College Hour

Ephesians 1:16-23 One of the greatest things known to the body of Christ is Prayer. Prayer is the catalyst for spiritual growth, spiritual intimacy, building tighter and closer relationships, and opening up the eyes of our spiritual understanding. When a brother or a sister prays for you, it is one of the sweetest things a saint could ever give or offer of themselves.

• Prayer is the friend of the believer,
• Prayer is a confidant in the times of trouble.
• Prayer helps you to get through trials and tribulations.
• Prayer helps you in seasons of confusion and dismay.
• Without Prayer, the child of God could not make it in tough times
• Without prayer, the child of God would be hopeless. For it is prayer that enables the believer to hope and trust in the God of heaven and earth.

It is prayer that assures us that all will be o.k when it looks like life is about to drive us crazy. It is prayer that unites the believers together.

• It is prayer that drives the enemy away.
• It is prayer that strengthens the saint
• It is prayer that God hears and answers
• It is prayer that supports you in missions
• It is prayer that creates in you the ability to understand
• It is prayer that the believer cannot live without

So, when the church of Jesus Christ is praying for you, it is a blessing that supersedes all of the hidden treasures of life. When we pray for one another we are requesting for our God, who made the entire human race to intervene for us and to do some great act of grace that we are in need of. (I don’t know about you, but I love it when the saints pray) Prayer is Holy. Holy Prayer is motivated in love, Holy prayer is cultivated by love, Holy prayer is stimulated by love and Holy prayer is born in the heart of the one who is praying for you. Today’s text begins as an actual prayer. It is the prayer of the Apostle Paul for the churches scattered through Ephesus. He is in prison writing this letter. As he sits down in prison, confined for preaching the gospel he’s got the churches on his mind. These churches were special to the Apostle. They had a grip on his heart and special place in his mind. He loved Ephesus, and thought of her often. She was sentimental to him, she was sacred to him, she was special to him and here we get a glimpse of the special relationship that he had with her. The Bible say’s: Ephesians 1:15-16; Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: Paul’s thoughts for them are revealed in his prayer request for their spiritual growth and development in Christ. Paul ends up meditating on what God had already gave to the Church (Jesus) and he is caught up in the revelation of Christ. It is God’s mighty power that works to raise men and women from sin, as it worked to raise Christ from the dead, It is the Power of God to save a lost and dying world. The power that God the Father Raised Jesus His Son with from the dead gives testimony to the world of Christ Power. For the same Power that rose Jesus is alive working through Jesus. He is Lord of the Resurrection. This is the power that we have in prayer and the privilege we have in Christ. The Lord is on our side. Keep Praying. Keep serving. Keep leading and Keep Believing.

Jn. 14:15-18

Everybody every now and then needs help to overcome the pains of this life! When Help comes to the believer it is always right on time. Especially when it is divine in essence and supernatural in power!

The power in our text this morning is the assurance of knowing that God knows just what we need. Even when we don’t know what it would take or what it will cost, God knows.

In our lesson he demonstrates this fact and he reveals for the reader that he has clearly thought about our needs, and is at work continuously meeting them and serving them for His honor and His glory.

The disciples were in need of comfort because their hearts were heavy and their Spirits sad at the news that Jesus was leaving them and going back to be with his father!

This was more than they could understand. They had just heard that one of them was going to betray him, and that their leader (Peter) was also going to deny him!

It was a sad evening. However, Jesus would attempt to lift their spirits by telling them that although he was leaving them, He would be going to prepare a place for them and that when He comes back for them they would be able to come and dwell with Him in the Fathers’ house.

He would also make them a promise that everything would be alright because His father was going to make all things good. He was going to send them a HELPER that would keep them, and help them until the Son of God came back for them.

There are three things that I have learned from this passage:

• God is always looking out for his children.
• God is concerned about the discouragement that we feel.
• God has gone before the church and thought of all that she needs and has supplied for her needs.

GOD KNOWS JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

First, we see a charge to help the disciples with their sorrow given by the Master in verse fifteen:

¹⁵“If you love Me, keep My commandments.

It is the command to keep his commandments. Jesus knows that if they do this it will combat the sadness that is trying to overtake their hearts. He also says if you love me, then you will do this! The first thing I see is a conditional requirement prior to the charge; the requirement being that IF you love me, you will do the following thing!

