I don't know. Okay. th th th th th th th th Yeah. Yeah. th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th this side. th th th th th th th Yeah. Okay. We were wearing such a pretty dress today. I know, I'm sorry. th th I guess so. th th th th th th th th th th th Thank you. That's really funny. I'll ask Pierre if I want to sit or not. I mean, I'm going to Kansas in my sophomore year, and we're starting in my study hall, and it's a very safe, like, active, like, means that I, like, He does one for me in Spanish, and I do one for him in English, and then I go back and forth. So I get a gap, and they look like these, which is so helpful. And they are named, which is neat. We gave ourselves categories. This is a refreshment or something. Well, here's the deal. He's not very good at English. He was really, really good at it. I'm getting it out of your way. Yeah, I don't know. th th th th th th th th th th Okay. When we do the word supper, Caleb and I are going to start, and we're going to do a little loop like this. I'm totally fine with that. So yeah, so basically, that section starts, and first people go, and then they get it, and they loop all the way through, just about. And then we get that whole section closed, send us, and you'll start first, and you'll just go over and get it, get it through, and then walk back to your seat. th th th Yeah. Yeah. It was good. The kids hated it. You know, I had it on Thursday and Friday. I built it, like, for my project, my last project. 36,000. Wait, that's awesome. Wait, much more than twice as much? Yeah, well, yeah. Wait, didn't it have, like, 15,000? 15, yeah. So, like, out of 20 teams, mine got 30,000. That's awesome. Wait, how much did 60,000 make? What did the, uh... Hey! It's so fun to just sit here. So the first place brought home $17,950. So like, it was based off efficiency. So like, mine was 12.9 pounds. There it wasn't that much more, but it was one that held the most weight, but it wasn't the most efficient. It was like a support rail. It was pretty cool. It had to be 30 centimeters long, and it had to have a space of like, this much, and it would let you Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I got my GPA back, right? My GPA did the exact same thing. Okay, so like, see that there's like a, there's like a small mistake that we made. So like, we have this little piece of code at the end of here, and you're attached to it, right? So like, it's not, it's only suspended between these two columns. All right, good morning. I just want to welcome everybody to Tri-Lakes Reformed Church. We're happy to have you here worshiping with us this morning. The announcements will be praying for Geneva College and for the Craig Milroy family. We'll also be having evening service back here at 530. We are on that weird Sunday again where we have evening worship back here, but we need to break down in between because there's another party that's coming in in between. So after this morning, we've got to break down and clean up and be out of here by one o'clock. Also, if you're looking for your year-end contribution reports, they're over on the table out in the foyer there. We will also not be having Sabbath school today in light of everything that's been going on with the Friedli family. We're gonna take time to pray and to sing some psalms together as a church body and just to uplift them during this time as well. We'll also be observing the sacraments of Lord's Supper this morning. There'll be an announcement further in regards to that, but just want to make you aware of that as well. And Pastor Jerry Milroy will be bringing us the word this morning. With that, I'll turn things over to him. It's always good to have deacons that look after your needs. Thank you. Good morning. As we begin our time of worship together today, let's take just a few moments in silent prayer as we prepare our hearts for that. Amen. As we continue to reflect on our time of worship and distill our hearts, I'd like you to just give your attention to words of comfort from Psalm 40, 45, as the Rather, Psalm 46, I meant to say. As we begin our time and just kind of still our hearts, listen to the encouraging words of the psalmist as he expresses his faith and hope in God, Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help. in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar in foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling, Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God will help her. when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter, he utters his voice, the earth melts, the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress, Selah. Come, Behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots with fire. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Turn in your Psalm books, if you would, please, to Psalm 138. Psalm 138, and we're using selection B of that Psalm. And as a call to worship, I'm going to read just a few of the verses of that Psalm as we begin. Let's stand and give attention to God's word. Hear the word of God from Psalm 138. I'm reading verses one, two, and three, and then seven and eight. I give you thanks, O Lord, With my whole heart before the gods, I sing your praise. I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness. For you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me. My strength of soul, you increased. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Let's give praise to God from Psalm 138, then using selection B of this psalm. ♪ Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da With all my heart, my thanks I'll bring before the gods. Your praise I'll sing. I'll bow down toward your holy place and praise your name for truth and praise. For you have magnified your word, so far above your name adored. You've answered me the day I call. You've strengthened me and made me bold. All kings of earth shall thank you, Lord, and sing when they have heard your word. The Lord's praise day we'll celebrate. The glory of the Lord is great. The Lord of the Exalted High On holy ones He'll keep His eye On those who proud and haughty are He knows them only from afar Through trouble though my path may be, my life you will preserve for me. With a stretched hand, you will oppose the wrath and anger of my foes. Your right hand, Lord, will set me free and work out what pertains to me. Your love, O Lord, forever stands. Leave not the works of your hands. Please join in prayer. Oh, Lord, our God, as we gather together as your people for worship this morning, we rejoice that we can sing praise to your name. We're thankful that we can reflect upon your steadfast love, a love that endures forever, that is faithful to all generations. Father, we're thankful that we can be confident that you will never leave the works of your own hand. And so, Father, as we gather together this morning as your people, we pray that you would accept our praise and our worship and our adoration. We pray that you would instruct us out of your word and give us understanding. We ask that you would guide us and direct us in all that we would say and do, because we ask all these things in the name of Christ, our only Savior, who taught us to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Please be seated. For our scripture reading this morning from the Old Testament, please turn with me to the book of 1 Kings, chapter nine. Fairly short reading this morning. We've had the longer reading last week of the prayer of Solomon as the temple was being dedicated. And the author to the Book of Kings carries that account on for us in this chapter. Verse one would seem to indicate that these events took place quite a bit later. In reality, I think this appearance of the Lord to Solomon took place pretty soon after the prayer as well. But verse one indicates that there's also the building of not only the house of the Lord, but also the king's house, and all of those things involved with that. The interesting note in this passage is that God renews for King Solomon the conditional promise of his blessing on Solomon and his seed after him. reigning as kings over the people of Israel, but also a very solemn warning that if they are not faithful, if they go after idols, there are dire consequences that are going to follow that. And the events of chapter 9 are very prophetic and We find out that they're fulfilled exactly as the Lord warns in this passage when the people go into sin by worshiping idols and are finally taken away into Babylon in slavery. Give your attention, please, then, as we read 1 Kings 9, verses 1 through 9, and this is the word of God. Let's give our attention to it. As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time as he'd appeared to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him, I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I've consecrated this house that you have built by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. As for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel. But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, Then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them and the house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished. and will hiss, and they will say, why has the Lord done this, done thus to this land and to this house? Then they will say, because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore, the Lord has brought all this disease on them. solemn warning and solemn prophecy of what was actually going to take place. Turn with me now, please, to our New Testament reading. Our New Testament reading is found in Luke chapter 17. You're reading the verses 1 through 19 of this chapter. In Luke 17, Jesus is giving miscellanea instructions and teaching to the disciples. So we have three or four different subjects that are being addressed in this short passage, verses one through 19. Again, let's give our careful attention to the word of God as it's written for us. Luke chapter 17. And he, that's Jesus, and he said to his disciples, temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times saying, I repent, you must forgive him. The apostle said to the Lord, increase our faith. And the Lord said, if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea and it would obey you. Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, come at once, recline at table. Will he not rather say to him, prepare supper for me, dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, we are unworthy servants. We have only done what was our duty. On the way to Jerusalem, He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by 10 lepers who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were all cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. And he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now, he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered, were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, rise and go your way. Your faith has made you well. We'll end our reading of God's word at that point. Please turn with me in your Psalters to Psalm 22, We come to Selection C of the psalm this morning. Psalm 22 is very much a messianic psalm. You no doubt recognize the words of the first verses as we sang them in Selection A and B, words that Jesus echoed when he was hanging on the cross. But now we continue on with the next section of the Psalm, Psalm 22, Selection C, and we'll remain seated as we sing those four stanzas. far off or dangers near. With none to help, I face my foes. Like many bulls, they circle me. Strumbles affection meet and close. They open wide their mouths at thee, like lions roaring hungrily. My life like water is poured out. My bones have all been pulled apart. My thirsty tongue clings to my jaws. ♪ Within me mellows like wax my heart ♪ ♪ My strength is dry like broken clay ♪ ♪ And in death's dust my soul you find ♪ Like dogs, the wicked circle me. And they have pierced my hands and feet. I now can number all my bones. starry night, they look at me. My foes of old, them they divide, and for my role with dice decide. ♪ But be not far from me, O Lord ♪ ♪ Furry my strength, send