WEBVTT 00:00:06.999 --> 00:00:11.859 Well, it is not easy to say goodbye and Yet, 00:00:11.859 --> 00:00:14.279 I'm sure you have found as I have that goodbyes 00:00:14.279 --> 00:00:19.120 are a reality in life There are some goodbyes 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.859 that are final and crushing But there are other 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:27.339 goodbyes that are transitional and exhilarating 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:31.079 I hope that you will share with me the belief 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:33.060 that the goodbye that we're going through in 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:36.770 the next month or so is the latter kind of goodbye. 00:00:38.009 --> 00:00:40.850 It is important for you to know, to understand, 00:00:40.950 --> 00:00:45.250 and to believe with all of your heart that Jeanette 00:00:45.250 --> 00:00:47.990 and I are making this transition because we believe 00:00:47.990 --> 00:00:51.950 with all of our hearts that it is the will of 00:00:51.950 --> 00:00:55.670 God. That it is the will of God not only for 00:00:55.670 --> 00:00:58.969 our lives, but that it's the will of God for 00:00:58.969 --> 00:01:03.320 Grace Church Roosevelt as well. I believe that 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:06.799 God has been preparing us, I mean all of us, 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:12.879 for this change. Although the decision came suddenly 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:17.400 to most of you, this has not been a hasty decision 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:20.900 on our part. It is one that's been in the making 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:25.280 for some time. The most important thing in the 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:27.760 world is to be in the center of God's will, isn't 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:31.969 it? I remember as a young man, I remember as 00:01:31.969 --> 00:01:36.469 a younger man, let's say it that way, coming 00:01:36.469 --> 00:01:41.629 to discover that God had designed me for a purpose 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:44.150 in this world. It had a plan for me. You remember 00:01:44.150 --> 00:01:46.969 when you found that out about yourself? That 00:01:46.969 --> 00:01:49.930 as His child, you weren't just a number. You 00:01:49.930 --> 00:01:52.650 weren't just somebody else. You weren't just 00:01:52.650 --> 00:01:56.870 another one. You were a special person in His 00:01:56.870 --> 00:02:00.390 eyes. and He chose you and designed you and fashioned 00:02:00.390 --> 00:02:03.829 you for a special purpose and a plan that He 00:02:03.829 --> 00:02:07.790 is fulfilling. To me, that's all that counts 00:02:07.790 --> 00:02:12.689 in the end is following that track and experiencing 00:02:12.689 --> 00:02:16.509 this great adventure of God's will for our lives. 00:02:18.430 --> 00:02:21.189 In this transition that we're undergoing, I'd 00:02:21.189 --> 00:02:24.469 like for us to follow the example that Jesus 00:02:24.469 --> 00:02:27.770 set for us. And to find out about that, would 00:02:27.770 --> 00:02:30.669 you open your Bible please with me to John chapter 00:02:30.669 --> 00:02:43.669 13. John chapter 13. It says, now before the 00:02:43.669 --> 00:02:49.009 feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his 00:02:49.009 --> 00:02:53.710 hour had come, that he should depart out of this 00:02:53.710 --> 00:02:57.180 world to the Father. Having loved his own who 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:00.719 were in the world, he loved them to the end. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:06.479 That means to the uttermost. Jesus knew that 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:10.599 the time had come for him to depart. Not just 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:12.979 from Minnesota to California, which is a big 00:03:12.979 --> 00:03:17.580 enough transition. But here is a transition out 00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:20.300 of this world back to the Father's presence. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:25.759 This is truly the big transition. This is a greater 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:28.759 transition than any of us can possibly imagine. 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:32.819 Out of this world, back to heaven to the Father's 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:39.360 presence. Jesus knew that the time had come and 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:42.400 certainly he had been preparing his disciples 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:46.400 for this over a period of three years that they 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.979 had walked with him. But now on this last night 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:56.370 that he is with them. On this night, as he gathers 00:03:56.370 --> 00:04:00.050 with them in the upper room and then goes to 00:04:00.050 --> 00:04:02.689 the garden of Gethsemane to pray, on this night, 00:04:03.250 --> 00:04:05.770 Jesus does a number of things to help them with 00:04:05.770 --> 00:04:11.689 the transition. Jesus lived for his Father's 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:15.650 will, just as I hope you and I live every day. 00:04:16.750 --> 00:04:20.209 He said, I do not seek my own will, but the will 00:04:20.209 --> 00:04:26.170 of Him who sent me. What a tremendous model for 00:04:26.170 --> 00:04:30.009 us that we should not seek our own will our own 00:04:30.009 --> 00:04:35.110 desires in life But that we should seek the Father's 00:04:35.110 --> 00:04:40.029 will Because even though it may mean pain for 00:04:40.029 --> 00:04:44.410 us and Suffering for us as it did in Jesus case 00:04:44.410 --> 00:04:47.990 in a way beyond our ability to imagine Nonetheless, 00:04:48.089 --> 00:04:54.060 the Father's will is the very best There's absolutely 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:58.579 nothing that could surpass the Father's will. