Livin' on a Prayer - Doug Rehberg

J. C. Penney said it, “God wants to possess me, not merely my possessions.” Have you ever known anyone who was so possessed?

The man lived in Germany, his name was Bengel. There was something about him that caused others to marvel. One such man, a friend, desired that same intimacy, but he was uncertain about how to get it. So, he decided to sneak into Bengel’s room one early evening to observe his devotions. Entering the room and opening the closet door, he hid himself in a place where he could observe everything. Within an hour, Bengel came in, sat down at his table, and began reading the New Testament. The hours passed until finally the clock in the corner struck midnight. With that the old man spread out his hands, smiled broadly and said, “Dear Lord Jesus, we’re on the same terms.” He closed the book, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.

John Knox was on the same terms. In 1572, as the Scottish Reformer lay dying, he asked a friend to come and read him the Scripture. Though Knox was an Old Testament scholar, it wasn’t the Old Testament he wanted. It wasn’t a miracle or a wonder, it was a prayer. Every day until he died, John Knox wanted John 17 read to him.

Philip Melanchthon said it, “…no voice has ever been heard, either in heaven or on earth, more exalted, more fruitful, more sublime than this prayer offered up by the Son of God Himself.” We might add, none more intimate either.

Think of it. Here in the presence of His disciples Jesus has an intimate conversation with His Father. Now remember these are the same men who asked Him months earlier to teach them to pray. In response to their query Jesus gives them the model prayer, called, “The Lord’s Prayer.” But here we have the Lord’s Prayer! This is the Lord of Glory speaking to His Father and addressing two sets of needs—His needs and His friends’ needs.

The great Scottish Commentator Arthur W. Pink says, “In John 17 the veil is drawn aside, and we are admitted with our great High Priest into the holiest of all. Here we are able to enter the secret place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” And here we are to listen to what is on God’s mind.

This week we are going to examine much of what is on Jesus’ mind (and heart) in this timeless intercession. It behooves us to do just that, because Jesus is as focused on you and me in this prayer as He is on Himself.

In preparation for this week’s message entitled: “Livin’ on a Prayer”, I would encourage you to read and reread John 17 and see how many requests Jesus makes of His Father. Here’s a hint” He makes the same number of requests for Himself as He does for all of His disciples, including you and me. Here are some other questions that will assist you in your examination of this magnificent prayer:

1. Jesus’ prayer is tied directly to what He’s been saying in chapter 16. How does 16:33 work to prompt Jesus to pray?
2. How do His words in chapter 16 reflect themselves in His prayer?
3. In verse 1 Jesus uses the word “glorify” twice. What does “glorify” mean and who does He wish to be glorified?
4. What’s Jesus mean in verse 2 when He says that His Father has given Him authority over all flesh?
5. How does this statement, and the one following it (about eternal life), set up the balance of the prayer?
6. How does the Father honor Jesus’ request in verse 5?
7. Who does Jesus credit for the election of those who are saved? (see verse 6.)
8. What word would you use to describe the similarity between the Father and the Son as expressed in verse 8?
9. How do we add to Jesus’ glorification as mentioned in verse 10?
10. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus included you in His prayer in verse 20?

Though we will not worship in person together this week, we will be worshipping together as we ruminate on this most blessed text. Through the week you will be encouraged to listen to other podcasted messages in addition to this week’s podcast. All of this is done to increase our knowledge and love for Jesus Christ, our Great Savior! May He bless you and yours richly!

Doug

Standing Firm - Doug Rehberg

In light of the Coronavirus craze I think of Dr. William Oslear, one of the founders of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, who said, “It is more important to know what sort of patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has.” Did you ever hear of the hypochondriac who was fanatical in following every care he could find in a book or magazine? Unfortunately, he died of a typographical error!

Years ago Norman Cousins wrote a true story of a high school football game in Southern California at which a small number of people started feeling sick. The doctor at the game suspected food poisoning, so an announcement was made that no one was to get a drink from a certain beverage machine that was thought to contain the noxious drink. Soon the medical station was flooded with people claiming to be suffering from food poisoning. Hundreds of people were temporarily hospitalized. Panic hit the stadium.

