John 1_The Facts

Secular:

Internet…
Checking… connection

Dial tone
Signal (cable / ADSL)

Checking… hardware

Plugs
Router

Check settings…

Passwords
Network settings

Trying to get Connected…

Biblical:

NAU John 1:1 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. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Personal:

Trying to tell a joke…
Starts with… “oh I heard a joke… let me see if I can remember…”
Stumbles and stammers…
finally gets to the punch line and forgets it or messes it up totally….
What you wish… “I wish had heard it first hand…”

Bridge:

Jesus Christ is amazing…
For all that we talk about Christ…
You know nothing if you have not experienced Christ…
Not a warm-fuzzy Christ… but the power… the majesty… the glory… the love…. the grace… the compassion of Christ…
No matter how long I preach… I can only give you a glimpse… I can only testify to the source of my hope…
John starts by introducing to the Source of his hope…
We are going to look at getting connected with Christ…

Body:

1 of 4 The Source

NAU John 1:1 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. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus pre-existed all things…
Pre-existed as part of the Trinity
Pre-existed creation as God…

Jesus did not need to be created…
Jesus… the Word of God… the greatest, complete revelation of God… is God…
Revelation 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Jesus the very Word of God is not a messenger or a prophet… but is the very source of all that has been created…
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being

Creator
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
The original… not a copy
The source of all life…

The universe…
The planet…
The birds
The creatures
Humankind…

Not tapping into a man made source…

But the God of life and light
OT connection is light is from God

Light – goodness
Light – openness
Light – Salvation

Tap into the Creator
Saviour
The original… not a copy

No mere sacrifice…
No sheep / goat
Perfect and blameless
Light of Salvation
Gave life as creator…
Give eternal life as Saviour

Failed connections lead to confusion…

V.5…The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
We know it…

Communication with spouse
Bad internet hardware or settings…
We can not be connected apart from the Word….

We can not connect anyone… they need to be stirred by the Spirit of God…
They need to have a relationship with Christ…
We have access to the creator, the Word, the light…
Just as access to hydro lights our lights… powers our stove or stereo…
We need to get the most out of life as a child of God…
Tap into the Saviour… The Source

The Servant

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

Going offline drives you crazy…
Internet… e-mail
Web… info…
Hydro… think of ramifications…

… in the dark
… in the cold
No power…

Connecting to the source…

Hydro Guy… Cable Guy… Telephone guy
Tromping around your house…
Checking connections and telling you about available services…
But he is not the Hydro Company… He is not the Broadcast centre for the cable company… or the switchbox for your telephone…

He is an employee representing the company…

John came not as the Source…

But as a Servant… a messenger

Witness…. Testify…

Know the source
Difference?

We don’t generate the power…
We don’t generate the signal…

Put we be the conduit…
The pipeline…

1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
Paul recognized there is no greater obligation than to testify to Christ…
John knew his duty was to declare Christ…
Imagine what it was to be called to testify to the light of Christ…
Wait a minute… we are called to that job…
No to “be the Light”… but… to testify about the Light.
John was clear… he pointed toward Christ…
Just like a small child who instinctively raises their hand when they view fireworks… and points towards the beauty that is bursting forth… we need to be like John… pointing to the light…
Helping hollow dark lives… be filled and lit by the light of Christ.
Connected… human beings are in darkness apart from Christ…
We need to be Servants… connected and enjoying the Lord Jesus to our fullest capacity…
And we need to be Servants… connecting others with Christ…
Servants connected and connecting to the Source of Light and Life that is Christ Jesus

The Short-Circuit

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

What stops a world from recognizing light… and truth in its midst?

Have you ever failed to take good advice?
Have you ever leaned on your own understanding?
Have you ever abandoned what is proven for something that is a novelty?
Have you ever been offered two choices… and even though one looked better you choose the other?
Every man has failed to hear the words of wisdom from his wife!
Every child the wisdom of his father!
And every human being is pre-disposed to thinking of the world first…

The source is effective…
Light of Christ… the power of Salvation…
The source is experienced…

creation…
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

What happened…

Fallen creatures… by nature choosing evil…
Not tapped into the Source… apart from God his message is foolishness
Short-circuit… actually and incomplete circuit... no power…
Ego-centrism… self-centred…

When we don’t recognize who Jesus Christ is… when we don’t hear his Servants… hear his word…. we short-circuit the relationship with Christ. And draw power from this world… which is power that is futile to save… and only leads to separation…
We need to live lives free from short-circuits…
Focused on Christ…

Enjoying his benefit…
Enjoying his love…
Enjoying his Power
Testifying as His servant

Our desire is to break down the barriers…
Live lives connected to Christ
Connecting others to Christ

Connected!!

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Ever notice what your neighbourhood looks like during a blackout…
If you live in town… with street lights… and porch lights… and to have them all go out…
Kind of eerie…
If it is a 7:00 at night and you are huddled around a candle… it is kind of an odd euphoria when the lights leap to life and the sounds of a typical home come into play…
You remember what is was like to be connected to Christ…
The first breath you took when you realized you were a child of God…
Welcome to the family…
Totally connected
There is about 120v and 15 amps in a typical household fixture…

Ever get a zap…
More thrilling than sticking a fork… in a wall socket… connecting to the very God of Creation…
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name

This connection originates in the will of God… his desire to be the source of light and life… in you!
How glorious!
God loves us…

The God of creation… the God before all time loves us
The God of the Incarnation… Immanuel… God with us… dwelling with us… living as us… loving us…
The God of truth… giving us his message… imparting his Word… that we would know the love and glory and truth of God.
The God of Salvation… Jesus Christ… born as a Child… slaughtered as a Lamb… raised as a Saviour and reigning as our King…

We need to experience the connection…

We need to experience the Glorious Christ of Creation…

His majesty in Created things…
His power demonstrated in Creation…
As the SOURCE

We need to be his messenger… declaring Christ as John did…

Not our way… but his truth
We are the Servant… declaring the Source

We need to watch for short-circuits…

Do not tap into the World… but into Christ
Not into ourselves… but into God and his word
Not our understanding but God’s

We need to be connected…

We need to relish our relationship with Christ… (just like the movie where people roll around in money)
We need to understand the truth and grace of God
Experience and live the power of the Holy Spirit
Why struggle more than we must…
Why live a quiet testimony when in Christ we have the power to declare his name…
Why hurt… why be lonely… why wonder… why lean on our own understanding… when God promises so much more!!

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!