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:03.259 And so let us with all of our hearts seek the 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:07.399 Father's will, even when that may include some 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:12.860 pain for us in the process of it. Jesus knew 00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:15.639 that His hour had come, and of course, that means 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:20.889 the cross. Throughout the Gospel of John, he 00:05:20.889 --> 00:05:24.250 kept saying his hour had not come. His hour had 00:05:24.250 --> 00:05:29.430 not come. Now he says, my hour has come. He knows 00:05:29.430 --> 00:05:33.810 that the cross is at hand. And he announces to 00:05:33.810 --> 00:05:37.889 his disciples the big transition. He states it 00:05:37.889 --> 00:05:41.569 fairly clearly in verse 33 of this chapter. When 00:05:41.569 --> 00:05:44.889 he calls them little children, he says, little 00:05:44.889 --> 00:05:49.350 children. I am with you a little while longer. 00:05:52.089 --> 00:05:54.689 You shall seek me. And as I said to the Jews, 00:05:54.769 --> 00:05:59.569 I say to you now also, where I am going, you 00:05:59.569 --> 00:06:04.389 cannot come." I'm not saying that, by the way, 00:06:04.410 --> 00:06:06.569 about California. I just want to understand that. 00:06:07.730 --> 00:06:12.629 You're welcome to come and visit us. But of course, 00:06:12.829 --> 00:06:17.230 Jesus' comment was a particular... comment to 00:06:17.230 --> 00:06:21.269 his beloved disciples, and he is saying to them, 00:06:21.269 --> 00:06:25.550 I'm going away. And you cannot come right now 00:06:25.550 --> 00:06:28.509 where I'm going. And that statement kicks off 00:06:28.509 --> 00:06:32.769 a whole series of exchanges between himself and 00:06:32.769 --> 00:06:37.610 his disciples, because they realize now for sure 00:06:37.610 --> 00:06:42.310 that change was in the air. The big transition 00:06:42.310 --> 00:06:47.259 was about to happen. And so Jesus prepared his 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:50.860 disciples for his leaving by giving them some 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:54.660 reminders. It is these reminders I would like 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:57.160 for us to think about today. And obviously, I'm 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:59.240 not going to preach everything that's in John 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.360 13 through 17. But we are going to look at this 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:07.019 body of scripture, this very significant collection 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:11.439 of words and statements and conversations, and 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:15.480 pull from here. The reminders that Jesus gave 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:19.459 to his disciples as he was about to leave them. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:23.980 First of all, Jesus wanted them to be reminded 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:28.759 that some things never change. Some things never 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:33.620 change. One of those things was his love for 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:37.660 them. He mentioned that, or at least John mentioned 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:39.800 it already in verse 1, when it says he loved 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:42.139 them to the uttermost. But look here at verse 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:46.779 34. a new commandment I give to you, that you 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:51.699 love one another, even as I have loved you, that 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:56.220 you also love one another. By this shall all 00:07:56.220 --> 00:07:58.860 men know that you are my disciples if you have 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:03.699 love for one another." Jesus wanted his men to 00:08:03.699 --> 00:08:06.839 know that though he was leaving them, it did 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:10.699 not mean that he ceased loving them. His love 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:13.800 would continue. and he wanted them to emulate 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:19.939 his love to one another. I want you to know that 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:22.300 as we leave Grace Church, Roseville, our love 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:29.899 for you also is unchanging. We have loved you. 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:36.399 We do love you. And we will continue loving you, 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:40.480 although we will live elsewhere. A piece of our 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:45.200 lives, you see. is here, invested here. For the 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:50.679 good or the ill, it's here. A piece of our hearts 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:56.600 resides here in Grace Church, Roseville. We will 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:00.159 always be interested in knowing what God continues 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.440 to do here. We will always want to know about 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.200 your continued welfare and the things of God 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:10.840 and how you are progressing in your vision. for 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:15.259 serving God and your love for God, because