Why love Him? I believe the conditional requirement is given because the blessing is in the latter part of the charge. If they love him, they will receive the blessing! The blessing lies in their obedience. If they obey, they will receive something that will help them in their sorrow.

Perhaps it’s by keeping the commandments that they would turn their hearts from what they perceived is wrong to what God wanted them to do for him on the earth. He wanted them to keep his commands, to trust in his word and adhere to his standard. He wanted to identify what he had in store for them and to trust and follow him even in his physical absence.

Sometimes in this life the believer needs to remember what Jesus gave us to do, so that we too can escape from the sorrow of this life. It’s the word of God that helps us to be lifted up, and that separates us from those thoughts that come to take us prisoner and do us the greatest harm.

• Have you ever had bad thoughts to take you hostage and steal your joy?
• Have you ever had sadness and sorrow to arrest you and keep you from enjoying life and loving God?
• Have you ever had your circumstances to take away the pleasure of loving God?
• Won’t the troubles of this life interrupt your memories of how good God is to you?

This is why Jesus commands them to keep his commandments.

‘If you Love me, KEEP my commandments.’

He knew that their love for Him and His Word could trump anything else that might try to draw them away from Him.

It is said that the young son of Bishop Berkeley once asked him the question, “Papa, what do the words, ‘cherubim’ and ‘seraphim’ mean?”

The bishop took time to tell the little questioner that ‘cherubim’ was a Hebrew word meaning knowledge and the word ‘seraphim’ stood for flame—explaining that it is commonly supposed the cherubim are angels that excel in knowledge and the seraphim are those who excel in love for God.

“Then I hope,” the boy said, “that when I die I will be a seraphim. I’d a lot rather love God than to know everything.”

Jesus wants these disciples to have a love like this boy, knowing that if they loved Him, they would keep his commandments!

In verse 16, we discover the comfort that Jesus offers to the disciples, along with the promise that He is going to do a supernatural act on their behalf that will give them what they will need in His absence!

¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

He says I am going to pray to the father:

“The word translated pray, is the word used to describe a superior-being, praying to another superior-being making a request of his equal.” There is no other being in the universe capable of making such a request! Only Jesus can make this request of His father. This sole incident is worthy of us stopping and paying attention too. This mention is divine in that God himself is making such a request that he wants us to know this conversation can only be made by Him; it is a request that has to be granted because it comes from an equal that seeks to bring their equivalent honor and glory.

Jesus only asks that His father may be glorified. This request not only blesses and helps the disciples, but it also brings glory to the father!

One scholar notes, “The Lord would PRAY that the Father send another helper.”

The HOLY SPIRIT is another helper—not another of a different kind, but another of the same kind or similar Kind.

Another kind simply means that same Jesus they have become accustomed to will send his Spirit who will help them through this current difficulty. The word Helper (Paraclete) means one called to the side of another to help. Jesus knew that they would need the same kind of help in his absence, and no one else could satisfy or serve them like he could. So he would send them His Spirit to care for them! God the Spirit Himself would come and finish what the Son had started.

The story “God will Take Care of You” was written on a Sunday afternoon by a pastor’s wife. She was very ill and in bed, but her husband had to go to a meeting. He was reluctant to leave her. She said, “Don’t worry, God will take care of you.”

While her husband was away, she thought of the wonderful truths in her own words, and wrote this poem. Her husband returned and later composed it to music.

Jesus, being God, also knew that he would take care of the disciples. He knew he would come along side of them in the Spirit and see them through whatever would come their way!

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon them, but did not dwell with them. However, now he would come to live inside of them and remain forever!

Jesus knew that they did not need just the impartation of his grace, but they needed the full indwelling of His grace.

They did not need him to come and rest upon them, but they needed him to tarry with them, live in them, walk with them, and talk with them. They needed him to sing with them, shadow them, carry them, and lead and guide them every step of the way!

Here this comforting promise given by Jesus is powerful because He knows just what they need in the midst of their trouble!

They were worried about not being able to see him, hear him, or have him, in their company, but Jesus would comfort them by revealing his plan for their lives!

