Sermon: All Sifted Like Wheat (Part Three)

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled
#1777
Mark Schindler
Given 17-Aug-24; 67 minutes 2024-08-17

listen:

playlist:
Go to the All Sifted Like Wheat (sermon series) playlist

download:

It is interesting that Martin mentioned the Feast of Tabernacles will be in 60 days, because typically, all who are given the privilege to speak on the holy days or especially at the Feast of Tabernacles, tend to carry the same troubling thought in the back of our minds, “What do I do if someone else gives the same message?”

This is especially troubling when several messages have been prepared to be given over a very short period of time by a variety of men, who have taken a great deal of time to consider and pray over and prepare their messages. I know personally, this can make me squirm. I must admit I have come to see this is another of my own self-centered ventures into faithlessness.

God certainly is teaching us how far short we fall in really trusting Him to do what He wants to do, when He wants to do it. We consistently see sermons and sermonettes woven together by the “Unseen Hand” (as Mr. Armstrong claimed seeing in God’s work). And yet, as human beings we very often do not really appreciate Him, and the very miracle we are living under His hand, day in and day out as the Master Potter prepares the clay.

The reason why I have opened the sermon this way today is because over the last two weeks, I have been squirming. Two weeks ago, David Grabbe gave us marvelous insight into the peace of Christ. And then last week Martin Collins took a deep dive into the new heart that God gives each of us to righteously apply His perfect law with His outgoing concern.

Both the peace of Christ and the circumcised heart by God’s Holy Spirit had been focal points of the sermon today, as Christ allows us to be sifted like wheat in bringing us to perfection. But I must say over the last couple of weeks I have personally seen how much sifting yet needs to be done with me as He is teaching us to truly believe and trust Him! But with that being said, I believe that God gave us the very incisive lessons we needed over the last two weeks on those two topics of the peace of Christ, and the heart to guide us.

What had been intended to take up the lion’s portion of this sermon, God has addressed in greater detail through David and Martin over the last two weeks. Therefore, I ask you to please review those sermons carefully, so that hopefully you can tie them into today’s sermon, as we finish up this series of sermons, “All Sifted Like Wheat (Part Three): Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.”

As we begin, and considering those other two sermons, I would like you to keep in mind one of my favorite quotes, cited from a sermon that John Ritenbaugh gave, when he was pastor here in the Chicago area back in the early 1980s.

John said: “If you keep the law of God, motivated by the love of God, you will receive the life of God.”

Please consider this with a few words changed, but perhaps more specifically pointing to Christ’s promise to His disciples, as recorded in John 14: If you keep the law of God, motivated by the heart of God, you will receive the peace of God.

With that we are going to once again attempt to get what I believe is at the heart of John 14 and this vital message of trust in Jesus Christ to give us His peace developed through His Spirit dwelling in us. This is a concisely intimate final instruction to those given to Him to become a faithful witness of the work that only He can do for the glory of the Father!

But first we need to take an overview of my previous two sermons, “Sifted Like Wheat.”

In that first sermon, we looked at the critical difference between those yet in bondage to this world, and those who have been set at liberty through Jesus Christ.

We also spent time seeing just how difficult it is—impossible—for the carnal minded (for all intents and purposes) to follow Jesus Christ, because of the love for contention that is intrinsically part of the carnal-minded old man. This is something that we also battle day in and day out.

Jesus Christ made it clear in the lead up to John 14 that it was impossible for anyone apart from Him to know the path to follow. But to those called to Him by the Father to accomplish His purpose, the path was clear and sure. Within this world there is a sifting process going on, which is ultimately working toward the perfection of those on this path.

Christ made it clear that those called by the Father to Him were set on the path right behind Him because He gave something the world cannot have apart from Him—the ability to love one another, through Him and in Him, just as He loves us—a continuous sacrificial offering, regarding our relationships within His Body.

As Dr. Maas wrote in his abstract of that first sermon,

Like the apostle Peter, God's chosen saints will be subject to Satan's attempt to destroy their faith through being sifted like wheat. Jesus allows this distressing discomfort to strengthen their faith, praying continually to the Father for their protection and victory over sin (John 17:9). Jesus' disciples live in alien territory—Satan's world. We are not sufficient in ourselves, but because of the gift of God's Holy Spirit, the veil still blinding physical Israel has been removed from us, as we move beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law, enabling us to maneuver through the proving ground of Satan's world.

We examined John 13 and Luke 22 that showed us the disciples were facing the same problems as the world, displaying their contentious jockeying for position. Even as God had called them at that time to be the mansions of His Holy Spirit, while Christ continued His work to make sure every mansion was being placed exactly where we belong within the Family of God. This applied to them and by extension to us from that time on.

