.”
Next he refers to love, and on Friday, we looked at some verses I want you just to return to.

1 John 4:15-18

If you’re anxious, if you’re full of fear, if you’re concerned, if you’re worried, and it grips you, firstly, you do not have to be in that situation, and let me triple confirm to you this morning: the one who lives inside you, who’s given the faith that’s inside you, where you’re sitting here this morning, as it says in this verse, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.” God’s inside you, you’re confessing that, you’re not making it up, you’re not kidding yourself.

Through what he’s done in your life, you’re sitting there, if I went round to each one of you and asked you, “OK, what’s your confession? Is Jesus the Son of God?” He’s the Son of God. “Is he the one who’s got involved with your life to such an extent that he’s given you a new birth; he’s started things all over again for you?” Yes he has. “Has he put faith in your heart for you to say that?” Yes he has.

OK, the one who’s inside you is love: that’s who he is. As we saw on Friday, his name is synonymous with love. That’s who he is. He doesn’t vary, he doesn’t some days might be love, might not be love. He is love, consistent throughout eternity. That’s who he is.

So we’re talking about this morning not having a spirit of fear, but having and recognising who’s inside you, namely Jesus Christ, and having the spirit of power, and of love. What you just read, “There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear,” that means what it says. So what you have to do and I have to do, is simply recognise, that’s all, recognise who it is that’s inside us. Jesus Christ is inside, through what he’s done in my life. It’s his life being lived through me.

He has been given all power. Not only that, he is love. So that his life living through me means that I look upon people in a certain way that I didn’t look upon them before. It also means that I’m looking upon situations in my life where I can acknowledge that all things work together for good to those that love God, the love that he’s given them, and those who are the called according to his purpose.

1 John 4:8

If you’re sitting there this morning and you’re thinking, “I can’t help it, that’s the way I think” this next thing that we’re going to look at might help you.

2 Timothy 1:7

It matters the state of your mind – what you think about, what you spend your life dwelling on. And it’s become more and more important for people, you and me to realise that if we put into our minds garbage, we will think about garbage.

If we fill our minds with the latest news about X or Y, and dwell on that, inevitably, we will bring fear into our heart because everything is geared that way. If you analyse News At Ten and you just list the impact of each story, and then weight it up in terms of “What’s the impact of all that News At Ten on me?” and the answer would inevitably be, things are getting worse.

Now, do you stick you head in the sand? No. But, hang on a minute – we have this word of God which is the word of life and if we fill our heart dwelling on the word of God or reading about people of God or reading about what God has done in the world or whatever, specific good things about what He’s done and who He is, we will be putting into our mind the right things.

If I’m going along in the car, and my CD collection is such that the Bible never gets a look in, what is it about me that that’s saying? It’s saying that I’ve prioritised things going into my mind round the wrong way. Now, you might be thinking “Well are you trying to get brownie points for listening to the CD of the Bible in the car?” No. I’m simply saying, what’s the input that you’re allowing into your mind through the week? Because what God has given us is the spirit of a sound mind. A sound mind.

I love the story about the man who had the spirits that went into the Galilean swine and it ends up with the man saying he was at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.

What is the right mind? Philippians 2:5-9 helps because it says the type of mind that we should allow to prevail as we live.

Philippians 2:5-9

He took upon himself the form of a servant. So one aspect of the right mind, to confirm to you this morning, is not to think about yourself. But Jesus, His mind was that He took upon Him the form of a servant, and as we’ve already referred to this morning, His obedience to the Father meant He went all the way to the cross for you and me.

But His mindset was a servant. And when the disciples quarreled about who was going to be the greatest, He said, “Well, let the greatest of you be the one who is serving everyone the most”.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. So, it will help you, if you’re worried about things, to think about someone else. “Oh well, you don’t understand, because there are so many things that I’ve got to sort out in my life; there are so many things that I’m worrying about, X and Y and Z”. Yeah, OK, let’s just forget that, let’s park that for one minute, and let’s instead get this mind which was also in Christ Jesus, let’s be conscious of what that means.