GOD KNOWS JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

• Gods plan for them did not involve them being lonely!
• Gods plan for them did not involve them being without a shepherd!
• Gods plan for them did not involve them living without him!
• Gods plan for them did not involve them trying to make it in this life without him!
• Gods plan for them did not involve them living without divine wisdom, guidance, protection, grace, mercy, provision, communion and community!

He was going to send them the comforter…

(If they loved Him they would keep his commandments, and this love of Him would enable Him to work on their behalf, by sending another helper to look after them.)

His ministry in their hearts would come alongside of them as they trudged through this evil world! He would come alongside by living in them, serving them, guiding them, lifting them, encouraging them, providing for them, and making a divine presence in their lives!

When it comes to the believer, I am encouraged today. When I look at this text I can see the divine favor of the child of God in this life!

Jesus has not left us without help to make it through this barren land! By giving us his Spirit, Jesus has been more than good to us! We too have had, and are continuing to have, the divine favor of God in our lives—because God lives in us!

While he lives in us, he continues to take care of us and to smile on us; he continues to serve us, care for us, provide for us, lead and guide us. He direct us, superintend to our needs, lifts up our bowed down hearts, and moves supernaturally in every area of our lives!

• I don’t know where we would be without the Lord!
• I don’t believe we could’ve made it this far without the Lord!
• I don’t believe that we would be in our right minds without the Lord!
• We would’ve given up a long time ago without the Lord.
• We would be lost and headed for hell without the Lord.
• I am glad today that he walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow road.
• The Holy Spirit is my comforter, my king, my way maker, my guide and my compass.
• He is the fulfilled promise of the savior in every area of my life!
• He has come along side of me, and made his residence in me…He is my Paraclete!

GOD KNOWS JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

In the final two verses of this passage, Jesus identifies the ministry of the Holy Spirit!

¹⁷the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

He is connecting the disciples with the one who will come and continue to totally transform, their way of life!

• He identifies Him as the Spirit of Truth.
• He identifies Him as the source of Truth.
• He identifies Him as the one who communicates Truth.
• He identifies Him as being the only way that men can know Truth.

The Holy Spirit is called the SPIRIT OF TRUTH because His teaching is true and He glorifies Christ who is the Truth!

As the one responsible for the illumination of men Jesus says that the world could not receive Him (the spirit of truth), because it they couldn’t see him.

Why?

Unbelievers want to see before they will believe! They would only believe if they saw and even then many would not believe in Him.

‘But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.’

Here we see the difference between the believer and the non-believer:

• The believer can see the Holy Spirit because they believe in the Christ.
• The unbeliever cannot see the Holy Spirit because they do not believe in Christ!

When you believe in the Christ as the savior of the world, he dwells with you and will be in you! Because he dwells with you, we get to see the Holy Spirit at work in you, around you, beside you, in front of you, behind you, beneath you and all around you! HE DWELLS IN YOU!

However, this is not so for the unbeliever! Because they don’t believe, they don’t have access to the work of the Holy Spirit or His divine activity in the world or in the circumstances of life!

• Unbelievers are in the dark separated from God!
• God does not dwell in them or with them, but He does dwell in the believer.

The good news here is that the disciples know Him and He dwells in them, so they have no need to dwell in sorrow or sadness. The good news is that they have God with them and that everything is going to be alright.

The good news is that Jesus knew just what to give them in the midst of their pain; He promised to send them a comforter. He was the Spirit of Truth, He was going to do for them what Christ started in them, around them and through them.

God was working on their behalf, and it was a good thing to behold.

Yet another divine promise is revealed verse eighteen:

¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

The word translated as orphans is also the word for “comfortless”. According to his promise, we are not alone, abandoned, helpless, or hopeless! Wherever we go, the Spirit is with us, so why should we feel like orphans? According to this passage, there is no need to have a troubled heart when you have the very Spirit of God dwelling within you!

The second promise we see is that He will come to us (I will come to you.)! Jesus knew just what to give them in their time of need!

Here, I love the care that he provides for them; he is the loving savior looking out for his children!

This promise of coming again has three connotations;

• I am coming again after my resurrection from the dead.
• I am coming again in the person of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
• I am coming again to take you from this world to be with me in Heaven.