As part of this process we are each being sifted like wheat for perfecting, even though it is an extremely difficult process in this alien world. We are not only battling this world’s insanity, but we are battling our own carnally-minded love of contention in response to it.

Through Christ we now have the power to love one another as He loves us.

So again, just to make sure we are backing this up with His Word, we will read again the verses we focused on in that first sermon to keep John 14 in context. As noted before, these are not randomly connected verses, but a clear message from Jesus Christ to all who are now being prepared in the way.

John 17:14-17 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

John 13:31-36 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward."

John 14:1-4"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This again reminds us that both those there with Him and those brought to Him through the generations, are put into this chaotic world for our good in the sanctification part of the process, learning and living the truth of His Word together in a world that cannot.

However, as I mentioned earlier when we tied Luke 22:24-32 into this, the love of contention was a painfully obvious weakness even in those called by the Father to the closest relationship with His Son physically.

Luke 22 helps us really appreciate the certainty of Jesus Christ’s work of reconciliation.

We know He said this specifically to the Twelve, and most specifically to Peter, but we can be assured that it holds true for all of us in the rigors of training necessary for the unique responsibilities that have already been assigned to each of us who have been called by the Father to His Son. Christ’s perfect work is intimately sure for all within the House.

So, please listen to this again, as expressed in the Amplified Bible. But, as noted before, do not get caught up in the specific responsibilities given to those twelve, but consider by extension the places within God’s Kingdom Christ has certainly prepared for each of us in our roles within the Family—members who continue in their trials with Jesus Christ [being] living sacrificial offerings with Him.

Luke 22:28-31 (AMP) And you are those who have remained [throughout] and persevered with Me in My trials. And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you [the privilege and decree], that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain. But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.

Just as certain as Christ’s work, success, and position was assured, Christ guarantees by extension the perfectly finished work in all for the glory of the Father to those who, “Remain throughout, and persevere with Him in the trials He shares with us.” This is all part of His complete work of true reconciliation between God and men, and among men.

In the last sermon we took time to consider the definition of reconciliation, as men see reconciliation, but within it we can also see the work that only Jesus Christ can do completely. Most generally, we saw reconciliation defined as, “the restoration of friendly relations.” But this needed to go much deeper than friendly relationships. Christ is restoring harmony in “a pleasing arrangement of parts” whose who are intimately loving one another with outgoing concern.

Jesus Christ has not only through Himself in His death and resurrection for the sins of all, given all the opportunity to be brought back into alignment with God in a perfectly determined order. And He has promised to lead men in their order to stay in alignment behind Him through the actual indwelling of the Father and the Son in the mansions [abodes] of those called now into the Family of God.

We really need to appreciate the incredible work that the Father and Son are doing within each one of us right now! Right now, while the world is unable to know the way, They are dwelling within us to keep us on the Way.

We took a bit of time in the last sermon to consider what men consider the way to peace and we saw that they are not even anywhere close to the Peace of Christ, but as we gleaned from Alexis de Tocqueville’s work, “Democracy in America,” the peace determined by men is all built on a compromising tolerance that rests on sovereignty of men, rather than the sovereign authority of God.

As John Ritenbaugh showed years ago in his commentary series on the philosophies of men, they are just that, philosophies of men and not the way of Christ.

We noted that the vital part of Christ’s direction for staying in the way and doing His works is keeping His commandments, as He has given the “mansions” in which the Father and Son dwell the ability to do for Their glory. This is the sacrificial love developed within the Body of Christ—those learning and applying the law of God, motivated by the heart of God!

Regardless of what we may see unfold on the political stage of power politics in this world today, our citizenship in the Kingdom of God and our loyalty must be totally and completely to the way that only we can walk through Jesus Christ. This loyalty to Him is manifested within the sacrificial work of loyalty to the brethren cheerfully given in mutual submission.

While the religions of this world that should be the governor of democracy, apart from Jesus Christ they all descend into pantheism, which tolerates all gods just like we see exploding around us today. This may create a peace like the world makes peace, but that is not living the peace of Jesus Christ, which has been promised to You.

His way to peace is concisely described in John 14.

We did begin to look into the peace of Christ in that last sermon, but I have eliminated the deeper dive into this I intended for today, because you need to insert David’s August 3, 2024 sermon, “Why Did Jesus Say ‘Peace Unto You’” right here at this point.

I keep going on this because this is a promise from Jesus Christ.