we 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:20.360 continue to love you too. Jesus wanted His disciples 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:25.139 also to know that His example for them and to 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:29.159 them would never change. On this evening, Jesus 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.879 did something very special, as you know. The 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:33.960 first part of this chapter tells us about how 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:39.070 He washed the disciples' feet. He put around 00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:42.590 himself the towel of a servant. And when he, 00:09:42.590 --> 00:09:46.090 though he was the host of this meal, had gathered 00:09:46.090 --> 00:09:49.409 them together, he took the place of the one who 00:09:49.409 --> 00:09:53.009 would normally wash their feet for this time 00:09:53.009 --> 00:09:57.129 of eating dinner together. And it says in verse 00:09:57.129 --> 00:10:02.830 15, Jesus' words. Well, let's back up, verse 00:10:02.830 --> 00:10:06.250 14. He says, if I then the Lord and the teacher 00:10:06.250 --> 00:10:09.990 washed your feet, You also ought to wash one 00:10:09.990 --> 00:10:13.990 another's feet For I gave you an example that 00:10:13.990 --> 00:10:19.789 you should also do as I did to you Now there 00:10:19.789 --> 00:10:22.450 are some denominations that take this so strongly 00:10:22.450 --> 00:10:25.690 that they include as one of the ordinances the 00:10:25.690 --> 00:10:30.529 washing of feet They have communion and baptism 00:10:30.529 --> 00:10:32.750 and the washing of feet because of what Jesus 00:10:32.750 --> 00:10:36.620 says here My own conviction about this is that 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:40.179 Jesus was not putting in place an ordinance But 00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:42.659 he was saying to his followers look I have lived 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:45.220 an example before you and tonight. I've culminated 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:50.019 it Being a servant to you washing your feet Now 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:54.500 that example remains It is there for you to follow 00:10:54.500 --> 00:11:00.580 in the years ahead to serve one another To lovingly 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:08.330 serve one another with humility My example to 00:11:08.330 --> 00:11:12.590 you also continues. That doesn't change. I wish 00:11:12.590 --> 00:11:15.710 that I could say my example were always good. 00:11:17.070 --> 00:11:20.190 I know that's not the case. There have been times 00:11:20.190 --> 00:11:24.149 when I have failed. One of the things that delights 00:11:24.149 --> 00:11:28.370 me though about leaving a church and then experiencing 00:11:28.370 --> 00:11:30.789 a time break is that people tend to forget your 00:11:30.789 --> 00:11:35.509 failures. So I'm excited about that. And I encourage 00:11:35.509 --> 00:11:39.450 you along those lines, forget my failures, which 00:11:39.450 --> 00:11:44.169 are many. But in whatever way, God has allowed 00:11:44.169 --> 00:11:48.950 me to live out an example of Christ to you. I 00:11:48.950 --> 00:11:52.549 hope that will remain. That you will keep it 00:11:52.549 --> 00:11:56.429 before you in the years ahead. And that you will 00:11:56.429 --> 00:11:59.470 deeply desire to serve one another in love, as 00:11:59.470 --> 00:12:05.690 our Lord gave us His own example. Some things 00:12:05.690 --> 00:12:08.049 never change. Jesus' love for them would not 00:12:08.049 --> 00:12:11.190 change. His example would not change. It was 00:12:11.190 --> 00:12:13.970 established. It was set for them. Thirdly, His 00:12:13.970 --> 00:12:16.929 prayer for them would not change. To see this, 00:12:17.009 --> 00:12:20.990 we go to chapter 17, which is the Lord's Prayer, 00:12:21.029 --> 00:12:27.129 as you know, the real Lord's Prayer. Here, Jesus 00:12:27.129 --> 00:12:30.350 offers up intercession for His own. Just ever 00:12:30.350 --> 00:12:32.870 so briefly, notice that He prays in verse 11. 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:36.799 Holy Father, keep them in Thy name. That is, 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:42.179 guard them. Keep them in Thy name. He says in 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:44.820 verse 12, while I was with them, I was keeping 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:48.840 them in Thy name. But now He says to the Father, 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:51.679 you keep them. I'm leaving them. Father, you 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:56.320 keep them. You guard them. In verse 17, Jesus 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:01.879 prays, sanctify them. Sanctify them in the truth. 00:13:02.110 --> 00:13:06.009 Thy word is truth. That is, set them apart, Father, 00:13:06.049 --> 00:13:10.909 for your holy and good purposes. In verse 21, 00:13:10.990 --> 00:13:14.669 he prays, that they all may be one, even as thou, 00:13:14.669 --> 00:13:18.470 Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also 00:13:18.470 --> 00:13:22.590 may be in us, that the world may believe that 00:13:22.590 --> 00:13:26.049 thou didst send me. So here Jesus prays, Father, 00:13:26.129 --> 00:13:31.889 unify them. Bring them together as one. Just 00:13:31.889 --> 00:13:36.330 as you and I, Father, are one, so may they experience 00:13:36.330 --> 00:13:39.909 oneness. And out of that unity, let the world 00:13:39.909 --> 00:13:44.529 know that I came from you. And then in verse 00:13:44.529 --> 00:13:48.169 24, we have a fourth petition of our Lord. By 00:13:48.169 --> 00:13:50.730 the way, he's praying this not only for them, 00:13:50.750 --> 00:13:56.409 but for us. He says in verse 24, Father, I desire 00:13:56.409 --> 00:13:59.350 that they also whom thou hast given me be with 00:13:59.350 --> 00:14:03.549 me. Where I am in order that they may behold 00:14:03.549 --> 00:14:08.850 my glory That thou has given me And so Jesus 00:14:08.850 --> 00:14:13.009 prays that we all may one day be with him in 00:14:13.009 --> 00:14:17.250 glory now question Will the father ever deny? 00:14:18.230 --> 00:14:25.269 his perfect son a request Absolutely, not everything 00:14:25.269 --> 00:14:28.370 that Jesus prays for here will ultimately be 00:14:28.370 --> 00:14:34.399 fulfilled And the Lord Jesus, as you know, made 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.519 the big transition, went back to heaven. And 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:41.860 now today is in that role as being our high priest. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:46.679 So he literally continues to pray for us along 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:50.919 these same lines before the Father all the time. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:57.179 You see, some things never change. And one of 00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:59.720 the things that will never change is the fact 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:03.879 that you will be in our prayers. You will be 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:07.799 in our hearts as we go before God, our Father. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:12.879 And we will be praying for you. And we ask for 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.379 your prayers as we enter into this transition 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:19.179 and move our family and go through all that that 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:21.879 means. And many of you, all of you really know 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:25.759 what is entailed in that. And as then we get 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:31.159 established in a new setting of ministry, we 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:35.240 dearly need your prayers and ask you for them. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:38.720 We might pray for one another. And in that way, 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:43.840 we share yet in ministry, don't we? Jesus wanted 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:46.159 his disciples to know that the big transition 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:50.159 was coming. He's going away. But there are some 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:55.500 things that never change. But Jesus also wanted 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:58.019 them to know that night that some things must 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:04.279 change. Some things must change. In chapter 14, 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:10.580 as we number the text, verses 12 through 14, 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:14.799 he says, truly, truly, I say to you, which is 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:18.179 a way of saying, listen to what I'm about to 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:22.259 say. What I'm about to say is really, really 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:27.200 important. He who believes in me the works that 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.519 I do shall he do also and Greater works than 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:36.179 these shall he do because I go to the father 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:40.940 And whatever you ask in my name that will I do? 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:45.139 That the father may be glorified in the Sun If 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:49.200 you ask me anything in my name, I will do it 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:54.750 wonderful prayer promises Jesus says here I must 00:16:54.750 --> 00:16:59.809 go away because something needs to change. He 00:16:59.809 --> 00:17:03.129 says, I need to go away so that you then can 00:17:03.129 --> 00:17:09.029 pray in my name. When I go away, I'm going to 00:17:09.029 --> 00:17:12.809 authorize you to use my name in prayer. And so 00:17:12.809 --> 00:17:15.789 when you pray, however many of you there are, 00:17:15.910 --> 00:17:20.529 be there 12 or there be 12 million in the world. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:25.640 As you pray through me, through my name, I will 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:32.599 work. And so because of the scope of what you 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:37.740 will do in the years ahead, men, you will do 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:41.779 greater works than I've done. Because I will 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:44.599 not just be working through me and my human body. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:47.640 He is saying, I am going to be working through 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:53.799 you in answered prayer. And so some things must 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:56.160 change. In order for the gospel to be declared 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.480 to the whole world, Jesus said, I have to go 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:02.160 away. This has to change so that I can do greater 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:07.900 works through you. Secondly, Jesus says that 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:10.539 he must leave them physically. Chapter 16, verse 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:16.940 7, for a very particular reason. Chapter 16, 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.319 verse 7. But I tell you the truth. It is to your 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:26.490 advantage. that I go away. For if I do not go 00:18:26.490 --> 00:18:30.789 away, the helper shall not come to you. But if 00:18:30.789 --> 00:18:34.869 I go, I will send him to you." Now we know he's 00:18:34.869 --> 00:18:40.670 talking about the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, this 00:18:40.670 --> 00:18:45.049 must change. I need to go away. Because in going 00:18:45.049 --> 00:18:48.390 away, that will allow me to send the Holy Spirit 00:18:48.390 --> 00:18:51.970 to live in each one of you. And if I don't go 00:18:51.970 --> 00:18:57.309 away, he can't come. So this must change. It's 00:18:57.309 --> 00:19:00.690 for your advantage, so that the spirit can come. 00:19:02.430 --> 00:19:08.690 Some things must change in transition. And there 00:19:08.690 --> 00:19:11.269 are some things that need to change in our transition. 