All three of these connotations are correct theology for the believer. However, I believe he is talking about the great work of the Comforter in this text that is the one to come at the day of Pentecost.

• And because The Spirit of truth was coming, He is never going to leave them ever again.
• Because the Spirit of truth was coming, He is never going to be separate from them again
• Because The Spirit of truth was coming, He is never going to put them through this loneliness again.
• Because The Spirit of truth was coming, they will forever know that he is with them to the very ends of the earth.
• Because The Spirit of truth was coming, they would know that he loves them, serves them, feeds them, cares for them, walks with them, and meets every one of their needs.

As we close this morning, we leave you with these thoughts!

• God knows just what you need!
• Even in the midst of discouragement he knows what you need!
• Even in despair and grief he knows what you need!
• Even in sadness and sorrow he knows what you need!
• Even in loneliness and depression he knows what you need!

There is no sorrow that God cannot fix, for he has the left the believer the greatest gift they could ever have—The Comforter (Paraclete) and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ I am never alone; in Christ you are never alone!

Because of the Spirit of God, who dwells in me, I have an advocate and an intercessor!

• As my personal advocate He pleads my case before the Father.
• As my advocate he defends me and maintains my case before the Father.
• As my advocate he supports and promotes the interest of the Father in my mind and keeps me focused on what God’s agenda is for me.

As my intercessor he is always praying for me and speaking on my behalf.

• When I can’t get my prayers right, my intercessor says what I don’t know what to say.
• When I can’t get my thoughts right, He makes sense of them before the Father.
• When I have done all that I know how to do, He does the rest on my behalf.

He is my God, my friend and my voice. He is my access to the Father, my peace and my help in the time of need. He was the gift to me from the son who knew just what I would need to make it through this wicked land!

God knows what I need, God knows what you need, and God knows what we need! The disciples were given the best gift they could have—the gift of the Spirit of Christ to carry them the rest of the way!