“OK, what is it that I can do to help someone else? What is it that I can do to pray for someone else? What is it that I can do that takes my mind of me?” Because taking you mind off you allows to God simply to be all the provision you need. Whatever it was that you were worrying about will not then be a worry, because you wont’ be thinking about it.

Now you say, “Well, that’s all very well, I’ve got to deal with the things in my life. I can’t just ignore them”. I know that. But I’m encouraging you this morning, through what we’re reading, to say, look, fear has torment. The spirit of fear, Timothy, will wrap you up in knots and you’ll be paralysed like a rabbit in the headlights - you won’t move, you’ll be fearful, it’ll grip you, and you’ll worry. Don’t let the spirit of fear dominate, Timothy, kick that out, because actually you’ve got the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. And when I’m gone, Timothy, that’s what I want you to remember, because it’s Jesus Christ inside you.

He has all power, He is love and He has a sound mind, obviously, and His mind was to serve.

Timothy 1:7-12

What day? The day of His appearing, the day when I’m going to see Him face to face, the day of judgment, whatever. When I see Him.

Timothy, whatever you do, don’t have the spirit of fear. That is the enemy zone that is of the world, that’s not us, that’s not Jesus, that’s not God. Whatever you do, Timothy, recognise who’s inside you. It’s God that’s brought things to life inside you, it’s God who has all power, it’s God who is love, it’s God who has a sound mind. He’s rational, in the sense that He is outworking His purposes and all things work together for good to those who love God, those who are the called according to His purpose.

It’s wonderful the way he describes Jesus, who has abolished death, has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. All the future ahead of you here today, the ages that you are. Don’t have a spirit of fear. What God wants for your future, He’s already established. What He wants you to do is recognise what He’s doing in your life, and what He wants you to do is to think of other people, not you, and what He wants you to do is fulfil His purposes in your life. Simple as that.

“Oh, so it’s a case of finding out what He wants for my life?” Yes. “So it’s a case of doing what He wants?” Yes. “It’s a case of saying what He wants me to say?” Yes. “It’s a case of meeting people and being open about my faith with them because He might want to reach them through me?” Yes.

Not so wrapped up in myself that I’m in a world of torment, and I’m not blaming you for this, because the enemy can tie you up, and you get your wrong thought patterns, and you need to derail all that. Hey, what are you doing up that siding, thinking of railways? That’s a dead end. Come on. Let’s get back over here. This is where you are. This is what God’s done in your life. This is who He is, who lives inside you. This is your life, this is your future. What’s your future? It’s His future for you. For good.

“Ah, but you know, He blesses other people. He never seems to bless me”. That’s not true. It isn’t true, because you’re sitting here this morning, confessing that He is the Son of God. How are you doing that? Because of the faith He’s given you. He’s blessed you with that faith. Not of works, He’s done it.

“Right, so this week, I’ve got to watch what goes into my brain?” Correct. “This week I’ve got to watch how I react in situations. I’ve just got to allow God to live to life through me?” Correct.

And any circumstance in your life this week, anything you hear, anything you potentially have going into your mind. I want you to be careful, be the gatekeeper of what goes into your mind. Don’t automatically slip into X or Y. If there is a conversation at work that is obviously wrong don’t get involved. If there is a something going on with your neighbour that somehow is causing distress and you are getting involved in the wrong conversations, come on – let’s step back and get our mind focused on what we need to focus it on.

Timothy, as far as I am concerned God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, He has saved us, called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Do you realise that Timothy? We are talking about something that took place which was organised before this world happened.

I love to look at the stars, just to see the manifold creation of God. When I look up at the stars I know in my heart everything is fine - everything. Everything is set by God for my good. Everything is set by God for your good.

