ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES
Believing God And The Lord Jesus Christ
Text: John 14:1 IBCSS April 30, 2006
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Our religious belief has a great part in shaping our lives. It affects our way of thinking; it cultivates our emotion and disciplines our physical body. Our present inclination, activities and desires in life are unarguable manifestation of our hidden man’s position toward our belief. It has been said that a certain belief must be confirmed by suitable practices.
Pure and strong belief energizes. Intensified belief produces confidence, motivation and even heroic acts. A man of strong belief surely conquers fears and insecurities that come to test his faith. Apparently, people without religious belief tend to gravitate into hopelessness.
In John 14:1, it is written, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (KJV) This substantial passage from the Bible reminds us to believe God, and if we truly believe Him, we must also believe the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. Without believing God and His Son, our hearts will remain troubled, and as a sad result, the dark clouds of fears and insecurities will keep hovering over us.
When Jesus knew that His hour was about to come and that He must die at the cross for sinners, He talked to His followers to tell of the things that were about to be fulfilled. Jesus perceived their troubled hearts and that was simply the reason why He encouraged them to be firm in their faith and let not their heart to be moved by fretfulness.
An in-depth study of John Chapter 14 will help us understand why we should not let our heart be troubled. Believing God and the Lord Jesus Christ will give us excellent composure in times of trouble. It will make us realize that life in Christ is indeed filled with love, joy, peace and truth; a life with higher kind of pleasures and could not be defeated by visible and imaginary pressures.
(I) Keeps Our Heart Away From Agitation
John 14:1
-Don’t let anxiety mess up your life
The devil will show us things that are disturbing and will try to shake our hearts to hamper our spiritual growth. He will cause us to doubt God’s precious promises so we will live in fears and insecurities. But keep in mind that what the Lord has spoken is true, and through believing His Word, man’s troubled heart will be comforted and tranquility will surround him. Don’t let the devil deceive your hearts, neither mess up your life. Give your heart to Jesus and He will fill it up with peace and delightful things!
(II) Keeps Us Mindful Of Better Future
John 14:2-3
-A well-focused eyes on the Lord will see better future
God wants us to set our mind on things above so we may not be weakened spiritually by the things we see in this troubled world. Our earthly life is just a fraction of eternity and it’s not worth to give our love to this deceitful world. A natural man who falls in love with this world will be led by vanity and pride. When death strikes him, his soul will suffer forever in hell. On the other side, a man who puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will surely enjoy the blessings of salvation for eternity.
In John 14:2-4, it is written, 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (KJV) True Christians should not be troubled when the world seems unfriendly to them. Believers should keep on rejoicing because through the Word of God, we could see a glimpse of our eternal habitation. Truly, believing God and the Lord Jesus Christ keeps us mindful of better things.
(III) Keeps Us Aware Of Our Access To Our Heavenly Father
John 14:4-14
-Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Believers should not overlook his God-given access to Heaven, but be always aware of it. In Ephesians 2:18, it is written, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (KJV) What a wonderful privilege we have in Christ! Christians should not only enjoy this privilege, but keep on telling to others that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
In John 14:5-6, it is written, Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) We count it a superb blessing to know the way, the truth and the life! Praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world and died at Calvary, and on the third day, He rose from the dead to set us free from the bondage of sin.
-Through prayer
In John 14:12-14, it is written, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV) These passages from the Bible do not only remind us of our access to our Heavenly Father, but make us aware also of the assurance that if we ask any thing in Jesus’ name, it will be done according to His will. The prayer of a believer is very powerful. Keep on praying and you will be amazed of the miraculous results.
(IV) Keeps Us Sensitive To Our Comforter
John 14:15-26
-Keeps us mindful of the Holy Ghost
Many professing Christians are worriers because they take the promises of God lightly. They doubt the Word of Truth and even question the ways of God. It is also shameful to say, but true, that many professing believers are not even aware of the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost in their lives which is simply the reason why they are so sorrowful and insecure when storms of life become hard-hitting.
The Lord said to His early disciples, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” A believer who is mindful of these comforting words from the Lord will never lose heart because he knows that the Lord and His Word are trustworthy. In John 14:26, it is written, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (KJV) May we have the burning desire to learn more necessary things from the Bible. The more spiritual knowledge we gain, the more we know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we continue studying the Word of God, may we constantly aware of the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Remember that even in troublous times, He is always present to comfort us.
(V) Keeps Us In Perfect Peace
John 14:27
-Peace which the world cannot afford to give
“Peace, peace” is the deafening cry of peace-seeking people, but their cry is being drowned by the world’s deepening troubles and babbles. In John 14:27, it is written, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) We must keep on rejoicing because the Prince of Peace, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, gave us the assurance of His abiding peace.
In Psalm 46:1-3, it is written, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (KJV) What a relevant reminder for us to ponder in our hearts. Through our naked eyes, we could see the uncertainties of life, but through the eyes of faith, we could see the best things in this present life and the best things of eternal life. Believe God, believe the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the abundant life that God wants you to have.
ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH
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