Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

The passage of scripture that we have selected this morning begins with these words...

What was communicated between the Father and the Son in this passage is called Jesus’ high priestly prayer.

It is a prayer for our benefit, and is a foretaste of the work that Jesus does for us now in heaven.

Jesus prayed this prayer during the short trip between the upper room and the garden of Gethsemane, and considering that it consists of some of the last words that he would speak, we should recognize that its contents must be very important.

As I read through this chapter, I noticed several important concepts.

It contains a prayer for future believers, a promise of future protection, and a promotion of unity.

But the thing that struck me most was the fact that all of these things are centered around, are contingent upon a knowledge of the truth.

We need to know God…vs.

3. Our knowledge in Him is key to the protection and sanctification of the saints, and it is the basis for unity.

So I want to speak this morning about the Fountain of Truth.

Note, there is a big difference between information and knowledge.

Someone in our congregation pointed that out last week.

I agree with a guy named Josh Billings was once said, “It’s better not to know so much than to know so many things that ain’t so.”

Nor is truth relative: Chuck Swindoll tells the story of two wealthy but wicked brothers: Punch line...”This man was an ungodly sinner, wicked to the core.

He was unfaithful to his wife, hot-tempered with his children, ruthless in his business and a hypocrite at church…but compared to his brother, he was a saint.”

1.

The Fountain’s Source

vs. 14

A. We find the Source of all truth in God

  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Jesus is the “Logos” - the word or the truth...

B. We find the methods God uses to Show us the truth are many.

His Creation - General revelation (touched on it last week).

General revelation is limited, gets our attention, prepares our hearts to receive the special revelation of God.

This includes the heavens and earth, the laws of nature and the mind of man.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

This includes the heavens and earth, the laws of nature and the mind of man.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

His People - God’s people, who have received the truth have the responsibility to share what they know with the world.

God uses the witness of man, including pastors, evangelists and teachers, to proclaim his truth.

This is a wonderful opportunity and a wondrous responsibility for us!

But no man’s knowledge should ultimately be based upon the testimony of man.

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

His Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit teaches us truth.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teachyou: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Special revelation is now complete.

The Holy Spirit limits his direction to the dictates of the Word of God.

C. We find that God has Subordinated all these methods to His Word!

God has even exalted his Word above his own name, which includes the ideas of reputation, praise...It is more important that we understand what God has to say to us, than that we express our hearts to him.

This is why we emphasize the preaching and teaching of the Word of God at our church.

The Word of God has been the inspiration for many great men down through history.

Most importantly, it tells us things that we could not know otherwise.

It is more important that we understand what God has to say to us, than that we express our hearts to him.

This is why we emphasize the preaching and teaching of the Word of God at our church

The Source

  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.

This is the true God, and eternal life.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

2. The Fountain’s Supply

vs. 23

A. It’s Chartless

A. It’s Chartless

Is Free to all

Like the chartless regions of space, the breadth of which are unknown, their depths unfathomable, the supply of knowledge in God is beyond our our comprehension.

Some people think that when we get to heaven, we will know all things, but my friend, I am here to tell you that we will never know all that there is to know in God.

It was a lie of Satan in the garden, and it is a lie today.

We might learn all we want for all of eternity, and standing at that boundless shore we will have grasped but a thimble of the knowledge compared to its boundless supply.

It has all that you need.

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

B. It’s Changeless

It seems like every time we turn around today, that the things we thought we knew are not true anymore.

Give some illustrations from Health (Coconut Oil, eggs, coffee), Science (flat earth, paths of the seas), and History (flood, chariot wheels in the Red Sea, etc.)...

God’s knowledge, is changeless.

We can stake our lives upon it with full assurance that it will never change.

the supply is changeless.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

LAMED.

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

C. It’s Chargeless

Now, I’m just getting to the best part.

True, God’s supply of knowledge is chartless and changeless, but it is also chargeless!

We will never ever have to pay to know God…its all free in Christ.

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

3. The Fountain’s Stipulations

vs. 17

A. Forsaking everything but the truth.

Those who would drink at its waters must reject all other false, so-called primary sources for truth, and they are many.

Wrong ways of determining the truth might include... Friends, Family, Feelings, Fashion, False Mentors, and False Religion… these are all things that we must stop depending upon in order to know the truth.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Friends, Family, Feelings, Fashion, False Mentors, and False Religion are all things we must stop depending upon to know the truth.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Family

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Feelings

  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Fashion