John 14:1-2 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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.”

Again, let us consider this word, mansions, just as we did in the previous two sermons.

The word in the Greek is monē (mon-ay') and is only found twice in the New Testament as an abode or a mansion. Both are here in John 14. It is here in verse 2 and again in verse 23, where we see it translated as house in the NKJV, but more correctly “abode” in the KJV.

And we saw from Barnes’ Notes:

The word rendered “mansions” means either the act of dwelling in any place (John 14:23, “We will make our abode with him”), or it means the place where one dwells. It is taken from the verb to remain, and signifies the place where one dwells or remains. It is applied by the Greek writers to the tents or temporary habitations which soldiers pitch in their marches. It denotes a dwelling of less permanency than the word “house.”

Brethren, why are we going over this again? Because, it is within you and me that the very process Martin spoke on last week in his “God is The Strength of My Heart” sermon must be taking place right now.

Within our temporary dwellings in the flesh, the Father and the Son dwell so that we not only have minds to learn the right and wrong from the truth of God’s Word, but we have the heart—the driving force of God’s Holy Spirit—to decisively enact His Word with outgoing concern for others in the spirit of the law.

As we march through this life, the very precious gift of God’s Holy Spirit—the essence of the Father and Son—dwells in us so that we can continue in God’s way to live in the flesh like Jesus Christ lived when He dwelled on this earth. We do this by dwelling in peaceful harmony with one another driven by the Father and the Son.

Learning and living the truth of God’s Word as His mansions dealing within this contentious world is going to be a very difficult sifting process toward perfection. But Jesus Christ assures us He is arranging the parts to fit together perfectly and in peace.

This is going to cause some painful stumbling along the way, but we cannot let down or get unequally yoked with this world, as we noted last time when we looked at the example of Peter’s contentious rush to Christ’s defense with a sword, followed by Paul’s warning not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in II Corinthians 6:14-18.

Brethren, as noted last time, this world is driven by contention that compromises God’s Word in the name of unity and peace. We have a sure way from Jesus Christ, very concisely expressed in John 14 that should totally separate us from this world. But it can only do that within the mutual self-sacrificial love that must be the hallmark of all in the Body of Christ.

We are not going to get it perfectly, because this is a painful sifting process, as we battle not only the world around us but the old man that is constantly pushing to get out.

But Christ begins His outline of duty in John 14 with a full assurance as God in the flesh.

Let us pick it up again in John 14:1-3.

John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

You and I have literally been given as a gift by the Father to His Son as a witness to this world of Their work now that will eventually be accomplished in all men.

However, in this flesh there is an agitation going on between what we think we know through the reasoning of the spirit of man that is by nature self-serving, versus the Spirit of God that drives everything with an outgoing concern for others.

I want to take a bit of a segue here, because I want us to make sure that we see in this that Jesus Christ as God in the flesh fought this same battle. Even though He never let it get the better of Him in all His efforts to do the work that the Father had given Him to do for His glory, He, too, was troubled on occasion.

First please turn with me to Philippians just to remind us of what He has done. You are all very familiar with these verses. But we need to make sure we do not underestimate what He has done Himself, and that He expects those called to Him to do the same because He did it.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 2:3-11 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 3:7-12 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

There are three things we need to keep in mind as we get ready to go back to John.

1. Christ has begun a good work in each of us that we may abound in not merely knowledge, but also discernment—the heart to direct the mind—producing the fruits of godly righteousness.

2. Christ Himself is the pattern of how to live life as a man, just as God would.

3. As called out of this dark world and citizens Kingdom of God He is conforming us to His way of life and His glory.

It is important to keep this incredible goal in mind through the rest of this sermon because in John 13:31 through 14:31 is a very intimate instruction specifically to those within the House. We must do what He tells us here if we are to really produce the godly righteousness that is expected as a witness to those outside the household of God.

Turning back to John, it is my opinion, as I noted that John 13:31 through John 14:31 may be the most concise declaration from Jesus Christ to those who have been separated from this world to live in unity, under the peace only He can give!

First of all, let us begin again with John 14:1 but I would like to read it from the Amplified:

John 14:1 (AMP) Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.

We can find two different things we can glean from this. They both have to do with that word trouble, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”

That word is tarassō (tar-as'-so); of an uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate; trouble.

Thayer’s Word Study regarding how it is used here is: To stir up; or trouble with questions; to disquiet things.

Considering what we have read in Philippians regarding Jesus Christ giving up all rights and privileges as God, let us see how deep this went.

We will be reading John 12. This is following Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem shortly before the Passover.

