Point of Grace Worship 8.20.23 Sermon Notes – “Encouraging Confidence in Jesus - 1”

John 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

Jesus is Encouraging Confidence in Himself when I says, “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life – no one comes to the Father except through Me!”

How do you feel about the “exclusivity” of Jesus statement?

Jesus knows that “Clarity encourages confidence which fosters peace ……. Ambiguity fuels doubt which robs joy!”

How sure am I that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life?

Does my confidence in Jesus need some encouragement?

Do I sometimes “confuse” rather than “encourage” confidence in Jesus for myself and others?

Mark 10 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus encourages confidence through clarity, affirmation ….!

John 14 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus encourages confidence through clarity, affirmation, good news, ….!

Jesus encourages confidence in Him through clarity, affirmation, good news and the gift of praying!

John 14 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Father in Heaven,

I pray that ________________ will remember and believe today that they have a Father in heaven that loves them very much. I pray that the name and presence of Jesus covers them all day today.

I pray that Your kingdom would come today over their heart, soul, body, thinking and living today. That the authority, reign, leading and protection of the Lord Jesus would come over them and over all the places, people and situations they will be in. Reign Jesus reign over every aspect of ____________’s life.

I pray that Your will gets done today in __________________ life. I pray that Your will gets done in all the decisions they make and I pray your will gets done in all the decisions others make that will affect them. Your will be done Father, on earth in _____________’s life as if in heaven.

I pray Father that you would deliver and protect ____________from the evil one. Break and hinder every attempt by evil to rob peace, joy, love, hope and life from them this day. Deliver and protect Father, I pray.

I give thanks to You Father every time I think of ____________. They are such a blessing to me and now I call forth Your blessing on them.

Amen