The Great Shaking - John 13 - 18 - Out of the Old, Into the New - Part 3 — Phil Beach Jr.

All right, well praise the Lord let's just bow our hearts in for a moment. And father we thank you and praise you for your Holy Spirit. We thank you for the Multiplied grace. We thank you for the Lord Jesus our wonderful Savior.

We thank you Lord that you're able to Go into the very depths of our heart into the very depths of our being and search us Lord and Uncover all that motivates us all that Energizes us the very intense and thoughts of our heart are Laid naked and bare and open before you.

We thank you Lord. We ask you Lord to continue the process of Putting in our hearts a hunger for you alone. We come before you Lord is needy people this morning. That in you alone is our hope and our help free us Lord and heal us from self-sufficiency and getting strong in ourself and make us to see again Lord that you are the source of our life the source of our strength.

From Self-Sufficiency to Satisfaction in God

Please Lord Change our hearts today. Make us like you make us like you. Lord will become sweet and that which is now sweet will become bitter. Brothers and sisters oftentimes we Suppose that we know what's best for us we desire something and the desire of the thing.

Is this it brings a sweetness to us a sweetness to us and then there's a bitterness in our taste toward the thing that we don't want. And oftentimes the thing that we don't want is what we need and the thing that we think we want that is nice and sweet from a distance is what we don't need and Therefore the saying comes to pass over and over again that which is Now bitter will become sweet one day and that which is sweet will become bitter.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with him. And brothers and simples the simple truth of God's Word is this until until. It is God alone who we are after God alone. Until it's then the thing that we're setting our heart on that has a sweetness to us will turn bitter.

It's going to turn bitter the only time we can truly enjoy the sweetness of The things that God brings in our life is after God himself is the thing the one the person that we're really after. It's the only time and so often we spend our days in our dreams and our hopes and our Expectations on something of far off and it's got a sweetness to us.

Oh if I can only get that thing a job money a relationship a change in your Circumstances. Oh if my circumstances only changed I know that this I know that that I could come to taste that sweetness. That is a far-off now brothers and sisters.

Guess what? The bitterness you feel now and the sweetness that you're dreaming about and hoping for and and and and stretching for. It's going to be reversed. Because that's not what we need. We don't need a change in our circumstances.

We don't need to get hold of the thing that we're after. We need God and the bitterness That we taste is God's way of Turning our hearts to him. So that he becomes the sweet one that we're after. Ask yourself this question.

What is it that you are now? Dreaming about. That puts sweetness in your mouth. Sweetness in your heart. What is that? Hope that expectation? Oh. You listen that Will turn bitter if it's not if it's not more of him.

You will not find What you think? Let's turn our Bibles to John as you're turning your Bibles to the book of John. You may turn to John chapter 14. There's a scripture as you're turning to John chapter 15 14 in the book of Job.

Job 42 and the Discovery of God’s Sovereignty

I'm going to read that scripture now. It's in the last chapter of the book of Job Job 42. Now this is in this is in a time in Job's life When the sweet had turned bitter and the bitter had turned sweet.

Okay. This is a time in Job's life after He came under the discipline and chastening and scourging and child training of the Lord. Ain't to get proper perspective watch what Job said here Job 42. This is this is an introduction into where we've been the last several weeks in the book of John chapter 13 and 14.

Through John chapter 17, but listen to this then Job answered the Lord and said I know. That word means in intimacy. Resulting in true knowledge and intimacy resulting in true knowledge. Job is saying after That which is sweet turned bitter and that which is bitter turned sweet.

Job is saying after he realized that the things that he was grasping for that He thought would bring sweetness turned bitter and the thing that was bitter Turned sweet after that happened after he realized that nothing mattered in his life.

Nothing, not even one thing nothing mattered. But that he would know and love God and find supreme satisfaction and pleasure in God alone in God alone. After that transition took place in Job's life. This is where God brought his soul notice the words here.

Then Job said I know that you can do Everything now, this is a statement that you and I would readily confess Only if it relates to somewhere out there. In other words, I know God you can do anything.

You could change the direction of a nation. You can heal brother so-and-so from cancer if you want to. Oh, I know God can do anything. But this is not what Job was talking about in this confession here.

Because Job already had known that God could do anything but this confession is Talking about a work in Job's life where he is saying this God now I know What Job did is he drew a circle and He stood inside the circle and he said now I know God You can do anything inside this circle to me That you won God, I've always acknowledged your sovereign rights in the universe but because of your grace because of your discipline and Because of your dealing in my life.

