Illuminate Community Church

There's a verse in Romans for which I'm especially thankful. It's given by the apostle Paul as he expresses his vulnerability and I think you can probably relate as well... For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15 Paul makes this statement more than twenty years after he first met Jesus on the Damascus road. 20 years! And this is the guy that gave us much of the New Testament. The struggle is real. It reminds me of our text this Sunday. Peter will deny Jesus not once but three times. Not just casually either. He will swear he doesn't know Him. How could this come from the man described as one of Jesus' closest friends? Peter didn't see it coming. A simple slave girl's question causes him to stumble. The circumstance surprises him and he responds in self defense. It's when we are caught off guard that our actions are often unpredictable. Self-preservation is powerful isn't it? Peter had been following Jesus from a distance, avoiding contact with the authorities. In other words, he no longer remained close to Jesus. Think of this: Jesus would die for the very sins Peter was committing against him as He went to the cross. That's how good Jesus is. Judas also denied Jesus. So what's the difference between Judas and Peter? When the reality of their decisions set in Peter cried expressing his remorse but Judas hung himself. Jesus used Peter's repentance and restored him to fruitful ministry. As we enter a new year let's remember that Jesus forgives, heals and restores even our tear filled regrets.

This week we are back in our study of John's gospel and our passage focuses on Jesus' arrest. He knows all that will transpire and yet Jesus asks the soldiers, "Who are you looking for?" He understands they are looking for him but he wants to protect his followers. "Jesus of Nazareth!" they proclaim. "I am he," says Jesus. This simple response is loaded. Once again Jesus claims the name of God for himself. "I am" is the very description God uses to help Moses understand who he's dealing with in Exodus chapter three. Notice carefully how the soldiers respond upon hearing this from Jesus. They fall down. This is exactly what people do when in the presence of God. They can barely stand. Why? Because they are overwhelmed by the greatness of God's glory. At the same time Jesus shows his commitment to his purpose. He doesn't put up a fight. He is hours away from fulfilling his destiny. In fact, in this moment you can see the gospel on display as Jesus corrects Peter for his careless outburst and heals a wounded man about to arrest him. This is radical commitment and no amount of human stupidity or his personal pain will stop him from loving us. As we look ahead to a new year, let's remember this!

The account of the first Christmas seems backwards in logic, but God was sending a message.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16This is the most popular verse in the Bible. It tells us we will have eternal life through Jesus Christ. It also reveals the heart of God. What motivated God to send his only son? It was his love for the world.Seven hundred years before John wrote his famous verse there lived a man named Isaiah. He was a prophet who spoke on God’s behalf. He wrote about the coming of a very special child given to this world steeped in darkness. The details surrounding this child are not what one would expect. The baby is from an out of the way place. He is born to an unwed teenage peasant girl. The first to hear the news are marginalized shepherds. Many parts of the Christmas story are not what they should be. Or are they? The world does not recognize greatness in this way. I hope you see that God loves to bring greatness and power into your life in ways you do not expect.But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29Why do we spend great amounts of time, money, and thought trying to make ourselves great? Why do we want to be seen as strong? When we are full of ourselves there is less room for God. A simple definition of sin: “Me first!” Isaiah reminds us we were born into a darkened existence but light has arrived through the birth of a baby. The names of this baby can only be attributed to God. Amazingly, the child comes to us as a gift. This gift causes you to swallow your pride. It confronts you with the reality that you have a desperate need to be rescued. At the same time it shows you how important you are. God loves you and sent his son to die for your sins. This is the true spirit of Christmas and when we embrace this love we in turn, love others.

As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. But it might surprise you to know that when Isaac Watts wrote it he didn’t intend for it to be this way. It’s not really about the birth of Jesus. It’s not about His first coming, it’s about His second coming. The song is filled with the language of Jesus reigning and ruling over the earth and it’s based on Psalm 98. However, if the question is: how should we respond to the birth of Jesus? Luke says the response is clear: Joy! And this is what the very first word of Watt’s song shouts. Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her king!For this joy to be received it must first be heard. Mary heard and contemplated all that the shepherds were saying about Jesus. Three words described her baby like no other: Savior, Christ, Lord. Mary would listen to angels but she also had the humility to listen to ordinary shepherds. God speaks in ordinary ways today lest we miss it. They had angels but we have a book.And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 Christmas means God looked at us and saw the mess we were in and wrote himself into the story. He didn’t just write himself in, He came and died for us. Jesus gave up His joy so He could become our joy. Joy is a person, the person of Jesus Christ. That’s what the angel announced to the shepherds and the shepherds told Mary and she treasured and pondered it all. This season let's do what Mary did by taking it to heart and asking, "How does this announcement fit in with what I know and what I do and how I live?"