John 1:1-5 Every now and then in the scripture you run across those passages that are startling and revealing. You know, those passages where God intends to reveal himself to you whether you like it or not. These are the passages that arrest you and take captive your thoughts, ideas and misconceptions about God. Well in today’s text, God does what he does by intentionally telling John to write this gospel in this way that any Gentile or Jewish reader cannot miss who He is talking about. 1. When John got ready to write this text he did not bother about trying to explain the genealogy of Christ like Matthew did. 2. When John got ready to write this text he did not bother trying to explain the ministry and Calling of Christ like Mark did. 3. When John Got ready to write this book he did not bother trying to explain the birth of Christ like Luke did. This gospel is designed to bring forth the mystery, the mastery and the ministry of Jesus on earth. Every now and then we need to be refreshed in our Christology (the doctrine of Christ) and drawn back to look at the Person of Christ, who is the second member of the Trinity, God made Flesh who redeemed us from our Sins. The passage begins with the mystery of the word described in the first two verses. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. John decided to take us back to the beginning to express the deity of Christ so that all who were readers of this gospel would understand just how Majestic Jesus was and is. What John does in this text is brilliant! He calls Jesus the “word”. In the Greek language it is pronounced logos. In its definition it means the divine expression of God! In the beginning was the expression of God and this expression was God! All that God reasoned about inside of Himself was called The Logos, (His WORD) and the Logos of God was his divine word expressed. The mystery in this text is that God’s eternal glory in himself was expressed through His logos, the word of God. For example: • In the beginning of creation, When God talked to himself in Genesis and said let there be light, it was Jesus who made this Happen as the expression of God. • When God talked to himself in Genesis and said let there be an expanse between the waters to separate the water from water it was Jesus who made this happen as the expression of God! • When God talked to himself in Genesis and said let the land produce vegetation, seed bearing trees and plants after own kind. It was Jesus who made this happen as the expression of God! • When God talked to himself in Genesis and said let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years. It was Jesus who made this happen as the expression of God! • When God talked to himself and said let the waters team up with the living creatures, let the birds fly in the sky and living creatures move along the ground and fish be formed in the sea. It was Jesus who made this happen as the expression of God! • When God talked to himself in Genesis and said let us make man in our own image and in our likeness and let him rule over the earth and the sea. Jesus who made this happen as the expression of God! The mystery in this text is that the expression of God (Jesus the WORD) has always been God, and was always with God, and was the divine way in which the Father chose to express himself to mankind! The WORD was with God and the WORD was God! In this verse alone we see Christ both With God and as God. • In this verse he is the expressed image and thought of God. • In this verse alone it is Christ who john is elevating in the eyes of his readers. • Make no bones about it, this book is all about Jesus and HIS deity. Here’s the application. This is important because we live in a world of antichrists trying to take Christ out of our vocabulary, a world where the deity of Christ is rejected and denied. It is important because we live in a world that wants a God, but it can't be Jesus. • You can’t have the true God of heaven and earth without Jesus • You can’t have the true savior of your soul without having Jesus • You can’t have salvation by Grace, through faith without Jesus The world hates Jesus because he is exclusive: it’s his way or no way. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the Life, and no one can come unto the father but by me! • You can’t have Jesus and some other higher power. It is Jesus Alone. • You can’t have Jesus with eastern meditation, yoga, 02or  chanting. It is Jesus alone. • You can’t have Jesus and some other form of do it yourself salvation. It is Jesus alone. • You can’t have Jesus and some other little gods on the side. It is Jesus alone. He is more than a prophet, he is more than a teacher, he is more than a voice, he is more than a moral personality, He is more than a religious Leader, and he is more than revolutionary. HE IS THE LOGOS of GOD. The Very expressed thought of GOD. JESUS is GOD! John sets the record straight that it was the WORD in the beginning who was together with God and who is God. And there are no divisions in HIM. He is co-equal with the FATHER. In verse three John begins to explain the mastery of God. According to this verse, all created things were created by Jesus who is the logos of God. We see this creative power of Christ in the book of Genesis. In Genesis Jesus speaks the thoughts of the Father and things come into existence. In genesis we see the mastery and the mystery of Christ: • In Him alone was the ability to make the humming bird fly. • In Him alone was the ability to make the octopus swim. • In Him alone was the ability to make the elephant run. • In Him alone was the ability to make the human brain and heart. • In Him alone was the ability to make the sky blue and sun orange. • In Him alone was the ability to make the continents on earth. • In Him alone was the ability to make the Lilly in the valley and the bright and morning