00:19:14.609 --> 00:19:19.519 For example, it means that I will not be able 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:23.200 to do funerals and weddings and share in those 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:26.619 kinds of special occasions with you. It doesn't 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:28.940 mean that somebody won't be here to do them, 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:34.539 because there will be. But it is not wise for 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:39.180 a pastor who's departed to come back and to do 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:43.039 those kinds of things. It is important for you 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:48.460 as a body of people to focus on your new pastor. 00:19:48.750 --> 00:19:52.630 that God will bring and to allow Him the privilege 00:19:52.630 --> 00:19:55.910 of ministering to you in those very wonderful 00:19:55.910 --> 00:20:00.390 and personal family kinds of way. And so that's 00:20:00.390 --> 00:20:03.509 one change that must take place in the transition. 00:20:04.589 --> 00:20:09.490 As difficult frankly as it will be for me and 00:20:09.490 --> 00:20:11.930 maybe as difficult as it would be for you because 00:20:11.930 --> 00:20:15.349 you would like to have us here, that must change. 00:20:16.950 --> 00:20:20.230 Likewise, I'm not going to be involved in the 00:20:20.230 --> 00:20:24.230 search process. Do I care about the next pastor 00:20:24.230 --> 00:20:28.849 who comes? You bet I do. Or in good Minnesota 00:20:28.849 --> 00:20:33.690 language, you betcha. I do. I don't want an oofduck 00:20:33.690 --> 00:20:38.670 down the road. Nor do you. I do care. But again, 00:20:38.730 --> 00:20:42.869 it's unwise for a former pastor to get involved 00:20:42.869 --> 00:20:46.890 in those kinds of things. Please honor me in 00:20:46.890 --> 00:20:48.710 this and don't call and say well What do you 00:20:48.710 --> 00:20:51.470 think about this or how about that because that 00:20:51.470 --> 00:20:53.509 really puts me in a very difficult position? 00:20:54.670 --> 00:20:56.509 And I wouldn't want to offend you, but I won't 00:20:56.509 --> 00:20:58.970 answer those kinds of questions because I cannot 00:20:58.970 --> 00:21:03.950 get involved in the Process that must take place 00:21:03.950 --> 00:21:07.849 here for your good for your advantage And so 00:21:07.849 --> 00:21:11.970 there are some things that must change Jesus 00:21:11.970 --> 00:21:16.390 wanted his disciples to know that too And then 00:21:16.390 --> 00:21:18.329 Jesus wanted his disciples to know that there 00:21:18.329 --> 00:21:22.269 are some things that accompany change. There 00:21:22.269 --> 00:21:23.829 are some things that never change. There are 00:21:23.829 --> 00:21:26.309 some things that must change. But there are some 00:21:26.309 --> 00:21:30.670 things also that accompany change. For example, 00:21:31.750 --> 00:21:36.250 normal human emotions. They accompany change. 00:21:36.769 --> 00:21:40.069 We are human beings who have emotions. God made 00:21:40.069 --> 00:21:44.460 us that way. And so when you hear the news that 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:47.740 the pastor is leaving, going to another church, 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:53.539 there's a whole range of emotions possible. There 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:57.059 are probably some who are surprised that another 00:21:57.059 --> 00:22:01.299 church would ever want me. There are probably 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:04.680 some of you who are joyous and say, thank God, 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:07.900 you know, for whatever reason. But I recognize 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:10.640 that broadly in the church there is the emotion 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:14.549 of grief. In fact, as I've done some research 00:22:14.549 --> 00:22:16.809 in this whole matter, I've found that grief is 00:22:16.809 --> 00:22:21.309 the number one emotion that churches feel when 00:22:21.309 --> 00:22:27.410 there is this kind of transition. Because you're 00:22:27.410 --> 00:22:32.450 losing someone, as we are losing some ones, there 00:22:32.450 --> 00:22:36.150 is grief involved in this. And grief has a number 00:22:36.150 --> 00:22:40.690 of stages. There's the shock stage, which some 00:22:40.690 --> 00:22:45.160 of you still may be in. There is the anger stage, 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:49.039 which I hope none of you are in. But I recognize 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:53.319 that that's a reality. There is the stage when 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:56.200 you try to bargain, say, well, now, what can 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:59.700 we do? Something should change. Can we do anything 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:02.819 about it? No, you can't. But you go through those 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:06.859 feelings. What can we do? And then there's depression 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:12.130 sometimes that sets in. And then finally there's 00:23:12.130 --> 00:23:16.970 acceptance and you go on. Now that kind of a 00:23:16.970 --> 00:23:19.089 cycle takes place whether it's the loss of a 00:23:19.089 --> 00:23:22.529 loved one or the loss of a job or the loss of 00:23:22.529 --> 00:23:24.210 a senior pastor. That's just part of grieving. 