John 12:16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

Hold this thought.

John 12:20-28 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”

Two things here: Note the confusion among the disciples. They did not understand until after everything was said and done. They were confused over what was happening, along with Philip’s nominal participation in this.

Then, more importantly, another piece of evidence: We have a High Priest who knew what it was like to have that troubling of spirit, even though He never gave into it.

John 13:20-22 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."

We needed to see Christ was troubled by the depths of betrayal. It was troubling to Him.

John 13:31 So, when he [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

Although the disciples were still troubled as far as Christ was concerned, from this point forward things now were finally as good as done.

I would like to read to you what John Ritenbaugh said in Part 21 of his Bible study series on the book of John because it has a great deal of relevance to what we are considering today.

John said regarding what the apostle John wrote in the previous verse, John 13:30: “Having received the piece of bread, he [Judas] then went out immediately. And it was night.”

Comment: As the King James says, “And it was dark.” John did not have to say that, that it was dark. It is just a little thing added that you might get a little bit more of a picture. Judas went from the light of being in the presence of Christ to the darkness of the world. Undoubtedly, the room that they were in was lighted, and it must have just struck John as an ironic thing, as he thought about it. There was some symbolism there. He went from the light of God’s presence to the darkness of the world.”

Comment: “It was not totally dark outside, because it was Passover, and the moon was almost full. By comparison to the kind of light that they had in the room with Christ, it was a dark scene. There is a very poignant lesson there for you and for me.”

Now again I am going to cite what John Ritenbaugh said in John Part 22 of the same series regarding John 14:31: “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”

Comment: “It is another reaffirmation of His spiritual determination to lay down His life.”

Comment: “And then He says, I hate to say it is not translated right because it is, but it gives the wrong impression: ‘Arise, let us go from here.’”

Comment: “It sounds like they are sitting in that room where they had the Passover meal. He is talking to these fellows, and He said, ‘Let us get up and leave.’ That is not what He said, even though the Greek can literally be translated that way. Let us get the context: ‘I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming.’”

Comment: “Here it comes, the advancing enemy! And there is their general, right out in front of them! The army is coming toward Him, and when He said, ‘Arise, let us go from here,’ what He literally said was, ‘Let us go to meet the advancing enemy.’”

Comment: “He did not mean to get up and leave the room. He said, ‘I am going to stand up, and I am going to fight him tooth and toenail. I am going to overcome him one more time, because he is going to try to get something on Me. He is trying to get something on Me that he can claim. I am going to go out and do battle with him one more time.’”

Comment: “Actually, it was a challenge to Satan to do the best that he could to break Christ’s will. Of course, he did not.”

Comment: “It is very likely that the next chapters also took place in that same room where they had the Passover. But that verse gives you the impression the way it is translated that they got up and walked out of the room. No, it means, ‘Let us go meet the advancing enemy.’”

Brethren, I do not disagree with this, and I also believe that John 13:31 through 14:31 purposely bracket specific instructions to those who are in the light of Christ within the house for staying in the peace of Christ. The instructions given in the next two chapters may have been given there rather than walking outside in the dark walking to Gethsemane, John 13:31 through 14:31 contain an exclamation point of what is needed to maintain the peace of Christ and the witness for God’s glory. Chapters 15 and 16 emphasize how to keep it going when you are out there walking in the world.

Please listen again to John 14:31 as it is written in the Amplified Bible and then, please listen to a paraphrase of this considering the single direct marching order Christ gave to those in His light before going out as a witness in the dark world.

John 14:31 (AMP) But [ Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here.

Now my own paraphrase that I feel adds what is implied:

Satan’s world is outside in the dark, but I go to do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love Him by doing everything in sacrificial love for you, just as the Father and I agreed. You need to do the same for one another as we step out from here, as Satan tries to sift you like wheat!

Within the next two chapters Jesus Christ reinforces the new command He had given them; how they would be able to do it by staying very tightly united with Him and each other, while He finishes the work in all of us while we walk in the darkness of this world; that their fervent and sacrificial love for one another was made possible by the Father and Son dwelling in each one of us. This is also our responsibility.

At this point, as we head toward the end of this sermon, I would like us to consider what was troubling them, because Christ shows us that in this sifting process, while the battle is going on within themselves, there are always going to be questions and doubts upon occasion. But we need to stay focused on His work, even when we do not quite understand it, and our own responsibility to learn and live the sacrificial love He has commanded specifically for those called by the Father to His Son.