help to me ♪ ♪ My soul deliver from the sword ♪ From dogs and lions set me free. Though by the ox I'm nearly torn, your answer's safe. Turn now with me, please, over to Psalm 73 and selection C. Psalm 73 C is the psalm that we'll be using each Lord's Day throughout this month. in an effort to become more and more familiar with it and perhaps have it memorized if you haven't already memorized this particular Psalm. So Psalm 73C, as we give praise to God, will remain seated. And if the deacons will come forward, we'll be receiving the Lord's tithes and our offerings. Constantly I am with you. You take hold of my right hand. Your counsel shows me what to do and guides me in. the things I plan, and afterwards, so shall it be, you will with honor welcome me. Are you not all I have in heaven? None else on earth do I desire. Though human strength come to an end, my flesh may fail, my heart expire. My heart's strength God himself will be my portion through eternity. ♪ Those far from you will surely die ♪ ♪ Who dealt with you unfaithfully ♪ ♪ But as for me, I will draw nigh ♪ ♪ How could that brought this fear to me ♪ ♪ I refuge day in God the Lord ♪ that all your works I may record. Let's go to God in prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord, we are just thankful that we can be here in your house this morning. that we can be reminded, even as we've just sung in Psalm 73, the fact that you are always with us, that you lead us, that you guide us. Father, that you're our refuge. We have so many promises, even in this Psalm and all throughout your word. Father, I pray that you would help each of us to latch onto those, think upon them, and to remember that we are in your caring hands. Father, we easily take these things for granted, and Father, I ask that you would forgive us for that, that we would truly take hold of the care that you show us, Father, that we would remember your word, that we would spend much time in it, Father, I pray that even this week that you would help each one of us to remember the things that we hear today in the sermon preached and even in the things we've sung and even the sacrament, Father, that you would use it to build each one of us up, cause us to be just looking to Christ all through this today and through the coming week. Father, we do also want to pray specifically for Geneva College. We thank you for that institution, for that school, just for the blessing that it has been to so many, even in this congregation here at Tri-Lakes, but throughout the denomination. And also, Father, we thank you for the way that the school has ministered and served and been a blessing to just other students, even students that don't know you. Father, I do pray that you would use the school and especially the faculty and the students that do know you, that know of what Christ has done for them, that you would use them to be faithful witnesses to their classmates and to others. And Father, I pray that even in each of the classes, as the professors give devotionals and do things, To proclaim Christ, I pray that the students would see Christ. Father, I pray that many would come to know you even for their time spent at Geneva and even possibly through the chapels and just the other things that go on there. I pray that you would just continue to use the school. Father, I thank you for the school's faithfulness over the years, the way they have and do remain true to biblical principles. Father, I pray for Dr. Calvin Trout that you would just continue to use him, that he too would keep focused on Christ and clearly seek to keep and make the school as biblically sound as possible. Father, again, we just thank you for the care so many have received and are receiving at Geneva College. Father, we'd also lift before you the Milroy family, Father, we give thanks for Craig and Shanna and Bailey, Aubrey, Carter, and Decker. Father, you have truly blessed them. We thank you for the work that you've done in each of their lives. Father, we thank you for the blessing that they are to each one of us here in this congregation. Father, we especially thank you just for Craig and Shanna and for all that they do. Craig, as he serves as an elder, and Shanna, even helping out at Geneva College, serving on the board of corporators there. But for the things they do here and just the day in and day out things in the congregation here. And also, Father, we give you thanks for the care that they show the youth and for their desire and their longing to see children grow up and in the church and to remain faithful to you and just for the care that they show the youth. We just give you thanks for that. Father, I pray that you'd watch their marriage over them and that they would draw closer together, that they would draw closer to you. Father, I do thank you for the example that they are and just for the way that you have worked in them. Father, I also just give you thanks for Bailey, and Father, I pray that she is now at Geneva too, and that you would bless her last semester there, that things would go well. Father, I pray that you would even, that she would be one of those that I was praying about earlier, that would shine brightly for you, that she would just be salt and light there at school. Father, but I pray that this last semester would go well for her. Father, I pray for Aubrey too and give you thanks for her. Father, I thank you for even the things that she's able to do here and bless our congregation and even leading singing and just for the heart that she has of service. Father, I do also just thank you for the work that you've blessed her with while she's been taking this time off from school. Father, I also just want to give thanks with her and as she looks forward to this upcoming wedding and marriage. Father, I thank you for blessing there, too, and just for all the provisions you've made for her. Father, we just do rejoice with her. And we think of Carter, too, and we also want to rejoice with him as he is preparing to graduate here. in May, and Lord, I pray that he would finish well. Father, again, I