00:23:24.630 --> 00:23:29.069 We go through that kind of a cycle. The second 00:23:29.069 --> 00:23:31.569 most common reaction when a pastor leaves is 00:23:31.569 --> 00:23:35.130 that of fear. Tim transparently mentioned that 00:23:35.130 --> 00:23:37.529 this morning in the time when he shared with 00:23:37.529 --> 00:23:42.369 you. Fear is normal. People are afraid of what 00:23:42.369 --> 00:23:45.289 may take place or may not take place, of the 00:23:45.289 --> 00:23:48.589 uncertainty of everything. And it's interesting 00:23:48.589 --> 00:23:51.569 as you look through these chapters of John, you 00:23:51.569 --> 00:23:55.069 see those same kinds of emotions coming out from 00:23:55.069 --> 00:23:58.650 Peter and Thomas and Philip and Judas, not Ascariot, 00:23:59.670 --> 00:24:01.990 who all interacted with Jesus, and they're named 00:24:01.990 --> 00:24:04.970 here, and their human emotions are coming out 00:24:04.970 --> 00:24:09.910 as Jesus tells them that he's leaving. So that's 00:24:09.910 --> 00:24:13.690 why I say that Jesus is showing all of us here 00:24:13.690 --> 00:24:16.170 in this text that there are some things that 00:24:16.170 --> 00:24:18.710 accompany change, and one of them are the normal 00:24:18.710 --> 00:24:22.529 human emotions that all of us have. But I hope 00:24:22.529 --> 00:24:26.289 that there will come a point today, tomorrow, 00:24:26.529 --> 00:24:29.869 next month, whenever God brings you there, that 00:24:29.869 --> 00:24:34.430 you will see this change as positive. Please. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:37.859 Don't feel that if you begin to see this change 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:40.940 as positive, somehow that's a mark against me. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:46.140 That somehow you have dishonored me because that 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:50.400 is not the case. In fact, one of the finest things 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:54.019 you could do to honor me is to allow God to bring 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:57.160 you to that place where you see this change as 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:02.859 really a good thing for us as well as for you. 00:25:03.950 --> 00:25:06.970 Because I have never sought to build this church 00:25:06.970 --> 00:25:11.589 on me. I have labored to build this church upon 00:25:11.589 --> 00:25:17.450 the Lord Jesus. And He is remaining with you. 00:25:18.990 --> 00:25:21.369 And it's important for you to see that He is 00:25:21.369 --> 00:25:24.849 in this change, and He is not in it for your 00:25:24.849 --> 00:25:28.950 ill. He is in it for your good. Now your emotions 00:25:28.950 --> 00:25:31.190 may take a while to catch up to that as I say, 00:25:31.289 --> 00:25:35.440 but please. Let God bring you there. In his time, 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:38.500 in your time, let God bring you to that point. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:45.880 Normal human emotions accompany change, but also 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:49.779 ongoing responsibilities accompany change. For 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:52.980 the apostles, it meant taking the leadership 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:57.180 of the church that was just forming here. The 00:25:57.180 --> 00:26:00.420 apostles are here being positioned by Jesus. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:04.160 so that once he has gone back to the Father, 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:08.099 once this big transition has been made, they 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:12.099 would be able to carry on the work he was committing 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:16.160 to them. It is important for you to understand 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:19.460 that in this time of change, responsibilities 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:24.619 go on. I want to beg of you, to beseech you in 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:27.940 the name of Christ, that you not forsake your 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:32.359 commitments to Grace Church Roosevelt. that you 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:36.619 not turn away from being a supporter and encourager 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:40.759 of this ministry. Because this is the work of 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:46.900 the Lord. This work must go on for His glory. 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:51.140 And your commitment, your continuing commitment, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:53.799 the fulfilling of your ongoing responsibilities 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:59.559 is just vital to that. In a way, What you're 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:03.180 about to experience will be a trial, a trial 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:07.500 that will become the measurement of your and 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:13.000 this church's spiritual maturity. Really, it's 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.000 going to be a measurement. The tape measure is 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:17.980 going to get out now and God's going to see just 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:21.480 how mature this church really is, how mature 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:25.019 you really are in the way that we go on from 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:29.190 here. And so I urge you to... Continue with the 00:27:29.190 --> 00:27:31.670 ongoing responsibilities that you've accepted. 