Later, upon examining the machine and testing the drinks, no problems were found. Every single item tested was found to be perfectly safe. As soon as people were told that the machine was not at fault, the illness started clearing up!

A friend recently asked, “How many funerals have you conducted since arriving at Hebron?” Now, this isn’t a new question. But this time I decided to check my records. The number is 627. And over 750 in my entire ordained ministry. But there was one memorial service that I participated in long before my ordained ministry began. What stands out most vividly is what happened in a hospital waiting room a week before that service. I’ll talk about it in Sunday’s message entitled, “Standing Firm”.

Sunday’s text, John 16:1-15, marks the beginning of a new chapter in John’s gospel, but’s it’s a continuation of what Jesus is saying in chapter 15. In John 15:18-25, Jesus uses the word “hate” 7 times. “They will hate you,” He says. “They will put you out of the synagogue. They will even kill you thinking that’s what God wants them to do!”

Now this isn’t hypochondria. This isn’t a feckless worry. This is “take it to the bank” realism. This is what He says will truly occur in the life of every disciple. But that’s not all Jesus says! He tells us of 3 realities that will assist us in seeing things the way He sees them and, therefore, standing firm.

We will dig into all of this on Sunday, so in preparation you may wish to consider the following:

1. What does Jesus mean in verse 1?

2. On what grounds would anyone do the things described in verse 2?

3. What help does Jesus offer to us in our suffering?

4. How familiar is this Helper with helping someone in the midst of their suffering?

5. In what way is Jesus telling us that we will walk the same road as He walked?

6. How does Jesus describe Him in verse 13?

7. What’s the difference between a teacher and a guide? Who would you rather have?

8. How does suffering redirect our eyes from ourselves to the Lord?

9. How does it redirect our eyes from ourselves to others?

10. How does all this connect to what Jesus says in John 15:12-14?

See you Sunday!

The Father Loves the Son - Henry Knapp

I was sitting across the table the other day from someone who was talking about the technicalities of his work. Now, I have no personal experience with his vocation nor have I ever spent any time learning about it. So, while I played along, like I knew what we were talking about—head bobbing, with an idiotic smile on my face, grunting at what I hoped were appropriate moments—it was basically like hearing a foreign language. There were lots of acronyms, technical terms, jargon, and shorthand phrases. That was OK. Often when I get together with someone and they share about their work, my inexperience with what they do every day means that I can’t always follow everything. Usually, I get enough of the gist to know if they are happy or not, and that helps me pray for and minister with them.

However, at the end of our meeting, this particular fellow says something that sounds like: “Given what I do at work every day, I think about your sermons like beedlebopinshine, ha, ha, ha!” Knowing nothing of his work or what “beedlebopinshine” is, I was at a total loss, not sure if I had been complimented or insulted.

In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples that He has loved them “as the Father has loved me”. OK. On one level, I can understand that. That makes sense. While we know little of the inner-workings of the Trinity, the fact that the Father loves the Son is not surprising. And, in this passage, Jesus is affirming to His disciples that He loves them like He is loved by the Father. Most of us would be able to track with that—we love like we have been loved. So, the fact that Jesus loves us like He is loved by the Father is completely understandable.

So, that’s good—the Father loves the Son. Clear enough. Until I slow down and think about it for a second… How DOES the Father love the Son? Or, more accurately, how do I know how the Father loves the Son? After all, I haven’t really seen it happening, the Father loving the Son. Sure, I guess it happens, but I don’t know what that is… do I? Thinking about it, it is suddenly “beedlebopinshine” all over again.

So, how does the Father love the Son? Here’s a big word (or two): Theologians describe this by means of a Greek word, perichoresis, or its Latin equivalent, circumincession. Two big terms that refer to one marvelous mystery—the fact that the Persons in the Godhead (the Father, Son, and Spirit) all “mutually indwell” one another. That is, they each are so a part of the other, that they are seen as permeating one another completely so that the one is always in the other two. Yikes! Try wrapping your head around that one. The existence of God, through all eternity, is such that the Persons of the Trinity are different, yet totally mutually indwelling.