just thank you for the blessing that he is to your church, too, and the blessing that he is to others. Father, and I would pray these same things for his brother, too. I pray that he would just continue to do well in his schooling, and that Decker also would just, which he does, Father, I thank you that he does shine brightly for you. But Father, I do thank you for this family, and I pray that they would continue to just be a faithful witness for you. I pray that you would just continue to show them mercy and kindness, that they would draw closer and closer to you individually and as a family. Father, we also wanna bring before you our pastor and his family, Joseph and Morgan, and every one of the children. And Father, we do come to you and are pleading and asking that you would bring resolution to the difficulties they are facing right now. And Father, we pray that you would just reunite this family and that even the upcoming hearing that they would be shown favor. Father, I do just pray that you would give Joseph and Morgan, especially right now, strength, wisdom, that they would know you, that they would know your comforting hand, even in this very, very difficult time. Father, we do also want to thank you for the healing you've already brought to Amos. Father, we pray that there would be complete healing there, that he would be made just completely whole physically. Father, again, I just pray that you would be with Joseph and Morgan right now and comfort them. Again, Father, we know that you are the God of comfort, the one that we just sung about in Psalm 73, that you are constantly with them and with every one of us. Father, we thank you that we can take refuge in you now because of what you've done through Christ for us. We just pray all these things in our Savior's name, amen. As we prepare our hearts for the reading of the scripture and the preaching of the word, Let's sing a psalm in preparation of that, Psalm 77, and we're using selection B of that psalm. Throughout Psalm 77B, you'll note that we're remembering some of the Lord's mighty deeds and the way in which he deals with his people and cares for them. Psalm 77b, let's stand as we give praise, then be seated following. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? O God, your ways most holy are. What God can with our God compare? You are the God our wonders know. Among the people, strength you show. You by your arm, your people free, the sons of Jacob, Joseph see. O God, the water's light and you, Deep sea shore, when you came in view, From clouds arrayed in torrents poured, across the sky tornadoes roared. The world was lit when lightning flashed, Earth trembled when the thunder crashed. Great waters form a path for you. Your footprints hidden from our view. Your people like a flower fled by Moses' hand, by Herod's hand. Please be seated. When the committee that worked on the arrangements and translation of the Psalms that we're using put the Psalter together, You may have noticed and you may have just not paid attention to it, but they tried to put a scripture verse with each of the selections that would kind of direct our thoughts there. And I don't know whether you noticed what was at the top of the page as we were singing that song about God's mighty works and mighty acts and his creation and his deliverance out of Egypt and all of that. They chose Colossians 1, 13. And the scripture there reminds us that he rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son. So it's a psalm that speaks to us also of the redemption that we have in Jesus Christ. And we're focusing on that really this morning as well. So turn with me if you would please in your Bibles to John chapter 14. Our scripture reading this morning is from that 14th chapter of John. John chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are all chapters that relate to events that are taking place the night before Jesus was crucified. And we find more detail in these chapters about Jesus' teaching than almost any other place. We're not going to focus on it this morning, but at the end of chapter 14, Jesus begins introducing instruction concerning the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is coming. John chapter 17 is that great high priestly prayer that Jesus prayed on behalf of his disciples, but also of those of us who would follow after many, many years later. and a very instructive and helpful prayer. What I want us to focus on particularly this morning is Jesus' comfort and instruction to his disciples as he speaks to them about his preparation and the way in which they are able to follow him and enter into the very presence of God himself. I thought about whether I should go back into chapter 13 and read part of that. I'm not going to do that, but I do want to reference it in our introduction a little bit as well. So remember that there have been a number of things going on in chapter 13 before John begins to address them in chapter 14, mainly things that were discouraging to them and confusing to them, and they didn't know exactly What was going to happen? Jesus was talking about being put to death, talking about those that were going to deny him and forsake him out of his own group of disciples, the 12. And so they are discouraged in that way. And Jesus begins in chapter 14 to particularly provide words of encouragement. I'm going to read throughout the entire chapter, although we'll be focusing primarily just on the first part of this chapter. Please follow along as I read for us God's inspired word, John chapter 14. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am, you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the father and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long? and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, show us the father? Do you not believe that I am in the father and the father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me. that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the father may be glorified in the son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments and I will ask the father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever. Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me because I live, you also will live. In that day, you will know that I am in my father and you in me and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me, and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will 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 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. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while I am still 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 that I have told you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, I am going away and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. God had his blessing to the reading of his word. Well, as I mentioned, in John chapter 13, Jesus has spoken about being betrayed, of a betrayer who was going to depart from them, and in fact we have clear indication as Jesus addresses Judas and says, what you're going to do, go and do quickly. But he's also talked about others denying him and those that are going to forsake him. And the disciples must have been struggling with the question, what's going on here? We've been with Jesus for approximately three years. He's been teaching all these different things, and yet as we read through this chapter, it becomes evident again that they still don't understand a lot of the things that Jesus has been teaching them about. And so they're in a state of perhaps confusion, certainly a state of discouragement as they wonder is all lost, is Jesus' ministry of failure? Is everything not as we thought it might be? And so Jesus is comforting the disciples, particularly here in John chapter 14, and in verses one through four especially, he brings them promises concerning his care and preparation for them, and the way that he's going to return and take them as they have been prepared to this place that he is preparing for them, a house that is being built for them, as you will. In chapter 14 and verse 1, particularly, Jesus is commanding them to stop being troubled, stop being worried about this. don't be depressed but rather believe in God and continue to believe in Christ as well. And so he's concerned that they not not become discouraged in this way. Later on, verses 12 and following, he tells a number of reasons why they shouldn't be discouraged. He's telling them that his going away is actually going to enable them to do works like he has been doing, and even greater works, if you will. In verses 13 and 14, he promises to answer prayer, to hear and answer prayer. He promises to send this comforter, this one that we know as the Holy Spirit, the one that is going to come alongside them and be their advocate and be their comforter. He's the one that is going to give them real life, abundant life. And especially, I don't know whether you noticed particularly, but in this passage throughout the latter part of John 14, we have this very interesting interplay between the way in which Jesus says that he and the Father are intertwined, that they dwell with one another, They're related in this very special way. But then, very interestingly, he goes on to say that that's going to happen with you as a believer as well. He's talking about what theologians now call the union that we have with Christ, our union with him, that we become partakers of Jesus Christ in that way. And he's alluding to what we know as theologically the Trinity, not that there are three gods, but there are three persons in one Godhead. And so Jesus is giving them comfort and encouragement in all of these ways, promises to come and take the disciples to a prepared place that he has prepared for them. Well, in in verses three through five, we find Thomas not understanding. And I think he's simply the spokesman for the other disciples as well. They don't understand. And so in verses three through five, Thomas voices the question. He says, Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know the way if we don't even know where you're going? And Jesus then begins to Answer that in what is our main text for today. I am the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the father except through me and then Thomas is seeking to know the answer to that. And so, that's the three main points that I want us to think about for just a little more detail this morning, but I'm going to do them in just a little bit different order. We're gonna think about the truth, first of all, and then the life, and then finally come to the way as well. When Jesus said, I am the truth, he's saying far more than simply saying, I tell the truth when I talk. That's certainly true. He is a truthful person, but here he's asserting that he is very truth of very truth, that he is truth himself. And I think maybe we can get a little bit of a grasp of that as you think about what James says regarding Satan when he describes Satan as the father of lies. He's not just a liar, but he's the the epitome of lie in its fullest expression of that word. And Jesus is, in contrast to that, the source and father of all truth. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians that the promises of God find their yes in him, and that's why it is through him that we utter our amen. to God for his glory. Jesus is the source of truth, is what Paul is reminding us there. You know the expression that Jesus uses again and again as he's teaching, and in fact he used it in verse 12 in our scripture reading this morning, truly, truly. Older translations use the verily, verily. But what Jesus is saying is it's an emphasis on the reality, the reliability, the truthfulness, the absolute certainty of what it is. that he is saying. Verse 12, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father, because Jesus is going to the Father and because the Holy Spirit is coming as we find out later in this chapter, the believers are even doing greater things. than Jesus, an interesting thought for you to ponder for a while. But Jesus is the very truth himself. Jesus