Waiting and Working

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Waiting and Working</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id409.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Priority of Christian Love"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id413.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Expression of Love"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"Waiting and Working," </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=John+14:1-14" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>John 14:1-14</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, October 5, 2003</B></div> <div> <I>Note: This series will be once a month on the first Sunday </I></div> <div> <I>in celebration of the Lord's Table in our church.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Maybe  sometime in your life you have had a close friend or family member who went away and said they would return. Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples. Their master, Savior, friend, leader, mentor, influencer is going away to a place they cannot go (John 13:36) - to his death on their behalf. They don't yet understand what this is all about, but Jesus shared a last meal with his friends before he went away.</div> <div>      They had a sense of urgency and expectation about his return that we do not have. Instead, we often live as though we have no expectation of the return of Christ. We focus on the here and now, and forget about what is ahead when we see Christ face to face. Why should we be looking for the return of Christ, and what difference does it make while we wait?</div> <bR> <div> I. Jesus alone provides the way of salvation (vss. 4-11).</div> <div>      Jesus was going away and promised to return to take his followers with him (vss. 1-3). This raised a couple questions, and in Jesus' response we find this affirmation: Jesus alone provides the way of salvation (vss. 4-11). He is the way to the Father, heaven, salvation, forgiveness, eternal life. This is our confession at the Lord's Table.</div> <div> A. Vss. 4-7 - Jesus is the Way to the Father (to heaven, salvation, forgiveness, eternal life).</div> <div> B. Vss. 8-11 - Jesus has revealed the Father (he was God in the flesh) - he alone can provide access to the Father.</div> <bR> <div> II. Two Messages (to those who are fearful, to those who are complacent).</div> <div> A. To those with fear: Be confident in the return of the Lord.</div> <div>      Jesus said to his disciples, "do not be troubled," don't fear but be confident (vss. 1-3). 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, "Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who fall asleep (Christians who die), or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 says, "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come." In both cases, Paul affirmed the coming of the Lord, and challenged them to keep trusting!</div> <bR> <div> B. To those who are complacent: Keep anticipating the Lord's return.</div> <div>      Our ultimate "dwelling place"  is not here (vss. 2-3). Don't settle down on earth as though this is all there is.</div> <div> 1. Get involved in Christ's work on earth (vss. 12-14).</div> <div>      What are "greater works"? One example is in Acts 2:41. Three thousand new believers were added after Peter's preaching.  Jesus "Great Commission" for us while he is away is that his followers would go and tell the world about Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The greater works ultimately involve the world-wide proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ.</div> <div>      The key to the "greater works" is dependence on him through prayer (vss. 13-14).</div> <div>      In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul, near the end of his life, said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." It is longing for his appearing that motivates us to give our best efforts for Jesus Christ. We are his ambassadors, left here to carry out his work until he returns.</div> <div> 2. Live a holy and pure life.</div> <div>      2 Peter 3:8-14 tells us that scoffers will come and say, where is this "coming" he promised a long time ago. Peter challenges us to be patient for his coming, because God is being patient, waiting for more people to trust in him. Unbelievers must turn to Jesus. Jesus will return and bring salvation for those who believe in him, and bring judgment to those who rejected him. In light of the coming judgment on the world and of our salvation, believers are to be holy, to live a pure life, patiently waiting for our Lord's return.</div> <bR> <div>      During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives: One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought." Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we're to be lights as we watch and wait.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2003, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>