John – Believe in Jesus and live
Part 8
“The Way”
A few years ago
I went to Zambia on a mission trip
I have told some of you bits and pieces about our time there
We spent several days in a village in the bush called Chongwe village
And while there we made some lifetime friends
We laughed and cried
And
I can tell you my experience there changed my life forever
I plan over the next however many years God blesses me by allowing me to be a part of this great church
To tell ya’ll more about our time in Africa
But Today
I want to tell you about our Rand R part of the trip
After spending many days in the bush
Sleeping outside on in huts
Stinking because there was not enough water to bath with
We ended that part of our trip and were headed out to regroup
Refresh and unwind
And prepare to come back to the world we knew and our families
Our leaders had booked us a Safari trip to the Kafue National Park
And 2 nights lodging at New Kalaha lodge on itsTsetse lake
The owner of the lodge gave us directions and we headed out on what we thought would be a 3-4 drive to the lodge
Well let me tell you
I don’t know what he drove to make the trip in 4 hours- , maybe a hovercraft
But the road that was the way to the lodge was probably the roughest road I have ever been on
Ya’ll just think our short driveway gets rough sometimes
We could only drive 5-10 miles per hour
Without jarring our teeth loose and everything on the van trying to come unbuckled
After 7-8 hours of traveling on this rough road we were only about half way to the lodge
Well
About then is when the van we were in broke down
I thought I had been feeling the transmission slipping since we had arrived in Zambia
And now here we were in the middle of nowhere
With no idea where we were or how to get to where we needed to go or how far it was
We had two vans
After lots of prayer
We sent the other van on to the lodge in hopes that they could send us help
And
We began walking
Our group consisted of me, Tim our leader, his 15 year old son
And
6 Women ranging from 13 and up
We walked for several hours and looking at a goggle map of the place after we got home
I Suspect we walked somewhere upwards of 12 miles
Hang with me here because this is where this story ties in with today’s lesson
We were hot
Tired
A bit scarred
And after having walked miles though remote wilderness
We came to a place where there were people
I thought at first this would be a good thing
But it turned out to be a bar in the middle of nowhere
Full of men who had been drinking and smoking dope
Which gave them courage
They saw the girls and they quickly began trying to lead us astray
“Where are you going “they asked?
One of the younger women answered “New Kalalia” Do you know how to get there ?
It’s this way one said
Pointing to a faint trail through the brush
Well I tell you the redneck came out in me
I quickly took out my knife and let them clearly see it
And told the women to start walking
I had Tim and Christian pick up a couple of big tree branches and instructed them on how to use them if the need arose
I am still here
So as you can figure out
The story turned out good
The other van had sent help and about 20 minutes later they arrived
And we were carried safely to the lodge
The point of this story and why I wanted to share it with you is
There was a WAY to get to where we were going
But there were people trying to convince us that another way would also get us there
Those other ways would have not ended well for us
You see
There was only one way
And in order to get to our destination we had to continue following the right way
Any other way would only lead to danger and destruction
I know this was a long story
And
I have no doubt that many of you will have your own story about a time when someone or something tried to keep you from the right way
Many times in my life
My old life
I allowed myself to be led down a wrong road
And I hate to say it, but there were times that I was the one trying to lead someone astray
In today’s message we are going to take a hard look at the Way to heaven
The only Way to heaven
Please open you bibles to John 14:6-7
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.[a] From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
This one of the most well know
Most well loved verses in the bible
But
It is also the most neglected
Most disbelieved verse in the Bible
You see just like that bumpy road to New Kalila
There was only one way the only way to get to where we wanted to go in Africa
Jesus says in plain
Straight forward speech
That he is the only way
Not one of many
Not a way
He is the way
the only way
And
That anyone that does not go by the way
Is in danger of not getting to where they want to get
Or worse
where they think they will get
Let me back up and put this verse in context a bit
Then we can really focus on this amazing promise
Jesus has ended his public ministry because of the increased persecution
Many are trying to shut him up
Many want to imprison him
Others want him dead
So Jesus shifted his teaching to those closest to him
We saw last week that Jesus had shown his disciples what pure love looked like buy washing their feet
And prayerfully we saw how we can love like he loved
Leading up to today’s message
Jesus and the boys were in an upper room in Jerusalem
They were eating a last meal together
Judas had already planned to betray him and that ball was roiling
Peter had said he would follow Jesus to the death
And Jesus had called him on that
And
Told him he would deny him not once but three times
Jesus had given them instructions about the upcoming events
He was preparing them for his crucifixion and his death
Then he comforts them in John 14:1-4
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
But in this comfort
The disciple don’t understand
They don’t get it
Jesus
You say you are going away
You say you are preparing a place for us
You say you are coming back for us
But you say that we know where you are going
And we don’t
Jesus we don’t know
Verse 5
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Thomas and the other disciples were thinking in human terms
They were thinking Jesus was talking about somewhere else in this world
But we know he was talking about going back to his Father
He was talking about Heaven
About Beulah land
Paradise
The streets of gold
The disciples wanted to know the way
So they asked
Tell us how to get to where you are going Jesus
Explain it to us
And he says in verse 6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
The way is here
Look at me
I am the way to get to where you want to go
I am the way to the Father
I am The only way!!