What does this mean for the love of the Father for the Son? Well, that love is eternal. It always has been, and always will be. And, so is Jesus’ love for us. The Father’s love is constant and is never in doubt; so also Jesus’ love for His followers. God’s love for His Son never falters. Jesus’ love for you never fails. The Father loves the Son as an expression of His whole being (God is love); and that is how Jesus loves us.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” (John 15:9). What a great, great promise! Let us rejoice in that deep, abiding love together.

As we prepare together for worship this Sunday, read John 15:9-17.

1. What is the connection between Jesus’ discussion of love with the vine image that immediately precedes it?

2. What would “abiding in love” (John 15:9) look like? What would NOT abiding in love look like?

3. What is the link between obedience and love as described in this text? Look at the various ways it is spoken about.

4. In John 15:16, suddenly Jesus is talking about “choosing me” and “choosing you”. How does this factor into His discussion of love?

5. The same question for prayer in John 15:16. It seems out of place, no?

6. What is the difference between John 15:12 and John 15:17? Notice that they don’t exactly say the same thing… what is different here, and so what?

How Do You Feel about Being a Branch? - Henry Knapp

How prideful are you? How prideful am I? I imagine that neither of us would want someone looking into our hearts and minds most days. It amazes me how much each and every day I think about ME: what I am doing, where I am going, what I am hungry for, how I feel, what I want to do next… it is an ancient sin—the sin of pride. And, it is primarily pride that governs the fallen human nature. I suppose most of us, if we are honest, are extremely susceptible to this very powerful and subtle temptation—to be a VINE, not a branch.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

We really struggle to believe this is true. That apart from Him we can do nothing. NOTHING? Come on, Jesus. I have worked hard. I have earned my keep. I got dressed today on my own (well, ok, Kelly told me what to wear, but hey…). I go to work. I earn the money. I care for my family. And remember, I drive the car—not you Jesus.

This might be one reason Jesus told this metaphor to His disciples. It smacks at our pride, our independence. It defeats pride. The passage this week in John elevates Jesus and makes us smaller, more insignificant. We need Him. He does not need us. Think about that for a while—you are not necessary to God. God does not need you; He is the true vine. He is self-existent and self-sustaining and self-sufficient. HE is not part of your life…He IS your life. You are a branch. I am a branch. We are not the central thing. We are not the main thing. We are dependent, so utterly dependent. And so we see His elevated status and our humble one. “Apart from Him you can do nothing.” – John 15:5.

But, wait, aren’t I something? Don’t I matter to God? What about my worth and identity? Our worth, our value, our everything is found, not in what we are or do, but in how we are connected to Him—our Union with Christ. The oneness with Him; for He is the true vine and we are His branches. He is our life—our identity. This passage is essential in understanding who we really are—branches that bear great fruit when connected to Jesus, and branches that have no life apart from Him. Union with Christ means that individually and collectively we are ONE with Him. His life becomes our life. He is completely bound up in our life, every aspect of it. And here’s the cool thing—this kind of intimacy is not just when we get to heaven, but it is ours right now! We now are so connected with the Lord—a branch, His branch. We have this call—to abide in Him, bear fruit for Him, remain steadfast with Him.

As you prepare for worship this Sunday, read John 15:1-11.

1. Why would Jesus have used this particular metaphor? What other metaphors might He have used? More to the point, what metaphor might be appropriate today?

2. What does it mean to “prune” a branch? In terms of the metaphor, what is Jesus saying to His disciples?

3. What is the “fruit” in this metaphor?

4. What are some synonyms for “abide”? When you think of this word, what images are present? For me, “abiding” means something beyond just “living” or “being in”. You?

5. What does it mean to be thrown away, withered, burned in the fire…?

6. In verse 7, we are to abide in Him, and His words abide in us. How might His word “abide in you”?

7. How is the Father glorified when we bear fruit (vs. 8)? Can you think of an example, or a time in your life, where that was evident?