always spoke the truth. He himself was the very truth of God. And Jesus' truth reveals to the world the truth about God's nature. Since he was God, the God-man, he points out this truth, that he's revealing to us the truth about God. That's brought out particularly in the conversation with Philip in the verses that following. In verse 7 he said, if you'd known me you would have known my father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. And Philip says, Lord show us the father and that will be enough for us. And so Jesus explains to him that He and the Father are one. Why would you say, show me the Father? Do you not believe and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. So Jesus is is the very revelation of God himself, as we see in a number of other passages as well. We see who God is as we see Jesus. And as we begin to understand more about Jesus, we understand more about who God is and what God is all about. Part of Christ's task here on earth then was to reveal to us what God is like. we in our limited human natures cannot really comprehend what an infinite God is like in its fullness. But Jesus can reveal him to us to the extent that we can understand it. And Jesus is a perfect revelation of that. He is the truth in that sense. And he's truth also as to what man should be. Jesus is described as the second Adam by the Apostle Paul particularly. And that is that Jesus was sinless. He perfectly kept the law of God where the first Adam did not and was not able to. Jesus, the sinless, perfect God-man, reveals to us the truth about God and man. God created man in his own image, we're told. Not that we physically look like God, but that we have those, what are called, communicable attributes of God. That is, we have rationality, we're able to reason and think. We know something about righteousness and what's involved in that. Holiness, although that has been marred and destroyed by sin, it's not truly righteous and holy, but the blessing of being in Christ, we're told, is that that image is being renewed. It's being restored in that way. And so John has earlier told us in chapter one that Jesus is the light of the world, and in this way he reveals all truth to us. Very interesting conversation takes place in John the 8th chapter in verse 32, where Jesus, as he is teaching, said to the Jews, beginning at verse 31, and those who had believed on him, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Promise that by knowing Christ and being in Christ, we too will know that truth, and that truth will set us free. The ones listening to him, the Pharisees particularly, took issue with that. They said that they'd never been in bondage in any way. But Jesus, again, in one of his truly, truly statements, reminds them that anyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. And he says then, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. You may remember the conversation that Jesus had with Pilate in the trial, and Pilate's conclusion was, well, what is truth? But Jesus said some important things before Pilate acknowledged that he didn't know what he was talking about, what Jesus was talking about in this way. Jesus was talking about his kingship. Pilate said, oh, so you're a king then? And Jesus responded by saying, you say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born. And for this purpose, I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. Jesus is our source of truth and our only full and complete truth in that way. Let's think for a few moments about Jesus being the life as well. At the time that Jesus spoke this, Jesus was alive himself. In another day, he's going to be crucified and put to death, but then death could not hold him. The grave could not hold him. And he arose from the dead and later ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of God himself. But even after his crucifixion then, everything that Jesus is about is about life. And as he promised to us earlier in John's gospel, if we believe on him, we will have abundant life. Life that is full of abundance. Well, death is the great enemy. Nearly everyone seems to hate death. They try and avoid it in nearly all instances. There are a few that do not, but death is the great enemy. And medical science continues to spend millions seeking to cure the various diseases that we're confronted with, and that's a part of the completion of the direction that God gave to Adam and Eve, even there in the Garden of Eden, that they should subdue the earth, that they should have control over it, and that's a proper exercise of that is medical science tries to cure the various illnesses that we experience and what a blessing that is as we see the benefits of various cures that science is able to come up with in this way. But Jesus is concerned for these illnesses as well. You may remember that when John the Baptist was in prison And he began to be discouraged and wonder, is Jesus really the one? And he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, are you the one or should we look for someone else? How did Jesus respond to that question? How did he answer John the Baptist when John wanted to know if he was really the one? He quoted from Isaiah. He says, you go back and tell John that I'm doing what the Messiah is supposed to be doing. The blind received their sight. the deaf, they're hearing, the dead are raised. He's performing the miracles of life and Jesus is the source of life in that way. Jesus is life is himself or itself and his life is eternal. He came into the world and lived for a time among us, but Jesus himself was eternally alive. You remember the conversation that he had with the Pharisees on one occasion when they were challenging him and asking him various things, and he made the statement, before Abraham was, I am. And that was a clear declaration on the part of Jesus of his deity. He used the expression that only God could use, saying that I am the eternal, existent one. And he responded in that way. Well, John also tells us in chapter one that the word, which is Jesus, was