If you ask people to tell you the meaning of Christmas you're going to hear a common response: "Peace on earth!" That announcement was made by an angel to shepherds over 2000 years ago and what has changed? In the history of the world there has been more bloodshed in the last 100 years than all previous years combined. The optimists among us who believe in the inevitable progress of man either forget or ignore that the last century has seen 60 million people killed in nation vs. nation conflict. This is why Christmas is met with such eagerness. We long for peace on earth. However, people are confused by what the angel's announcement truly means. Here's the full quote from Luke's gospel: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace amongst those with whom He is pleased." The is the greatest proclamation ever made. It was given to lowly shepherds which tells us this peace is available to all people. We also understand this peace is not between nations or between people but it is between us and God. It is for those with whom God is pleased. How do we please God? By accepting the peace offering of His son Jesus Christ. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 How would others know you have peace with God? Answer - you become a peacemaker. You don't have to wait for others to initiate. God went to the greatest length possible to secure an eternal future of peace for you. So don't sweat the small stuff and by the way, even the big stuff isn't so big in light of the fact that you're life's biggest challenge has already been overcome. You have peace with God!

The Christmas season has arrived. This year a local radio station was playing Christmas music just after Halloween! The images of shepherds and wise men suddenly appear in front yards and in the mall. But before there were shepherds traveling to see Jesus and before wise men began to seek him, there was another. Close your eyes and picture an old man waiting to die but not before he experiences the greatest moment of his entire life. His name is Simeon and he was the first to recognize that little baby as the fulfillment of hundreds of years of Old Testament prophecy. In fact, this is why he was waiting to die. God promised he would see the Messiah before departing this earth. Simeon also proclaimed something unusual but it is part of the Christmas story: "This child is appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel." He was right. Jesus attracted some and repelled others. Some rise and some fall. One rises by receiving the peace of Jesus when confronted with his or her sins and responds in repentance. Others fall because they reject his work on the cross. Simeon found his hope by focusing on the Messiah. He said, “I know the Messiah and nothing else matters on this earth, I can die.” This Christmas let's remember that Jesus is the one who causes us to rise!

Jesus makes His final request for the church as He prays to the Father for our unity, testimony, and security in His love. CHRISTIAN LOVE IS VISIBLE BECAUSE IT IS COSTLY. CHRISTIAN LOVE BRINGS UNITY BECAUSE IT SHOWS NO PARTIALITY. CHRISTIAN LOVE IS HEALING BECAUSE IT FORGIVES.

Elite athletes understand the importance of setting themselves apart from others. To win Olympic gold you must have laser focus and total dedication to your sport. Everything else is secondary. In John 17:19 Jesus reveals the dedication of His life and death. "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." The word "consecrate" means, "to dedicate for the purpose of something divine." The divine purpose Jesus dedicated himself for is your sanctification. Both the Old and New Testaments use the word "holiness" to describe sanctification. So why would Jesus want us to be holy? Context is everything and this is where things get interesting. Jesus is praying for his disciples and for those who will believe in Him. He wants to equip his followers in order to help them accomplish their mission of attracting people to God. Does he send them out with a ten-step booklet on reaching the world? No. Does he give them a video series on how to win people to God? No. What does he send them with? He sends them with holiness. What the people around you need the most is your personal holiness. What attracted people to Jesus? It was his joy, his patience, love and forgiveness; it was His holiness. Why should anyone pay attention to us? Because of the way we live our lives. If a sick person tries to sell you a program on how to be healthy, are you buying it? It’s the same program they’ve been using for years and yet they are dying. You’re not buying because it’s not working for them. We are made holy by the truth. The word of God is truth and looking to and acting upon God's word makes us holy. Seeing what Jesus did for us on the cross gives us motivation. One more thing should be noted...when Jesus speaks of sanctification He’s not speaking to us individually, He’s speaking to the church. Holiness is meant for the community. It's a holy people living in unity and harmony that draws attention to a holy God. People on the outside ask, "How do they do it?" So the church is not a club, we're a movement forging a new humanity for all people to see.

After giving His disciples final instruction and just before He is arrested and crucified, Jesus turns to the Father in prayer. John 17 contains the longest prayer from Jesus recorded in the Gospels. Of all the things Jesus could begin to pray for, He prays for himself. “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, If it seems selfish for Jesus to pray for Himself notice closely the reason: “that the Son may glorify you,” Jesus asks the Father to glorify Him as He prepared to finish the work that would ultimately give glory back to God. So how does the death of Jesus bring glory to God? That’s an easy one…God’s sovereignty is seen over all of man’s plans, God’s power is seen through the resurrection of Jesus and God’s love is seen through the sacrifice of His son. There’s a powerful lesson for us in this prayer. When we pray, we too should be asking for God to show us His glory. That’s the thing you and I need most in our lives right now. We often pray to get God to give us things. Jesus prays to find God in things. The last personal request from Jesus is this… And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. John 17:5 It’s a remarkable thought…Jesus gave up his glory so you could have glory. Jesus gave up his glory so you could be with him. Let’s contemplate this truth together as we pray for God to show us His glory every day!