Many people in the world reject the fact that Jesus is the only way
The world as a whole and even some who claim to be Christians
Think that everyone will go to heaven
Some think that they have a better plan
Maybe a new deal with God
Maybe a better plan
Some think that we need a mediator to get to God
Others believe that we can do something to find another way
Be good
Give to charity
Go to church
Tithe
Others think that they can inherit the way from their Parents or Grand Parents
Many believe that baptism is the way
That membership in their church is the way
But
Jesus says
I am the way
And
No one can come to the Father except by me
Guys
In real easy to understand language
You can believe in God
You can have grown up in a Christian home
You can be good – by the worlds standards?
You can join a certain church
Get dunked in a water trough
Confess your sins to some priest
You can try any other way
And it will be the wrong way
There is no other way to get to the Father
There is no other way to get to heaven
Jesus tells us he is the Way
He is the truth
He is the life
Any way other than the true way is a lie
Any way besides Jesus is a lie and not a way at all
Any life other than Jesus is not life at all
Life with Jesus is eternal life
Life without Jesus is eternal death
Sometime it is hard to get that
It seems the road is so narrow
The gate is so small
It is
Even Jesus’ closest disciples had trouble understanding
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Phillip is speaking for all of the disciples here
He is saying Jesus
We believe
“But”
Don’t we often do that as well ?
Look with me at verses 9-11
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
Jesus still says just believe
In our study of John
John has shown us time and time again
What it takes to live
Believe
It really is that simple
Just believe
Jesus says
Believe in me and live
Jesus says he has shown us through his work
Over and over again
He has performed miracles
He has healed
He has raised the dead
Cast out demons
We can read about his feeding thousands with just a snack
He has calmed the storms
Walked on water
The proof is clear for those who will see
All those who will allow themselves to see
Just believe
Just see the truth
Believe the truth
See the light
Experience his love
His protection
His grace
His mercy and then you will find the way to life
Eternal life
Life everlasting
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior
Shows us the way
Last week we saw how to love as he loved
Today
I pray we can
See the way
Accept the way
Embrace the way
Love the way
And
live the way
Jesus says when we find the way and live in the way
That we will do great work
Actually he says greater work
Verse 12
2 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works,
Just as he did
This means that
We will
If we are obedient
Continue to build the Kingdom
Continue to share the good news
Then we will if we are obedient have many chances to tell others about Jesus
We will have many, many chances to plant seeds
There will be lots of chances to water those seeds
And
Every once in a while we get to experience the harvest
It
Is absolutely amazing when we are blessed by being allowed to see the results of our work
Is there another way
No
Jesus is the only way
Is there another truth
No
Jesus is the truth
Jesus Christ is the living word
And this bible is the written word
And that is the whole truth
And in this way
And in this truth
Is life
Eternal life
In this life
Is help for today?
And
Hope for tomorrow
The next verses are often used
By those wolves
Those trying to sell you a different way
Those trying to show you a different truth
Those who peddle death instead of life
Let me read for you verses 13-14
And then let me explain
Verses 13-14
You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
If we assume that “ask and you will receive” means “ask for anything you want and I’ll give it to you,”
Then we have turned the Lord into some kind of genie who serves our every whim.
Just make a wish
Rub a lamp
And poof
Many call this the prosperity gospel
Or Word of faith teaching
They say just ask
God will give you anything if you just ask
Ask for a new truck
Ask for a new house
What about a new wife
How about Gazillion dollars
God give me more money that Davy Crockett as Forrest Gump says
But
Oh man
He comes one of those buts
Those liars say if you are not receiving what you ask for
That there is something wrong with YOU
You are not praying hard enough
You are not faithful enough
That you need to send them more money to prove you faith
It is your fault
There are huge holes in this teaching
First-- It is not biblical
But
It is also not practical
Nor is it healthy—emotionally or spiritually
Let me ask you a question
What happens if I tell you that you will always get what you pray for?
And then you don’t?
Chances are you will fall away
Lose faith
Lose hope
Turn instead to a lie
Turn to the darkness instead of the true light
Does that sound like the way Jesus’ works?
Jesus tells us that when we pray in God’s will and in his name
That he will provide
But
Our prayers must coincided with God’s character and his will
Here is the deal
In just as plain English as I have the ability to speak
If we are sincerely following Jesus
If we are all in
Then
Our wants
Our desires
Our prayers will fall in line with his wants
His desires
And his will
And he will provide
We will learn much more about this topic in the weeks to come
Why did I discuss this in such detail?
Because
I do not want you to buy a lie
Don’t buy the lies
Please
You can’t be good enough
Jesus is the way
You can’t get salvation by proxy
Jesus is the way
You can’t get redemption by getting dunked in water
Jesus is the way
We don’t need someone to talk to God for us
Jesus is the way
We don’t have to join a certain church
Or even any church
Jesus is the way
The fact that Jesus is the way
Is the truth
The only truth
And
He and he alone can provide Eternal life
He said it so plainly in verse 1
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
Again with verse 6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Believe in Jesus
Believe in Jesus and live
Close from the heart