in the beginning with God the Father. Paul tells us that Jesus is the one who created all things. In Colossians, he reminds us that it's the power of Jesus that causes the whole universe to hold together. to be cohesive and to not just fly into its destruction in that way. So when Jesus is speaking about going to heaven to be with his father, he's reminding us that he is the living way into heaven himself. He is life of very life, which brings us then to the fact that Jesus is the only way. Jesus is the way of salvation. There are many other ways that people have talked about. Many people think that there's a multitude of ways. Whatever you think is the best way is fine for you to follow. Years ago when I was in Michigan and involved in a scout troop and working there, one of the leaders of the whole area, I forget what the district superintendent or what they called him exactly, but his view was that, well, the Buddhists, they have a view as to the right way and, well, Muslims, they have a view as to what's the right way. They're all going to the same place. They're all going to end up at the same place. I said, no, that's not the way it works out. Jesus is the only way. It's not a matter of being a church member. It's not a matter of being on your good behavior. It's not even a matter of knowing the teachings that Jesus taught and being an expert as to the various things that Jesus taught. Many people look to Jesus as being the great example. We'll follow the example of Jesus in all of this. But Jesus says, no, that's not it. It's Jesus himself. He is the way, the truth, and the life. And it's only as we come to know him as our Savior, he's not one of many paths, but he is the only path. Jesus is very explicit about that in John the 14th chapter at verse 6 that we read, no one comes to the Father except through me. I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. The apostles in their preaching and teaching grasped that, they understood that and in Acts the fourth chapter we find an explicit example of that then as we're told that there is no salvation There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Jesus himself indeed is the only way, truth, and life. There's an interesting, I think, illustration of this in one of the miracles of Jesus. The Gospel of John is a very interesting presentation of Jesus. It focuses especially on signs that Jesus performed that particularly demonstrated that he was God. And we've just been talking about one of the IMs. There are seven very explicit IMs throughout the Gospel of John, and we're going to look at a different one tonight for a little bit as well. In John the fourth chapter, which John describes as the second sign, the first sign that Jesus did in John's accounting of it was turning the water into wine, but in the fourth chapter there's a sign and it's the experience of a miraculous healing that takes place. Let me read the account for you. John chapter 4 verses 43 through 54. Listen to what's happening as John records this sign of Jesus. After the two days, he departed for Galilee, for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum, there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. The official said to him, sir, come down before my son dies. Jesus said to him, go, your son will live. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better. And they said to him, yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, your son will live. And he himself believed in all his household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did when he came from Judah to Galilee. Now the interesting thing that takes place in this is that this official believes and acts and sees a result. Jesus later, as we've been talking, says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. I would suggest to you that The noble one went on his way to Jesus because he believed that Jesus was able to heal his son. Jesus, in effect, put him to the test and said, no, you don't need to come here. Your son will live. And the nobleman then believed the words of Jesus. He believed that that was true, that what Jesus had said was true. And so as he returned to his home, he found that his son had the life that Jesus had promised. Jesus was indeed the way, the truth, and the life. And only as we come to him and trust him and believe in him can we have the assurance of our salvation in that way. So really the question that comes down to each one of us in all of this is, do you know the way? Do you know the right way? Are you still asking like Philip and Thomas about what is the way and where do we need to go? Jesus is very explicit about the fact that he is indeed the way, the truth, and the life. Let's look to him in prayer. Our Father in heaven, we thank you once again for your rich, abundant blessing to us in our lives day by day. We thank you that you chose to send your son, our only savior, that as we would believe the truth of his message, the very truth of his own life before us, that he would indeed give us abundant life because he is the only way that we can come to you. We ask all of these things in Christ our Savior's name and for his sake. Amen. We're going to use at this time Psalm 143 in selection B as a follow up to the message. Notice the verse that they chose for this is that I will ask the Father, that's Jesus, will ask the Father and he will give you another helper that he may be with you forever, even the spirit of truth. So as we find ourselves saying our spirit is failing, we have the promise that we have the spirit of God that will come and dwell within us. Let's stand as we give praise to God, Psalm 143B, and then we'll be seated following. Oh Lord, my spirit fails, your answers swiftly send. I've not your face from thee, lest I I trust in you, of death that I might near, your steadfast love again, as morning light draws near. I lift my soul to you. Teach me the way to go. In you I refuge stay. Lord, save me from my foe. Because you are my God, instruct me to obey. Let your good spirit lead me on the path of way. Glorify