star. • In Him alone was the ability to make the Iris in the eye and respiratory system. • In Him alone was the ability to make the human birth canal and reproductive system. • In Him alone was the ability to make the four seasons of the calendar. • In Him alone was the ability to make the oceans roll in and the oceans roll out. All of heavens angels and hells demons were made by Him! They too were a part of His glorious creation. Everything we see was made by God! Everything majestic was made by God! Therefore we ought to give HIM praise, we ought to lift our voice and sing His wonderful praise. He is an all powerful and wonderful savior, who is creative in his design! • When you think you have nothing to thank him for, think again. • When you think you have nothing to shout about think again! • When you think you have nothing to bless His name for think again! • When you think he has never did anything for you think again! When you get down and out, frustrated and sad, think of the works of His hands, and you will rejoice in knowing that your God really is God! • Jesus Mastery consisted of forming you in His Image. • Jesus mastery consisted of delivering you from yourself! • Jesus mastery consisted of cleaning you up and turning you around! In Jesus is the ability to change your world in a split second, to heal your mind quick, fast and in a hurry, to correct your mistakes in the bat of an eye, to forgive your sins right this instant. In Jesus is the ability to hook you up just like that, to give you a husband or wife when He gets ready, to lead and guide you at your every request. He is the Master of the Universe and his majesty is a wonder to behold! John continues in his description of Christ in this next verse, by revealing to us the ministry of Christ as the Logos of God! 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John describes him as Life. In him was life! ‘Zoo-ee’, the Greek word written is to describe the very source of existence (eternal). What is this life? • It is that which has come into being (John 1:3) and gives life to men! It is only found in the Logos of God! • It is the eternal power of God that creates and sustains life in the universe. It is only found in the Logos of God! (We see the same idea in Heb 1:3 where Jesus is said to be upholding all things by the word of his power.) Usually in John’s gospel, the word Life (zoo-ee) means spiritual life, but here the term is unlimited and includes all life, both spiritual and physical. • John wants us to know that in the ministry of the Word there is Life that all men need to have in order to live eternally and the live physically. • John wants us to know that in Jesus alone is that word of God found. In verse four, John opens up for us another dimension of Christ’s ministry on earth! In His ministering to men He wants not only to be the source of their strength and existence but he is also their light. • These two words Life and Light are twins in this text for they both speak of the same thing! • They offering to the reader to see the ministry in Christ in two ways. • In Him is the ability to make you live and to make you see. Christ has the power to fill you and sustain you. John wants to show us that the ministry of Jesus was to reveal life and light to men that they may see and live! • The trouble with the world today is that people are trapped so deep into darkness they cannot see the light; people love darkness and run from the light. In verse five, John explains that Jesus came to shine in the darkness! 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. He uses a word that is pronounced as fainoo (it means to keep on giving light). Jesus came into this dark situation on earth, over 2000 years ago as the Light of God, and is still present with same light! His light is shining all over the world. In the dark areas of the world where there appears to be no light from God, JESUS is shining! In the dope house, whore house, jail house, white house, and poor house, Jesus is shinning and reaching through the darkness to give life and light to men. How is he shining? • Through the works of the Saints! • Through the Love of the redeemed. • Through the preaching of the Gospel. • Through the evangelization of the Lost. • Through the missions of the body. However, even though God is at work all do not accept, all do not take heed, all do not repent, all will not come, and all will not change their ways. As the passage comes to a close, we have the startling and frightening truth! • Jesus came into the world and lit up the darkness, but man, even in seeing the light, would not come to him. • The light was what was needed, but the darkness did not comprehend him. • The light was what was good, but the darkness did not understand him. • The light was what was needed, but the darkness could not embrace him. • The light was what was needed, but the darkness would not repent. • The light was what was needed, but the darkness was having too good of a time. • The light was what was needed but the darkness refused to turn to him. The tragedy in John’s gospel is found in that last verse. The light came but the darkness would not behave. Oh, but Jesus knew they would act this way and that is just why he came. He came to pay the price for all of man’s sins. • It was out on a dark rugged cross that the Light of Glory was crucified! • It was in the black of the morning that he took nails in his hands, • It was in the black of the morning that he took nails in his feet, and it was early that afternoon He died. The Light of Heaven was put out and he died. With blood running down his body for you and me he died. The body was taken down and put in a borrowed tomb where it would never shine again. But early Sunday morning, before the dawn of a new day, the Light of God rose with all power of heaven and earth in his hands!  