You might think this is very simple, why am I hearing this? You are hearing this because what God wants to do in your life is wonderful. What God wants to provide for you is glorious – what He is going to provide for you is glorious. He is going to meet all you needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

Dwelling in God

‘God’ and ‘love’ are synonymous. Dwelling in God and dwelling in love are the same thing. Nothing will prevent God working out His purposes for you. So when you’re trying to figure things out, remember the context of the life He’s given you and what He’s done already. Will anything prevent God from blessing you? No. Is there any circumstance in my life that God cannot sort out for the good? No. He will make provision – God is love.

God is love. It is worth confirming to your heart constantly, the fact that God loves you because that’s who He is – He can’t but love, that’s His nature.

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1 John 4:15 - 16

‘God’ and ‘love’ are synonymous. Dwelling in God and dwelling in love are the same thing. You are a special human being because of what God has done in you. His love for you is so great that He sent His Son to earth to die for you.

Romans 8:28

All things work together for good to those who are the called, according to whose purpose? His purpose. When you become a Christian, your aims and ambitions are changed and your life is lived out for Him.

Romans 8:29

In a church you are brothers and sisters because you are united by that common purpose, to serve God and live according to His purposes.

Romans 8:31 - 32

There is no stint to God’s provision for you. It’s inevitable – you can’t stop it. For those looking for it, it’s on its way.

Romans 8:33 - 34

He is still involved in your life, minute by minute, constantly re-affirming what He has done for you on the cross.

Romans 8:35

Nothing will prevent God working out His purposes for you – He is love. So when you’re trying to figure things out, remember the context of the life He’s given you and what He’s done already. Will anything prevent God from blessing you? No.

Romans 8:36 - 37

The way He conquered things for you was that He conquered sin in your life. He took away the power of it and the outworking of it that was all wrong. Sin causes death but He conquered death. That is why the cross is empty – He was buried, put in a tomb and rose from the dead. Now Paul writes, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us”. So when you are involved and immersed in God’s love, inevitably you are more than a conqueror, because God is love and there is nothing on this earth that can prevent you from being blessed by God; there is nothing that can get in the way of God’s love for you.

Romans 8:38 - 39

It’s impossible for you to be separated from God, who is love. If you let this sink in in your situation it makes things different because you see things from a perspective of God in your life, not of you trying to work out the circumstances in your life. I’m a Christian – a Christ-one, as a result of what He has done for me. Is there any circumstance in my life that God cannot sort out for the good? No. Is there any provision that He can’t make for my needs? No. He will make provision. Why is it that sometimes I want things to be done sooner that it happens? Let me confirm to you that the timing of God’s provision in your life will be perfect and inevitable and certain and sure. God is love, and the more you think about who God is, the more it is imperative that we are open to allow His provision to come forth.

Don’t be bitter, don’t regret, don’t think He has missed you out, don’t think, “He always blesses that person but never me”. Don’t think like that. Rejoice in what is happening to another person because you can see how faithful God is and who He is to them. You may say, “Well that is all very well but you don’t know the circumstances of my life”. I don’t but I know that these words are timely for you. Why are they timely? Because anything which causes us to realise once again that you are a child of God, that He has called you: He’s given you faith and you can confess Him as the Son of God; as we read in 1 John 4, it is a result of what He has done. By rights we shouldn’t be involved with Him, but He persevered, fulfilled what God wanted, went obediently to the cross, gave His life so that I could be preaching here, conveying to you who He is.

Sometimes things happen and it throws you: step back. Who is in control? God is. He has started in my life something eternal. Is He going to finish what He started? Yes, by taking us through circumstances where each time, it will be a discovery of how much He loves you. That is what He does.

For Paul, everything that happened to him was evidence of how God would provide for him through every circumstance – and the same applies to us.

Changed on the Inside

Pastor Peter Linnecar shares from John 9, from the story of the man born blind, where we see that Jesus is interested in all our lives, and knows what we need. He is the one who seeks us out, even when we are in our darkest moment, and changes everything.

As we look at scriptures today, you’ll see that God is interested in your life, and wants to change you on the inside for the better. Sometimes when we think about God, we forget His ways aren’t our ways, and that His thoughts aren’t our thoughts. He’s good and He loves us – God is love.