I Now by the grace of God carry grace by the grace of God I now acknowledge That you have sovereign rights Over me and that as the clay I Will not arise and say Oh God. What are you doing to me? Do I as the clay have the right to tell the Potter how he's going to fashion me?

This is the heart of Christianity brothers and sisters. This is the heart of the Lord's dealing in our life this is what God has been after from the beginning of people in whom his sovereign rights Were welcomed.

I know Thou can't do everything and that no thought can be withholden to hide or make Unaccessible by a fortress of height. That's what the word hide there mean to withhold. I Know God now that you have sovereign rights over my life and That you are the boss and I am the servant you are the father.

I am the son you are the leader I am the follower. I know now Lord the Consequences of choosing my own way. I know now Lord the danger of deciding apart from you. I Know the terror and the horror and the shame that is brought upon your name when I decide that I am going to act as an arbitrary being as a Sovereign Lord myself and do my own thing without seeking your counsel.

I Know now Lord how foolish it is for the creature to live a life Independent of the Creator and I know that no thought all the plans all the schemes all the designs all of the purposes of the human heart all of them gathered up together none of them Lord can be Withholden can be hid.

From you truly Job came to see the truth in Hebrews chapter 4 Verse number 12 for the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. But all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do brothers and sisters. God must do a work in our life so that these truths are not mere doctrinal Confessions that we profess before brothers and sisters in a public arena or maybe in your homes.

But these truths must become wrought deep within us so that they become Governing factors in our life. They literally govern the way we act the way we walk the way we talk. This is what the Lord is in the process of doing in our lives.

This is the transition between John 13 and John 14 as We mentioned a few weeks ago. But before we go there, let's just finish here. Where is God leading us? Verse 3 who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?

Therefore have I uttered that I understood not things too wonderful to me, which I knew not. Job is saying Oh God, I spoke foolishly. I acted foolishly especially during the heat of the trial. Especially during the heat of the test.

We act foolishly. We speak foolishly. We do foolishly. We plan foolishly because our knee-jerk reaction in the trial is I Want to get out of here. I don't like the bitterness of what I feel. I want the sweetness of relief.

Not realizing that it's not the trial that is the problem. It's what the trial is revealing inside of us. That's the problem verse 4 here. I beseech thee and I will speak. I will demand of thee and declare unto me.

I Have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now my eye Sees you wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. A great transition is taking place in Job's life now by the transforming power of the Spirit of God in the grace of God.

Job is acknowledging there was one time when he heard about God in his ear. He heard about the Lord. He learned doctrine. He knew about the things of God but because of the deep dealings of God in his life because of the Severity of what Job went through and the grace that was given to him while in the midst of it.

Suddenly something began to happen and Job began to change on the inside see Job. Circumstance never changed until Job changed. Your circumstance is not going to change until you change and if you don't change the circumstance might change but you're going to end up in the same situation again and Again and again and again until The change on the inside takes place that the Lord is after now going to John chapter 14.

Peter’s Self-Reliance and the Need for Brokenness

We saw in John chapter 13 Simon Peter verses 36 through 38. Simon Peter a man loved of God loved of Christ chosen of Christ called of Christ and even anointed of Christ. Yet he's making his boastful claims though all men forsake you.

I won't. Here is a man who? Worked closely with Christ. Who learned Christ's words? But was still full of who? Himself. He was full of himself. He had confidence in himself. He was relying on the strength of himself.

And Jesus predicted in verse 38 that Peters boastful claim That though all men forsake him he wouldn't. Would be proven to be untrue that he would in fact deny his Lord three times and That brings us to verse number one in chapter 14 which We see Jesus was making a transition.

He was addressing the very problem that Peter was experiencing. The problem was Peter was preoccupied with himself and Jesus starts talking about the Father's house and the way to the Father's house in chapter 13 verses 36 and 38.

Peter was a man full of himself. He was not full of the Holy Ghost. Because he was a man full of the Holy Ghost. He was filled with his own opinions about things. Please listen carefully. These are the characteristics of those who are full of themselves and they very well could belong to the Lord.

They could be God's children. Peter was one of God's children. He was chosen of the Lord. But he was full of himself. These are the characteristics of being full of yourself. A lifestyle revolving around you your own desires and your own interests.

Secondly We're filled with our own opinions about everything. A person who is full of themself Always wants to tell you what their opinion is. Well my opinion. Well, I think I I I I I me me me me my my my loved of God.

Peter chosen of Christ Peter. A great future in God. Peter, but a man who was full of himself and had to go through a severe trial a severe testing. Not because he was rejected of God, but because he was loved by God.