A Call to Walk in the Light John 8:12 Our text today is a clarion call to start a new beginning! It’s a summons to start the new year off right! It’s a “shout out” to leave the dark ways of sin and come into the marvelous light. • This text has our name on it if you need to be set free. • This text has our name on it if you’re looking for a way out of a bad situation. • This text has our name on it if you want Jesus to lead you and guide you in 2014. The last time we were together in this text, Jesus was doing ministry in a hostile place. His religious opposition had cornered Him in the temple and dragged a young woman “Caught in adultery” whom they had framed with a crime before Jesus. We discovered that Jesus came to her rescue, and spoke in her defense. After contending for the freedom of the young lady He then pronounces in the place of opposition, that He is calling for people who are looking for life, light and another chance at a personal relationship with God. Our text today opens up with Jesus stating that he is the Light: 12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world.’ Scholars believe this particular verse fits with the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the feast, torches and burning lamps lit the temple and the City at evening time. The people celebrated with dancing by light to commemorate what God had done for them. When the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, and living in tents (tabernacles), God gave them a pillar of fire to lead them by night. This is portion of their celebration was done to remember how God lit up the darkness and how they followed Jesus by night. It was during this final celebration that Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world.” • He sees the burning lamps. • He sees their need for light. • He sees their desire to live life joyfully. • He sees their need for a savior. So He proclaims once again the words that only apply to the Messiah! “I AM!” • He has already proclaimed to be “living bread” (manna from heaven). • He has already proclaimed to be “living water” (water from the rock). So here he proclaims to be the light, that of the world (fire by night)! These were all prophetic claims that were pronounced by the prophets of old, signs given to Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness on their way to the promised land. Again, Jesus says, "I am the light," the illuminous brightness of the world. Here he is declaring that in His coming to earth He was the one they were following then, and He is the one who has lit the earth now with the same light (He is speaking of an eternal brightness)! • Because of Christ, the earth is no longer in isolated darkness. • Because of Christ, the darkness of the world has been invaded by heaven’s light. • Because of Jesus, the darkness of the world has been exposed by God’s divine light. Here he proclaims this because the people at the feast are trying to celebrate by temporary light. Their lamps and torches will burn out, and their joy will be short lived. But if they want real life, real joy, real peace they must come to the One who is the true light of the world! So When Jesus makes this claim, he is summonsing everyone who wants the Light that Heaven has to offer, versus the temporary light of the world, TO COME UNTO HIM! When I look at this text I’m reminded at how dark this world is and how sin has affected all of mankind. Because of sin’s darkness, we often look for light on earth to give us temporary joy! • Because of darkness and sin, we got unwanted pain and pressure in the world (we need God’s light). • Because of darkness and sin, babies are killed in the womb before they have a chance at life (we need God’s light). • Because of darkness and sin, children kill their parents and parents kill their children (we need God’s light). • Because of darkness and sin, there is universal calamity, and death is all over the world (we need God’s light). • Because of darkness and sin, man has fallen from God’s original plan for his life (we need God’s light). • Because of darkness and sin, someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol (we need God’s light). • Because of sin, we have prisons, hospitals, police, and burglar alarms (we need God’s light). • Because of sin, men would rather be women and women would rather be men (we need God’s light). Not only has darkness had power over man, but Sin is wicked and it demands complete control to make man do what it wants him to do. In today’s lesson, we get a good look at why Jesus was calling people to come out of darkness into divine light! This claim is a claim that no other religious figure in history has ever made! Jesus is the only voice to proclaim this status! Not Hitler, Mussolini, Gandhi, Aristotle, Plato, Joseph Smith, or Mary Baker Eddy—not the world's rulers or leaders. No earthly philosophers or religious leaders; not the Dalai Lama, not the pope—no man at any time in history has made a claim like this. Jesus stands alone as the greatest person ever, and the only one who could make this claim. Jesus continues by saying, "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness," drawing attention to the path of the Israelites. While the children of Israel lived in the wilderness the only source of light at night was the sign given to them by God who was to be the pillar of fire at night. Those that followed the pillar were led by God. Those that did their own thing would wander in darkness! Jesus is issuing a call here to not do your own thing, but follow The Light to escape from being lost! Here the feast celebration has had the multitudes following the ceremonious and religious traditions of men. They were accustomed to lighting the torches and dancing temporarily at the feast day. After the feast they would go back to their usual lives, struggling with the burden of darkness. Here, Jesus is saying the one who follows (meaning to be in the same way with) will not walk, or live, in darkness. This call is for the listener to completely FOLLOW CHRIST whole heartedly, to abandon their own agenda and surrender their ways to Christ. It is a call to give up ones ownership in exchange for complete surrender to Christ. This call is a divine exchange! It is to give up following vain things for the Son of God! It is a call to trade allegiances—give up or allegiance to other people or things and surrender your all to God! This is the call to follow! Jesus is calling for disciples here in this text to come and follow! Not to lead, walk alongside of, be in partnership with, or in front of Him, but rather to FOLLOW HIM. The Jews knew exactly what He was calling for! They knew what this claim meant! They knew what he was intending to say and what the implications of this Rabbi’s message was; they were not confused! In our culture we can miss the translation, so here it is! Whoever wants to follow Jesus must abandon other gods and give Him your all. • To follow meant to surrender totally. • To follow meant to surrender once and for all. • To surrender meant to give up completely and to give Him your all. • To follow in complete obedience is the picture and the challenge! Jesus ends his statement with a condition: ‘shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." For those that follow, he says they “shall not walk in darkness.” The word walk in the literal translation means to "live in". For those that follow, they shall not live in darkness, they shall not dwell in darkness, and they shall not be overtaken by darkness! Look at the Promise: • Only He who has the power over Darkness can make this claim! • Here Jesus promises to give victory to those that will follow Him! • Only Followers can circle this verse! • Only followers can claim this position! • Only followers can be beneficiaries of this grace! • This promise comes from the seat of authority. • This promise is made in the eternal realm of Life. Jesus came to push back the darkness and here He calls out to those who will follow and declare for us that we will not WALK in darkness but have life. Here in the text the word is written in the present tense- it also implies that if the believer chooses to follow in every area of their lives they will not live in darkness and sin, but gain victory over the darkness of the world! This is a promise only for the follower! Only for the disciple! Only for the child of God! Only for the believer! By following Him we can live. We can come to know and experience Him. By following, we can see Him and have the “light of life”—that light is Jesus Christ! When you commit yourself to following Him, he commits Himself to you! “HE WHO FOLLOWS ME, SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE." Once again, at the feast they had a temporary light, they danced by a flickering flame. When the fire went out, they went back to the temporal way of living, existing in the darkness, lost in the sin of the world. It was Christ who offered a better way of living! He was offering a meaningful way to experience real life! What a challenge to you and I today! To live our lives in a more meaningful way in this New Year! What a challenge today, to give God all of our selves, that we may follow him, and get “The Light of Life” in exchange for our dark-living. Jesus came to offer us the Light of Light! That we may escape eternal Darkness and pain! So, as we come to the new year, remember that the king is calling! Remember that the King is summoning all to follow Him and to leave the darkness for the Marvelous light.