All for the praise of His glory! Henry

The Help of the Helper - Doug Rehberg

Ninety years ago in Great Britain, Welshman D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a physician to the royal family. But at age 27 God called Lloyd-Jones away from medicine and into ministry.

For 30 years he was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London. They called him, “The Doctor”, because of the precision with which he came to the Scripture and preached it. For four decades he was the undisputed leader of the evangelical and reformed churches of Great Britain. His scholarship was unassailable. His exposition of Scripture was so profound it’s still consulted today. His biblical and theological acuity was of the highest order. And yet, when he looked around at the evangelical and reformed church of his day he said, “Though their doctrine is sound, their passion is missing.”

I remember, years ago, attending a church in Florida that I had always heard about. It had a reputation for solid, biblical preaching. As I took my seat in the balcony and looked around, all I could see were people carrying well-worn Bibles; and the more I looked, the more excited I became. But soon the service started and after 20 minutes I was as bored as I’ve ever been in a church. As for doctrine, they were pure; but as for joy, they were pitiful. Everything that was said was true, but there appeared to be no life. Some call it, “Dead orthodoxy.” That was the problem Lloyd-Jones saw in abundance all around the evangelical and reformed churches of Great Britain. He saw people who had stayed long enough at the cross to be saved, but not long enough to be loved. And their lack of passion proved it. That’s what Paul means when he says, “If I speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal… without love, I am nothing.”

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, “The weakness of the reformed church is found in their traditionalism, their lack of evangelism, and their contentment with mental ascent to sound doctrine and little more. On the other hand, the weakness of the charismatic church is their self-indulgence; their enjoyment of experience in the absence of sound doctrine.” But, other than rejecting both extremes, Lloyd-Jones brought them together. Through his solid, Christ-centered preaching the Holy Spirit demonstrated that Godly revival requires both sound doctrine and the infilling power of the Holy Spirit.

Ten years ago we preached a 12-week series on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In much the same way that Lloyd-Jones taught, we looked at the person, the personality, the creativity, the gifts, the work of the Holy Spirit, etc. But interestingly, of all the texts we examined, John 14:15-31 was absent from our study. This Sunday we will make amends.

John 14:15-31 is Jesus’ first expanded discussion of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Here, following His absolute assurance of His love for His disciples, Jesus tells them in no uncertain terms that one of the great benefits of His departure from them is the gift of a Helper Who is an exact replica of Him.

This Sunday we will explore seven key characteristics of the Holy Spirit that can converge to excite the most stoic believer. Rather than an asset gained by human striving, the Holy Spirit is given as a gift. In fact, He is a gift solicited by Jesus from God the Father.

This Sunday we will examine seven “Ps”:

• The PRESENT of the Holy Spirit - John 14:16
• The PERSON of the Holy Spirit - John 14:16
• The PERPETUITY of the Holy Spirit - John 14:18
• The PURPOSE of the Holy Spirit - John 14:26
• The PROVINCE of the Holy Spirit - John 14:27
• The PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit - John 14:17(b)
• The PROGRESS of the Holy Spirit - John 14:23

In preparation for Sunday you may wish to consider the following:

1. How is the Holy Spirit received by the believer?

2. When did the Holy Spirit come into the first disciples?

3. The word Jesus uses to describe Himself and the Holy Spirit in verse 16 is “Helper”. What other translations can you find?

4. How is the Holy Spirit rightly called, “The Spirit of Truth”?

5. How does the Holy Spirit fulfill Jesus’ promise in verse 18?

6. How does the Holy Spirit enable us to keep the commandments and teaching of Jesus?

7. How do Paul’s words in II Corinthians 3:6 fit with what Jesus is saying here?

8. Can you think of examples in your own life and experience that support II Corinthians 3:6?

9. How do you interpret verse 28?

10. How does the Holy Spirit fulfill Jesus’ words in verse 26 in your life?

See you Sunday!