I think it's safe to assume that most everyone on the planet wants more peace in his or her life. The question is - Where do you find it? The internet is filled with information about how you can gain "inner peace." Relaxation techniques, meditation and boundaries are some of the more popular answers. The solution for most is to find peace from within. In John chapter 16 Jesus finishes a long conversation with his disciples. His final words are an exhortation for them to find peace. This is exactly what the disciples need in light of his departure. The one who has loved and led them is about to die on the cross. These men need lasting peace. But their source of peace is different than what most would expect. Jesus says, "…in me you may have peace." How do you find peace in Jesus? The key is found in verse 28. Everything Jesus has been saying about himself can be summed up in this one verse. “I have come from the Father and come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” The disciples believe this, they have accepted His words as truth (vs 27.) You see, to find peace in Jesus is to accept His words as truth. This includes all that Jesus said about heaven, hell, preparing a place for you, and the truth about him being the only way to God and therefore dying on the cross for your sins. If you believe in what Jesus says then you will have peace that passes all worldly understanding because it is found in Jesus. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

You are probably not familiar with the name Tracey Crouch. She is the answer to an epidemic recently identified in the U.K. – Crouch is the official “Minister for Loneliness.” There has been a general decline in happiness amongst Brits for some time – especially amongst the elderly. There is a relationship void for millions of people and it’s not only happening across the pond. The CDC reported the suicide rate in America has risen 25% between 1999 and 2016. The most common reason for taking one’s life is relational problems leading to feelings of isolation. The more connected we are technologically, the less we feel connected in meaningful relationships. The desire for hope and joy is an ever-increasing need. In John chapter 16 the disciples are in need of joy and of course, Jesus knew it. They were full of sorrow knowing Jesus is headed for the cross. This is why he gives them the path to joy by reminding them of what comes after the cross. “You will see me again.” And what a sight it will be! They will witness the resurrected Jesus and their sorrow will be turned into joy. The same is true for us. So here’s how you get more joy: You don’t have to ask for it, it’s already there. All you have to do is think on it, contemplate what Jesus has done for you on the cross. “Did you really do that for me?” According to Hebrews 12:2 the answer is ‘yes’ because we are Christ’s joy and nothing can take that away!

It may seem odd to hear Jesus tell His followers they will be hated by the world. After all, Christians have brought the world some pretty amazing things such as education, hospitals, homeless shelters, help for the poor and the list goes on and on. So why would they be hated? Jesus says it's because the world hated Him first. The world hates Jesus because it does not want to be told what to do and it certainly does not want to be held accountable. The world likes options. But here's the thing…Jesus didn't give options. "No one comes to the Father but through Me." People get angry when they are told they are sinners in need of the forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ. If you love the one whom the world hates then you too will be hated. Hatred also comes because Jesus' followers are not of this world. What does that mean? It means our loyalty is not foremost to the company, our country, our family, our race, or our culture. Instead, our ultimate loyalty is to Jesus. This means there will be times when you will stand for what the world stands against and you will stand against what the world stands for. So let me ask you - Have you ever been hated for your faith in Jesus? If not, why? Are you keeping your identity a secret? Consider this: Jesus gave up His kingly name and position in heaven and He died to make a name for you, to write your name in the Book of Life for all eternity. Now, what threat, what embarrassment could possibly stop you from making His name known?

One of the challenges of following Jesus is that we cannot see His physical presence. Imagine being one of the disciples when they hear Jesus say to them, "I am going to be with you just a little longer and then I must go to the Father." It's been three transformative years alongside their leader. They have given up everything to follow Him. The road ahead is tough. Peter will deny Jesus three times and the rest scatter upon Jesus' arrest. What these men need are words of encouragement and that's exactly what Jesus gives them. In John chapter 15 He speaks tenderly to His friends, assuring them that they will continue to experience His spiritual reality. He wants them to know that even though they won't see Him they are as closely connected as the branches of a vine are to its stem. Their desire to love Him and the energy to serve Him will keep flowing into and through them as long as they "abide" in Him. To abide is to remain, it is to stay connected to the true source of life and joy. God the Father is the vinedresser and He has one job - to care for the vine and ensure it produces fruit. There is none better. We aren't the best caretakers of ourselves. Oftentimes we don't see the things that need to be pruned and when we do see them we don't often have the courage to take action. Are you feeling as though the soil of your soul is dry? Are the leaves on your tree of life withering? Does the fruit of your labor taste like wax? What are you connected to? From what vines are you drawing nutrients? Jesus is our only connection with the God who gave life and who produces in us a fruitful life of righteousness and service. This is the life we've always wanted and the life that blesses others.

The Advocate - John 14:12-31 - Who is Jesus? -Pastor Jason Fritz