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Isaiah 55:8 - 11

Whenever God speaks, the word has a purpose which will be fulfilled. He never says something He regrets. He will always work out His purposes.

Mark 10:27 says things impossible with man are possible with God. He works out things in His way in His time.

Who sinned?

John 9:1 – 2

Jesus and the disciples saw the same thing but reacted differently. To the disciples, it was a blind man, and they wanted an answer as to why he was blind. Sometimes we can’t work out why certain things happen. I don’t claim to have the answer to everything. But as far as God is concerned, we may be trying to get answers to questions we shouldn’t be asking, because Jesus’ answer was completely the opposite of what they expected.

John 9:3

There are circumstances happening in your life because God wants to get your attention and reveal more of Himself than you have ever known before. He’s interested in your life. He was so interested that He came to this earth to seek and save that which was lost. He wanted to change you on the inside. The way you started off in life was wrong. We are sinners, and we know we are.

I am the light of the world

John 9:4 – 5

Jesus Himself is the light of the world, and He’s come to dispel the darkness and sin within us. The disciples couldn’t figure it out. There was a situation and something must have caused it, because things shouldn’t have been that way. But Jesus said the works of God would be manifest in the blind man.

John 9:6 – 7

It didn’t happen there and then. The clay was put on his eyes and he was told to go and wash and when he did, his eyesight was given.

John 9:8 – 12

Jesus made the clay, touched his eyes, sent him off, and while he was away, Jesus went on His way. The man returned having had his miracle, able to see for the first time in his life – and he didn’t know where Jesus was.

John 9:13 – 34

“And they cast him out.”

What a reaction. The Pharisees doubted the man who claimed that he was born blind and that Jesus had healed him. Those five words, “And they cast him out,” struck me, because our sin has shut God out. When we start off in life, we’re against God, and we do not want Him. We want to do our own thing. But we try and try, and it doesn’t work. It’s as if we’ve cast ourselves out – our sin has brought a shutter down between us and God.

Romans 5:6

At the right time God sorted things out, to break through the shutter and get hold of us. He wants to change the sin and wrong thought life with His life inside you.
This man who was given sight for the first time in his life, was asked about Jesus and was trying to work it out – He must be of God because look at what’s happened to my eyes.

When you were at your wits’ end, Jesus heard you when you prayed. God is organising things to increase that relationship with Him - He is your heavenly Father. He loves you and provides for you.

I wonder who told Jesus what had happened to the man.

John 9:35 – 38

“Lord I believe.” The reason you can say that is as a result of Jesus finding you. Through the Cross of Calvary, you were on His mind, and at that point He took in Himself your first life, your sin. It was then a case of God’s Holy Spirit speaking to you and drawing you. He’s brought you to this point in time where He says, “Do you believe on the Son of God?” What do you say?

Romans 10:8 – 10

Lord, I believe

All Jesus asked was, “Do you believe on the Son of God?” The man answered, “Who is He?” I am the one who healed you and the one who is speaking to you now. “Lord, I believe. I’ve been trying to sort things out on my own, and I’ve made a mess.”

Is it fair that some people come across this truth and others don’t? Don’t think like that. I’m talking about God in relation to you. Why did things start out as they did in Israel all those years ago? Why am I preaching like this there in England? I don’t know. But it’s how God speaks to you, how you realise that He gave His son so that you could be born again. You could be thinking, I know I need that. I try to lead a good life, and time and again I fail. There are some things I’ve given up on because I can’t overcome them. Jesus knows that, and He wants to point out you can’t do it on your own. Your sin is preventing the life you want to live. The only way to live that life is when Jesus Christ comes inside and causes you to start again with His life inside you.

This man, born blind, got his sight back and by the end of this encounter with Jesus, he could also see spiritually.

John 9:39 – 41

God loves an honest heart. I know some of you are being honest with yourselves, and realise inside right now that God is speaking to you. Respond to that voice. Say “Lord I believe. Sort me out. Change me from the inside.” And He will.