00:27:32.190 --> 00:27:34.589 And if you've not gotten plugged in and not gotten 00:27:34.589 --> 00:27:38.589 involved, this is the time to do it. There's 00:27:38.589 --> 00:27:40.390 the human tendency to say, well, now I think 00:27:40.390 --> 00:27:42.750 I'll just wait and see who the guy is that comes 00:27:42.750 --> 00:27:47.109 in next. Wrong response. This is the time to 00:27:47.109 --> 00:27:50.730 say, this church is God's work. It needs me. 00:27:50.970 --> 00:27:53.769 God needs me. God has a place for me here. And 00:27:53.769 --> 00:27:57.009 to find out what you need to do to get involved. 00:27:59.150 --> 00:28:02.450 I'll tell you what else goes on, a new community. 00:28:03.650 --> 00:28:06.930 A new community was going to be born out of this 00:28:06.930 --> 00:28:10.809 transition. Jesus gives the highest value of 00:28:10.809 --> 00:28:14.089 all to this community. He says, love one another. 00:28:14.549 --> 00:28:17.529 It is the powerful bonding agent. Notice in verse 00:28:17.529 --> 00:28:21.990 17 of chapter 15, where it says just succinctly, 00:28:22.230 --> 00:28:27.210 this I command you, that you love one another. 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:31.880 This now would be an opportunity for the disciples 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:35.519 to stop the bickering that sometimes went on, 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:38.259 as you know, as they kind of jostled for place 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:45.220 and acted like all of us. This was now an opportunity 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:50.240 for them to pull together and to lay aside who 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.059 was going to be the greatest in the kingdom and 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:54.400 who was going to sit next to the Lord on the 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:57.720 throne and so on. Those are unimportant issues. 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:01.299 They were to love one another. They were to come 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:04.539 together as a new community with this powerful 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:09.859 bonding agent of love. And so that is important 00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:14.000 in the upcoming change. This needs to accompany 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.799 the transition in the coming months, that you 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:23.859 really pull together and love one another, love 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:28.799 one another, serve one another. Something else 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.880 that accompanies transition that Jesus points 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:36.839 out is problems Verse 18 goes right on to say 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:40.240 if the world hates you You know that it hated 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.680 me before it hated you He just said you love 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:46.000 one another if the world hates you You see how 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:50.319 he does that? Because you see in the midst of 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:52.660 this loving community there's going to be problems 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:55.519 the world is going to hate you persecution He 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:59.079 says is going to come from the world And you 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:01.420 can expect that there will be challenges to your 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:05.700 love. There may be people in other churches who 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:09.200 will say things that you won't like. There may 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:11.819 be things that you will hear within this church 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:15.759 that you don't appreciate people saying. Or things 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.880 may be done that you will understand. Listen, 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:21.720 in those kinds of times, just remember, Jesus 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:24.680 told us that in this new community He's forming, 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:27.099 there are going to be problems. They'll come 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:29.670 from the outside. They'll come from the inside. 00:30:29.829 --> 00:30:32.869 Even this very night, Judas went out, as you 00:30:32.869 --> 00:30:37.369 know. So when change comes, expect that there 00:30:37.369 --> 00:30:39.730 will be problems. Don't let them surprise you. 00:30:41.069 --> 00:30:43.250 But we have a wonderful word from our Lord. There's 00:30:43.250 --> 00:30:45.470 something else that accompanies change in verse 00:30:45.470 --> 00:30:50.869 33 of chapter 16. He says, I've spoken these 00:30:50.869 --> 00:30:52.950 things to you, that in me you may have peace. 00:30:53.069 --> 00:30:56.470 In the world, you will have tribulation. but 00:30:56.470 --> 00:31:00.089 take courage, I have overcome the world." And 00:31:00.089 --> 00:31:03.970 so here's what else accompanies transition, the 00:31:03.970 --> 00:31:08.369 peace of Christ, if you let it. You can experience 00:31:08.369 --> 00:31:12.390 the peace of God despite the problems and the 00:31:12.390 --> 00:31:16.789 pressures, despite the human emotions that erupt 00:31:16.789 --> 00:31:20.730 from time to time. Jesus says, I give you my 00:31:20.730 --> 00:31:26.420 peace. And in this upcoming transition, you can 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:31.880 experience the peace of God. That peace of God 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.680 doesn't mean that there won't be any problems. 