Words for the Panicked - Doug Rehberg

When I was 22 and just finishing graduate school in Washington, D.C., I decided to go and live somewhere where I didn’t know a soul. I had never in my life lived anywhere that I knew no one, so I thought I’d give it a shot. So I moved to Miami, Florida.

(I went to Miami a couple of years ago and found that Thomas Wolfe was right! It took 45 minutes to drive six blocks. Everything had changed. Of course, 40 years will do that.) It was the late 1970s, before the Mariel boatlift, and Miami was a super mid-sized city, with lots to do. But it wasn’t long after moving there that I felt alone. Everywhere I went, I went alone. Everything I did, I did alone. Even at work, for the county manager of Dade County, most of what I did, I did alone. I began to learn what it was like to be alone, to know nobody, to be a nobody. Then, Frank Seely popped his head into my office.

He asked, “You play golf?” I said, “You bet I do.” He said, “Good! After work today let’s go hit some balls.” So after work we drove halfway out to Key Biscayne, on the causeway. He drove right up to a grassy knoll overlooking the bay, popped the hatchback of his V.W. Beetle, pulled out a cardboard box filled with range balls, and said, “Here, hit ‘em.”

So I hit balls into Key Biscayne Bay for 15 minutes, while he watched. He didn’t hit any. He watched me hit them. Finally, after a quarter of an hour he said, “Okay, you can play. But let me tell you something. You’ve got to get rid of that damn high ball. The winds down here will eat your lunch!” And from that day on 63-year-old Frank Seely and I became golf buddies. We played almost every day after work.

After a few weeks Frank said to me, “Here’s my number,” as he handed me a slip of paper. At first, I thought it was his phone number, but when I looked at the slip, I could see only four digits. I said, “What’s this?” He said, “That’s my membership number at Doral Country Club.” Now at the time, the Blue Course at Doral was a tour stop! The Doral Resort was one of the finest in the country. So I say to him, “Frank, I can’t use your number. I’m not you.” He said, “Of course you can! They all know me there. I’m in charge of all the street lights in this county. I can shut them off anytime I want to. So, you go out there any time you want and use my number. They won’t give you any trouble.” I said to him, “But Frank, why are you doing this?” He said, “Two reasons: I like you, and I know what it’s like to be alone.”

When you come to John 14 you find the disciples scared to death of being alone. And they’ve got good reasons. They’ve left everything to follow Jesus, and now it’s crystal clear that He’s leaving them. He’s leaving them to a world that hates Him, and by extension, hates them. Their panic is palpable because Jesus is ticked at them. In fact, He’s hopping mad when He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled!” And the reason He’s mad is two-fold. First, they’ve got their eyes squarely on themselves. Second, they have yet to comprehend what Jesus’ departure means for them.

We’re going to go deeply into all of this on Sunday morning as we examine John 14:1-7. I can tell you that I’ve taught and preached this text dozens of times, but never as I will this Sunday in the Sanctuary and in the newly-completed Barclay Building!

In preparation for Sunday’s message entitled, “Words for the Panicked,” you may wish to consider the following:

1. How is Peter’s question in John 13:36 a perfect set up for John 14:1-7?

2. How is John 13:1 & 13:34-35 a set up for John 14:1-7?

3. How does Peter demonstrate that he knows little of what Jesus says in John 13:34-35?

4. How do Jesus’ words in John 13:38 relate to John 14:1-7?

5. What does the Father’s house have to do with ridding the disciples of their fear?

6. The words, “I go to prepare a place for you,” was a common expression in Israel. Do you know who said it? And to whom?

7. In verse 3 Jesus says, “I will come again and take you to myself.” This was another common expression in Israel at the time of Christ. Who said it and why?

8. What common human relationship is Jesus citing here that should bring every disciple peace and joy in the face of fear?

9. If someone were to ask you what Jesus promises to do for you throughout eternity what would you say?

10. What prophetic image used through the Old Testament to describe the relationship between God and the children of Israel is Jesus seizing upon and reinterpreting?

See you at the celebration on Saturday and worship on Sunday!