your name. O Lord, preserve my life. Your righteousness I claim. Deliver me from strife. And in your steadfast love, cut off my enemies. Since I am serving you, slay those afflicting me. Please be seated. Notice again in that psalm the reference to the steadfast love of God that never fails. As we turn our attention to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper this morning, just a few words of explanation and introduction. If you happen to be visiting with us today, we as a denomination practice what is known as session-controlled communion, and simply that means that if you are a member of the congregation or a member of another Reformed Presbyterian congregation or of those congregations that are sister denominations to us, what we call NAPARC denominations, the North American Presbyterian and Reformed congregations. You're welcome and invited to participate in the sacrament together with us. If you have met with the session and shared your testimony with them, you're welcome and invited to join with us. If you happen to be visiting and have not had opportunity to meet with the session and share your testimony with them, We simply ask you to watch as we partake in the communion. It's not intended as a judgment against you, but simply that the session likes to be acquainted and know those who are participating together with us. And so we invite you to involve yourself with us in that way. And if you are visiting, please see one of our elders and make an opportunity to share your testimony with them. Our denomination in describing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper has put together a very helpful and clear description of what the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is. And rather than have me just kind of ramble on about that, I'd like to read that for you and give you a clear description of what we see as the Lord's Supper being. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is to be observed until he comes again in remembrance of the sacrifice of himself which he offered upon the cross. The physical elements of bread and wine represent the body and blood of our Savior and are received by true believers as signs and seals of all the benefits of his sacrifice. The supper signifies and seals the remission of sins and nourishes our souls to grow in Christ and is a bond and pledge of our union and communion with him and with each other as members of his body, the church. It assures us that God is faithful to fulfill his promises of the covenant of grace. And it calls us to renewed commitment to obey and serve the Lord in gratitude for his salvation. Christ himself is present by his spirit in the supper to make it truly a measure of grace to those who receive it in faith. Those who partake of the supper do so in thankful remembrance that the body of Christ was given and his blood shed for them. They rejoice in hope as they anticipate the completion of their redemption in that day when they will share in the marriage supper of the Lamb. I think a very helpful description of what is taking place as we celebrate together in the Lord's Supper. The words of institution which describe for us scripturally what is involved in the establishment of the supper is given to us in a number of different places. The various Synoptic Gospels, each one have a record of that supper that Jesus and the disciples partook of the night before his crucifixion. And it's known as the Last Supper. It's the last reason to be celebrating the Old Testament Passover, and it is the first supper of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. And so it's not only the last supper, but the first communion, or the first Lord's Day sacrament of communion. And so, The account is also given in 1 Corinthians. And I'm going to read that account for us as a description of the establishment of the Lord's Supper in that way. Remember that as Paul was writing to the church at Corinth, he was writing to a church that was having difficulties in many, many different ways. And one of their difficulties was related to the way in which they were observing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. And so he speaks some harsh words to them in this passage, but he also reminds them of the very establishment of the Lord's Supper as well. Listen as I read for you, or you follow along in your scripture if you want to. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verses 17 and following. Paul is speaking and he says, in the following instructions, I do not commend you. Because when you come together, it is not for the better, but for the worse. For in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. I believe it in part. For there must be fractions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead of his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What? Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you? No, I will not. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, also, he took the cup after his supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for judgment. About the other things, I will give you direction when I come." The institution and establishment of the Lord's Supper as Paul was instructed by Jesus. And so, on the basis of that instruction, it is my duty as minister in the church to warn you and to declare that if you are in a state of ungodly, disobedient life, unforgiven sin, it's better for you to not come and partake of communion, lest you drink judgment to yourself. But this is not intended to be a discouragement to those who are weak in their faith because those who are humble and contrite are are to come and receive and accept this means of grace as it's offered. It's four weak pilgrims who are seeking to follow Christ, confessing their sins and seeking to give him glory in all things. So the scripture is replete with warnings, but also with invitations. Jesus encourages us to come and participate together in the Lord's Supper. So with that introduction, I'll ask the elders to come up and we'll be distributing the elements.