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.779 It simply means that you will have the abiding 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:42.940 assurance that God is in control. And so that 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:46.660 whatever you hear, whatever you experience, whatever 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:51.720 you feel, you can just stop and look up to the 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:53.500 Lord and say, Lord, you're still in the throne. 00:31:54.670 --> 00:31:57.930 I trust you. And his peace will just flood your 00:31:57.930 --> 00:32:01.750 hearts. There are other things that accompany 00:32:01.750 --> 00:32:05.170 change, but let me stop at that point and just 00:32:05.170 --> 00:32:09.390 say this as kind of a summation. A change and 00:32:09.390 --> 00:32:12.309 transition are a part of life, a natural part 00:32:12.309 --> 00:32:16.630 of it. And change is a natural development in 00:32:16.630 --> 00:32:20.109 the relationship between a church and its pastor. 00:32:21.670 --> 00:32:23.990 Although I have been here more than 18 years, 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:27.759 and am not only a long -term pastor, but one 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:33.220 of those formidable animals called a founding 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:37.220 pastor. And I've been here longer than anybody 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:41.619 else just because of that. And so therefore, 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:43.960 some people think change doesn't ever take place. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:49.099 You need to understand this is normal. This is 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:55.279 normal. All churches go through this. I was talking 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:57.259 to someone this morning, said, well, I was in 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:59.759 First Baptist with Dr. W .B. Riley, and he was 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:09.859 there till he died. But he did die. There are 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.519 probably two or three people down there that 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:14.079 haven't discovered that yet, but he did die. 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:20.339 Change happens. Change is real. It's a part of 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:24.630 life. There are transitions and you and I have 00:33:24.630 --> 00:33:28.369 the choice in the midst of the transition To 00:33:28.369 --> 00:33:33.390 either get all nervous and anxious Or just to 00:33:33.390 --> 00:33:37.410 sit back on the promises of God and say Lord 00:33:37.410 --> 00:33:43.670 I'm trusting you Lord I'm hurting Lord I have 00:33:43.670 --> 00:33:48.309 uncertainties Lord I don't like what's happening. 00:33:48.329 --> 00:33:51.539 It doesn't feel good to me I don't know what 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:54.220 the future holds, but Lord, I am trusting you. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.140 And that's where I want to leave us this morning. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:58.500 I have some more things to say over the next 00:33:58.500 --> 00:34:00.960 three weeks. I hope you'll come and listen, but 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:03.380 just for this morning, let's stop at this point 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:06.680 and recommit ourselves and say, Lord, I'm trusting 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:10.059 you. I'm trusting you in the big transition ahead. 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:20.980 Let's pray together. Lord, I pray that today, 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:25.940 as all of us stand on the verge of change, and 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:30.599 as we anticipate what the future may hold, that 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:32.639 you will keep reminding us that there are some 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:35.800 things that accompany change. It's inevitable. 00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:40.139 And there are some things that must change, but 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:44.099 there are some things that never change. And 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:47.780 overarching all of that is yourself. You do not 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:51.960 change. And with the coming and the going of 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:57.059 your shepherds, as well as your sheep, you remain. 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:02.000 And so today we say to you as a congregation, 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:12.000 we trust you. We trust you in this change. And 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.929 we commit ourselves to it. with gladness of heart, 00:35:17.369 --> 00:35:19.670 though perhaps with a tear in the eye, nonetheless, 00:35:19.829 --> 00:35:24.949 a gladness of heart that you are at work. And 00:35:24.949 --> 00:35:28.670 we pray that you will keep working in us and 00:35:28.670 --> 00:35:32.150 through us until that day that we all experience 00:35:32.150 --> 00:35:35.130 the big transition when we're brought home to 00:35:35.130 --> 00:35:40.050 glory. In Christ's name I pray, amen.