One of the greatest privileges I have as a University Pastor is upholding the doctrinal position of our Institution. This great ministry founded long ago by pilgrims of the faith, who had a vision for making disciples excites me to no-end. The same Jesus that they fell in love with and followed to the end of their earthly-lives, I too am in love with and obey with every area of my life. We are Anabaptist Christians. “The word ‘Anabaptist’ was first used to describe 16th century reformers who insisted on believer’s baptism rather than infant baptism (and emphasized the separation of church and state). Like our forefathers in the faith, we believe that God’s people are made new in Jesus and are to grow as followers and learners (disciples) of him (Mark 8:27-38; Matthew 5-7). Jesus followers announce and publically celebrate their decision to join the family of God by being baptized (Acts 8:34-38; Romans 10:9-10)." "We intend to demonstrate faithfulness to God as we practice holy living and mutual accountability (1 Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2), worship together in community (Hebrews 10:25), and join with God to accomplish his mission (Matthew 18:15-20; Matthew 9:37-38; 1 Corinthians 9:22)." "Our authority comes from Scripture and is interpreted within the community of believers as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15). Our mission comes from Jesus’ Great Commandment and his Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). We are called to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40), to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and to make peace through reconciliation with God, ourselves, our enemies, and God’s creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Matthew 5:38-42)." "Our mission will almost always be counter-cultural because our allegiance is to the Lord Jesus. The kingdom he proclaims puts us in tension with the culture around us which often demands allegiance to other people, governments and temporal values.” Here at Fresno Pacific University, we proclaim a biblical understanding of God that is both “Evangelical” and “Anabaptist.” We continually seek a biblical vision of the work and mission of Jesus for individuals and for the world. Our ministry commitment is to be kingdom agents in a dark and dying world, being faithful to God until he comes for us.

Our Core Convictions As Annabaptist

• We are a believer’s church: to deal with our human sinfulness, we teach conversion to new life through faith in Jesus Christ and practice baptism as a public sign of personal commitment to Jesus as Savior and Lord.
• We are Bible-centered: we accept the Bible as the inspired and authoritative word of God, seeking to obey its teaching, as illumined by the Holy Spirit and interpreted in the Christian community.
• We emphasize discipleship: we seek to live as authentic followers of Jesus in our daily lives, orienting our lives around Jesus’ teaching and model.
• We value Christian fellowship: we believe the church is a biblical and mutually loyal community that expresses itself in worship, fellowship, accountability and witness.
• We are mission-minded: we share our faith by telling others about the Good News of Jesus and serving others in our neighborhoods and around the world, in obedience to Jesus’ Great Commandment and to the Great Commission.
• We seek peace: we believe the Bible invites us to be at peace with God and with others, even our enemies.
• We cultivate healthy relationships: we are committed to choices that produce wholeness, healing, joy and peace in all relationships

You Should join us today, if you are looking for a High and Holy Calling to change the world and the inhabitants therein! Shalom to you and for Christ and His Kingdom. AW [USMBhttp://www.usmb.org/menus/what-we-believe.html]