God has already made provision for what you need. He loves you and He will reveal Himself to you through His provision.

Jesus gets very personal because He loves you.

Going Forward in God

No matter how impossible the circumstances we face, God has provided a way for us as we go forward in Him.

Ephesians 2:5 – 6

As a Christian, you live knowing that Jesus Christ is the answer for everything. His life is inside you, and you know that you can trust God in any circumstances as you go forward. It’s a glorious thing to know your times are in God’s hand.

There was a particular time when the children of Israel faced an impossible situation. When you face the impossible God is able to see you through, He is able to fulfil His destiny in your life.

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Isaiah 51:15

It was an impossible situation, but He divided the sea. He rebuked the sea and, according to Nahum made it dry. It was not until 800 years later Isaiah wrote these words. This was an event of such significance that it was still recalled.

There came a time in the history of the children of Israel when their situation couldn’t have got any worse. They had been slaves of the Egyptians, ten plagues had been brought on the Egyptians, and still Pharaoh would not let them go. The Passover came and the firstborn of every Egyptian died, and the children of Israel thought that now they had made it. Pharoah finally agreed to let them leave Egypt.

There are some people today who need to realise that when it seems impossible to go forward, God is opening the way for you. God can sort things out.

Exodus 12:31 – 32

The following is history...

Exodus 14:1 – 5

Suddenly the Egyptians realised that they were letting their slaves go. To the Israelites it must have appeared that everything was sorted out for them but suddenly they were facing another problem.

Exodus 14:6 – 9

The Israelites must have been thinking “We thought it was sorted, Lord. There was an agreement. What are you doing?”

When the Passover happened the firstborn of every Egyptian family had died. But the one thing the plagues hadn’t touched was the army, and Pharaoh trusted the army.

Sometimes we look at situations which we thought were resolved, and fear comes inside. But fear not. Jesus Christ lives on the inside. Perfect love casts out fear. Don’t be afraid.

Exodus 14:10 – 12

The children of Israel were trapped at a dead end with 600 relentless chariots coming after them. There really was nowhere to go. There were over 1.5 million people, with the sea ahead of them, the wilderness behind, and the chariots approaching. What they thought was sorted out apparently was not. And the complaints and murmuring set in.

Exodus 14:13

“Fear not”. God used those same words with Abraham in Genesis 5, to Joshua, to Gideon, to Daniel.

Luke 12:31 - 32

Without God in this world, there is fear – fear of the economy, of the credit crunch, of the knife culture. You can’t but fear without God.

If you’re not a Christian, God wants to show you something. He’s saying that this Christianity you have heard about is something you need to get involved in. Jesus is speaking to you right now. You know you’ve been worried about the way things are, about your own life.

God is on the throne. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God. He has a future for each person on this earth.

The children of Israel heard Moses say, “Fear not”.

Isaiah 26:3

The only way to get peace inside and going forward is in God.

You have only to look at the news these days, and it’s as though each day brings something worse than the day before. People are asking what is the answer, what is the way forward, what is the fabric of society meant to be? Do politicians have the answer? The more it goes on, the more imperative it is that we should not be silent about our faith. Jesus Christ is on the throne. He has the answer. There is a way for society He knows about. It involves one person at a time coming to know Him.

Ephesians 1:19 – 23

The reason why we have an empty cross is that when He went to the cross, He took our sin, broke the power of it, was buried and rose from the dead – and the power of God that brought Him up from the dead is the power which comes by His Holy Spirit to live within an individual.

God has everything under His feet. There isn’t one thing God doesn’t know about, and isn’t involved in. He loves you, and there is peace in heaven. There is never a ripple of any fear or doubt, because in heaven everything has been completed.

As you evaluate your circumstances, you can have confidence that God is taking you forward, that He will see you through. On our own, we can’t do it. The world does not have an answer. The children of Israel did not have an answer.

“Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”

Some of the children of Israel thought there was no chance it would happen. Others said they didn’t know how it would happen, but they believed.

Exodus 14:14

Forget your way of working things out, your way of coming up with an answer. It’s the Lord who fights for us and sees us through. Fear not, stand still. It’s the Lord who fights for us and we will see the salvation of the Lord. Don’t worry about whether it will work out or not. Of course it will.

Exodus 14:15-18

I wonder what Moses thought when God said that. He’d been used to miraculous power. He’d seen the burning bush. He’d seen the plagues. And now, something else miraculous was to happen – something we would still talk about today. God had the solution. It’s something you’d never dream of, because humanly speaking it is not possible.

Exodus 14:19

God provided a solution the children of Israel didn’t think of. In their mind they followed the cloud. Suddenly it was switched about. You think there is no way forward, but God has the solution.

Exodus 14:20-31

This was an incredible miracle because there was no way forward. Humanly speaking it was impossible. You may think that the situation you are facing is impossible, but God has prepared the solution. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. God knows what He is doing, and He has already provided a way forward for you in the circumstances of your life.

Philippians 4:19

The guarantee is that God is who He is. The God who has started a work in your life will complete it. And whatever your need, God will supply all that need.

Hebrews 11:29

I don’t think there was a motorway formed through the sea which they just strolled through. I think the people started, and as they went forward it moved apart, and they kept going. Each step they took, the miracle provision continued, by faith. And there were a lot of people, over 1.5 million. Step by step by step. Our God is a God of miracles. He has done everything, and it’s perfect to provide a solution for your life.

Ephesians 2:5 – 6

Jesus Christ living on the inside

His Holy Spirit lives in us now. And the pillar of fire is a type of the Holy Spirit, the protection. With Jesus Christ living on the inside, as you go forward, remind yourself that we have a God who makes the impossible possible. He will and He does. Everything begins and ends in Him.

Baptism

Today we will be looking at the background to baptism at the time of Jesus.

Why do we have Baptism?

We have baptism because it was commanded by God. It came about because of the ceremonial cleansings of the Old Testament.

Luke 7:30 tells us that the Pharisees rejected John’s counsel to be baptised. By the time John came there was a tradition amongst the Jews relating to cleansing from sin by baptism. Jesus was baptised by John even though He had no sin. He was baptised in fulfilment of the Law.

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Is Baptism a requirement of salvation?

Baptism isn’t a requirement of salvation, the thief on the Cross was not baptised, but Jesus told him , :Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Baptism is an emblem of the belief an individual has in God and it is important you know who you are in God, and who God is.

John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

There then came a transition, as Jesus’ ministry grew, His disciples started to baptise.

John 3:23 – John 4:3

John the Baptist was a prophet. He knew who Jesus was. Jesus must increase, and he must decrease. “I’m of the earth and Jesus is from heaven. There’s a transition happening.” You need to realise that your life in God, Christ inside you, is from heaven. It’s not of this world.

We are living in a time of economic changes and challenges and it’s easy to get embroiled in the impossibility of surviving, of finding a job and so on. I want to confirm to you that your life is hid with God. He is not of this earth. He knows what He is doing and He is in control. And when you were baptised, you were signifying to the world that you believe in Jesus Christ and are going God’s way. Your life is hid with God. Realise where you are in God when you see the impossibilities around you. He loves you. You aren’t of this world – you’re just passing through. Your provision is from above, from God.

Newness of Life!

Baptism signifies that you are buried with him and have come out of the waters into newness of life. Please remember where you are in God. He’s your heavenly Father and your provider. God will make a way. He’s making provision for you right now.

Before He left this earth, Jesus talked about baptism:-

Matthew 28:19 - 20

When John the Baptist baptised it was for the remission of the sin. But now, Jesus has died for our sins, and we are to go to all nations baptising them in the name of the Father. John said Jesus would baptise in the Holy Ghost. Jesus was from heaven, John of the earth.

Jesus initiated the concept of baptism. As the church grew, baptism got under way.