Within John 13:31 through 14:31 are four questions raised by four different men, and each either directly or indirectly states a carnal way to take care of it. However, Christ answers all of these questions as they relate to what was yet in the future for them, and a present reality for us: the indwelling of the Father and the Son.

However, before we look at these questions, we need to add some background scriptures regarding two events that will become an important piece at the end of the sermon.

Please turn with to John 11. This is the chapter where Christ gets word that His friend Lazarus was sick and He purposely delayed going to him for two days, because the timing was not right within what needed to be done for the glory of God.

John 11:7-16 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

I would like you to note and tuck it into your minds that the phrase, “Let us go” in verses 7, 15, and 16 is the same phrase used in John 14:31. Also note that it is Thomas who declares in verse 16, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Luke 22:54-62 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

There are two things: The first is Peter’s very telling declaration (this from someone who had determined to do things from his own strength without the indwelling of the Father and Son), he very clearly said (what was truly part of him), “Woman, I do not know Him!” He really did not know Him.

The second thing very clearly ties to remembering Christ’s words when we slip, “Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord,” and he repented. God will always keep reminding us who is really our strength.

Now back to the questions: The first is found in John 13.

John 13:36-38 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”

As we saw, the blind faith and taking matters into our own hands without the indwelling heart and mind of God puts us in the same position as the rest of the world. As Peter prophetically declared in Luke, “Woman, I do not know Him”!

The second question regarding where He was going and how to get there came from Thomas, who was just as rash as Peter when he called out for all of them to go up to Judea with Christ, so they could die with Him, not even really understanding why. It certainly was not a carefully considered move for the glory of God.

John 14:5-7 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

If we put Thomas’ question on top of Peter’s question and Christ’s response to Peter, we see a picture of what happens when we try to figure things out for ourselves and the internal agitation and confusion it causes.

John 14:7-9 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”

Again, here are the troubles of a mind without God’s Holy Spirit that cannot understand the Father and the Son in Their perfect harmony and unity. This unity is incomprehensible and troubling to the carnal mind. Phillip was still confused and thus troubled.

John 14:19-24 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Again, something that may still trouble many of us, “Why can’t the world understand what God has graciously given to us to understand at this time?” Here Jesus Christ doubles down on it in His answer in,

John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.”

Those called by the Father to the Son with the gifts He has given must continue to keep His word to continue being the mansions that Christ is arranging as a perfect fit into the Family!

John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions [each one of you]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [arranging a place of unity]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

John 14:25-27 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus Christ brackets the inside of this chapter with, “Let not you heart be troubled.” Do not let your mind get hung up in the chaos and confusion around you.

Because of all that He promises in this chapter, you can believe that He and the Father are totally united in Their sacrificial work. And through the indwelling of Their Holy Spirit we can and must be in mutual submission to one another as living sacrifices. We must be living the new commandment that He has given to us as a witness of the peace of Christ in action to a world in trouble and turmoil.

We read earlier that Thomas was the one who impetuously declared, “Let us also go up that we may die with Him.” So now as Christ explained what lay ahead (to live within the Body of Christ with the indwelling of the Father and Son to keep the new command of living the Word of God motivated by the love of God with one another), He may have looked directly at Thomas and Peter saying, “Satan’s world is outside, but I go to do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love Him by doing everything in sacrificial love for you, just as the Father and I agreed. You need to do the same for one another. Let us go out and learn to live as I live!”

We will begin to end this sermon first with words as they flowed from the Father and the Son through the apostle Peter when filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

I Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

I Peter 3:13-15 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

I Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

I Peter 4:7-11 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 5:1-7 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

And with all this in mind back to John 13.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 14:18-21 “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

John 14:23-27 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Brethren, we have a great deal of work to do in this sifting process towards the perfection of Jesus Christ under His new commandment of mutual submission within the places He has put us for the glory of the Father. But with the indwelling of the Father and the Son we can and must do it.

We will end this sermon today with God’s words of warning and of comfort during this often-troubling sifting process to those He has called and empowered to live His new commandment, as the mansions of the Father and Son, being perfectly placed within the Family of God.

Please turn with me to Malachi 3, and I will be reading verses 14-18 from the Holman translation:

Malachi 3:14-18 (HCSB) You have said, "It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate. Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and escape." At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name. “They will be Mine," says the Lord of Hosts, "a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him [Remember Christ’s words, “I will not leave you orphans.”]. So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Let us continue to keep the new commandment from Jesus Christ with untroubled hearts and the peace of Christ in the place Christ has set us so the world can clearly see those who serve God in sacrificial service to one another in the light.

MS/rwu/drm