To Be "In the Know" - Henry Knapp

We have all these marvelous 15-second video clips of my 18-month-old daughter shot with an 8mm camera recorder. Remember those? At the time, they were top-of-the-line, high-quality stuff; now, they look like a suitcase you carry on your shoulder. Ah, the glories of a good cell phone camera! Like most folks, we videotaped everything—“Look, honey! I’m putting on my socks… quick! Get the camera!” Hours and hours of video footage ensuring that insomnia is never a problem.

The video clips of Sabrina are all only about 15 seconds each because for years she had an automatic reaction to seeing the video camera: “I WANNA SEE! I WANNA SEE!” You would surreptitiously begin to capture a wonderfully sentimental moment—playing with a stuffed animal, reading a book, talking to imaginary friends—and then Sabrina would look up, catch you filming her, and come running to the camera, saying, “I WANNA SEE!” Five seconds of something cute, followed by 10 seconds of her stumbling toward you crying out to see what you were recording.

This drive to be “in the know” of all that is going on, this desire can be cute (if annoying) in a two-year-old, but the same attitude can undercut our faith in so many ways. Very often we insist on knowing exactly what is going on; and if we don’t know, then we feel offended, hurt, or even sinned against. The desire to know and understand might be helpful and good—such curiosity has led to many discoveries and insights—but it can also reflect an insistence on controlling our own lives, a failure to have faith.

How often in Scripture are we told to trust the Lord, even without knowing exactly what He is doing? Indeed, is not the very idea of faith, trusting when we do not know how something will work out? Our faith in Jesus for our future is built on our willingness to follow Him, trusting that He knows what is best, even when we cannot see what He is doing. If we only trust God when we can see what He is doing, we are not trusting Him at all, but trusting in our own seeing.

In our text this week, John 13:31-35, this kind of trust is called for. Jesus has made it clear to the disciples that His time on earth is limited. Perhaps some of the disciples even recognized that Jesus might be killed (see John 11:16). But, as that time drew closer, the disciples grew more and more agitated, more concerned about being separated from their leader. Not knowing exactly what would happen, not knowing how this all would work for God’s glory and in His plan, the disciples were fearful of not being with Jesus. And so, in verse 33, Jesus again tells the disciples that they cannot go where He is going—He is going to do His work, and they cannot come.

Simon Peter, speaking for all the disciples, I am sure, cannot accept this. Where Jesus is going, he wants to go! There is nothing that Jesus can do that Peter doesn’t want to be a part of: no danger, no trial, that Peter will not share. While this represents extreme naiveté on Peter’s part, and, as we know from later in the story, is totally false, I believe it also represents this drive we all have to know what is going on, not to be excluded from what is happening. Like my daughter wanting to know what is being recorded, the disciples want to know what Jesus is doing, and where He will be going. Jesus’ call, however, to His disciples, ALL His disciples, is not always to know everything, to understand what is happening. His call is to trust, to have faith in Him, that what He is doing is for the best. Without knowing what is around the corner, that kind of faith is hard… it is also exactly what the Christian is to demonstrate every day. We practice our faith together, in trusting in the Lord, even when we do not know… especially, when we do not know.

As we prepare for worship together this Sunday, read John 13:31-35.

1. Why does Jesus wait until Judas (see verses 21-30) departs to say these things?

2. There is a circularity to the glorifying here: Jesus glorifies the Father who glorifies Jesus as He glorifies Himself. Read the verse carefully and see if you can make sense of it. Why do you think Jesus words it this way?

3. John 13:33, this is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus refers to His disciples as “little children”. Why do you think He chose to do so here?

4. When did Jesus speak this way to the Jews (see verse 33)? What connection might Jesus be making when He links these two sayings?

5. The commandment to love one another is a wonderful sentiment… but what exactly do you think Jesus means by that? All of us have been “loved” by another sometimes in ways that, frankly, we wish they wouldn’t. So, what does Jesus mean?

6. What is “new” about this commandment? After all, wasn’t the command to love others also present in the Old Testament?

7. What do you think about the predictive outcome mentioned in John 13:35? If you don’t know what I mean here… come! Let’s talk about it on Sunday!