Acts 8:35-39

This was after Jesus rose from the dead, after the New Testament church began. The pre-requisite for this man, before he was baptised was that Philip explained Jesus to Him. And he then said, “If you believe with all your heart you may be baptised.”

Acts 19:1-7

These people had been baptised by John. He had come, signifying that Jesus was to come after him. Paul said that baptism was real.

John 1:7

Here we have people who were baptised by John who needed to be sorted out because they hadn’t heard of the Holy Ghost. And they were re-baptised. If you’ve never been baptised as a believer, it’s important you should be baptised, because it is a commandment of God.

Now we get personal...

Romans 6:1- 4

Baptism signifies being buried with Christ. As you go under the water it’s as if you are in the grave as He was. He took into Himself on the Cross all our sin and disease. Baptism is you identifying with Him. But the key point is that we now walk in newness of life. If you’re a believer, you’re sitting here in newness of life. We can walk in that. We’re buried with Him, and comingp up out of the water signifies newness of life. There’s a whole new world for us because we are no longer of this world. The way of a Christian is to take orders from no one but God. He birthed me from above, and I want to do what pleases Him.

I’m walking in newness of life – which is why you don’t need to get worried about the problems of this world. Sure there are problems. But I’m walking in newness of life, and when I was baptised, it was a demonstration of what God has done. It’s His life being worked out inside me. All I have to do is walk in the Spirit. He’s done His work. He has sat down literally at the right hand of God. He doesn’t have to do anything else. He isn’t worried that He hasn’t done enough. He’s done everything for you. If I get caught up with the worries of the world, I need to remember that I’m a Christian. He’s my heavenly Father. He has made provision. He knows the end from the beginning, knows what I have need of. Credit crunch? Not in heaven! That’s not burying my head in the sand – I’m merely reminding you that when He gave His life, so that sin and evil desires would have no sway in you, you were set free to walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:10 – 12

You don’t have to do the right things to make Him bless you. You are risen because of what He has done. I’m buried with Him in baptism, and I’m raised with Him through the faith of the operation of God. Faith originates in Him and He delights in giving faith to you and me. He’s my heavenly Father, my provider. I want to tell others about this, because they may need healing, they may need Him to work inside them.
So many different things are put forward as the solution. Young people are drinking more now. Why? Do you think you should join them? You and I know it doesn’t get anywhere. Hundreds of things are being tried to fill the void, and none of them is fulfilling. You are complete in Him. Nothing can touch you.

Naaman answered the word of God – “Go and wash seven times and your leprosy will go.” He did it, and it worked. Jesus went to the Cross, took our sin, everything which would cause us to go wrong.

Colossians 2:13 - 15

He is seated at the right hand of God. And when He rose from the dead, it was an open display of His triumph. He is in heaven. The job has been done. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, which can hinder you from walking in life, realising your position in Christ. Nothing can hinder His provision for you. So what is the problem? “It’s okay when I’m in here. But during the week it’s difficult.” God is getting hold of your thinking now. So which is the verse which has got hold of you? God has triumphed. He has given you the faith to believe. He has brought you to Himself. He knows the end from the beginning, has prepared your steps for you. God is getting your thinking correct now because He wants it to become part of you.

Be careful how much news you read. Be careful what you set your mind on during the week. Cultivate what is accurate and true. Listen to the Bible on CD. Cultivate the right way of thinking. It’s no good getting our thinking right in here and then throwing it away during the week. Does that mean I should be unaware of what is going on in the world? Of course not! But I need to align my thinking with God’s word. Baptism signifies that I’ll sort out my thinking to be consistent with Him, thinking on the right things. The thinking will be right and baptism is about me showing to the church and the world everything that God means to me. He has given me life. Without Him I wouldn’t be breathing, wouldn’t be thinking in this way, because He has made it possible for me to choose to think the right way. It’s not inevitable that I go wrong. I have the choice. He’s made the way for you and He is giving you the faith and strength.