Loved so much. God couldn't bear the thought of letting Peter live the rest of his life. So full of Peter. You see God didn't call Peter to make Peter known. God didn't call Peter to make to have Peter give his opinions about everything.

God didn't call Peter in order for Peter to make a name for himself. God called Peter in order to bring Peter to an end. In order to shut his proud-for-mouth. In order to transform him. In order to beautify him with the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's why God called Peter. That's why God calls you and me. It's to beautify us with Christ. God calls us to take the fight out of us so that he could put in us the submissive Loving heart of his son.

It's all about Jesus being revealed through his church. Let me tell you something brothers and sisters. God didn't call you so you can do your own thing. God didn't call you so you can Disperse into your world whether it's your family whether it's the body of Christ the believers that you're connected to.

He didn't call you so you can walk around like a peacock with your feathers out going around telling everybody what you think in your opinion and When everyone touches you they touch you. They're not touching the Lord.

We need to be broken that outer self that outer man all that pride and arrogance and all that Self-will it needs to be broken. It needs to be crushed. Remember what Pete Paul said we have this treasure in earthen vessels.

The earthen vessel needs to be broken. Hence why we go through suffering. Hence why God lets us go through hard times. Hence why God lets our plans fail, but all the fight That we put up When God wants to break our outer man.

All the fight all the resentment. All the complaining all the bitterness all the all the things that come out. Who are you revealing? Listen, please carefully ask God to give you an honest heart. Who are you revealing in your family in your relationships?

What are who are people touching when they touch you. A gossiping tongue. A Critical heart. A judgmental spirit not based on truth. An arrogant attitude. Your ways always better, right? You ever meet those kind of people where they were doing it.

They'd do it better. Always always always they got a better plan a better idea. They can do it better now if I was this I Do it better than them. One of the griefs that my boss has Joe the owner of the landscaping company that I'm working for is That he can't find help that want to be told what to do.

He can't find help. Every time he finds someone delegates to them Responsibility. Then oversees what they're doing and offers correction because it you know, it is his company. He's the one that's been doing it for 17 18 years.

He said they cop an attitude. Like who do you think you are trying to tell me how to do this job? Oh, I'm only your boss and the one that's paying you. That's all I am. I guess I probably shouldn't be doing that, huh?

They cop an attitude. He said it's so frustrating. He said and then he's got these workers who don't outwardly cop an attitude, but they do inwardly and For the next two weeks they have an attitude. They're at their whole personality changes.

Oh, they don't outrightly say, you know get off my back. But inwardly they're stewing. Have you copped an attitude? Against the very thing that God is using to. Try and break your outer man and try and break your pride and your self-centered living.

So that you can have a sense of submission and brokenness before God have you copped an attitude. It might be a circumstance. It might be a person that God's put in your life and You resent it. You're planning a way out.

You're planning a way out. Be careful. That way out has the sweetness to it, right? It's gonna turn bitter. It's gonna turn bitter. Joe said Phil if only I can find guys who will work hard and let me tell them how I want it done and Them come and say, okay, Joe, no problem.

And I hear I hear the Lord. I hear the Lord in his word and He's saying this is what I'm looking for. I'm looking for Children, I'm looking for sons and daughters. Who in the heat of the trial? Instead of saying stupid things and Acting foolishly.

Unbrokenness, they'll come to God and say alright God. Have your way. Have your way. I'm the clay. You're the potter. Okay. So being full of ourself. Always wanting to gush out our feelings about a given situation.

Well, I feel what I feel what I feel. There's a place to be transparent. There's a place to be honest. But you can go overboard and when you go overboard it's nothing but a sign that you're full of self and you need to just get a grip and acknowledge That whatever it is that's irritating you is in the hands of God and it's it's been used to expose you for who you are.

It's it's been used to show you your need for more of Jesus and less of self. It's during those times that we need to go to the word and say Jesus said if any man follow me let him deny himself. Not give place to himself.

Let him die on the cross not jump off the cross. That's the time when we need to humble ourself and say Oh God make your word true in my life. I've been found out this person this circumstance has been used in your hand.

And now I see Lord the depths of how I am self-absorbed. Rescue me Lord rescue me Lord when we are full of ourself like Peter was in John 13 verses 36 and 38. We're critical cynical always complaining.

Recognizing the Signs of Self-Focused Religion

Never ever is there a sense of contentment in our life? Never a sense of contentment in our life. These are all Signs of Being full of self. Always wanting to correct but never wanting to commend. Full of self.

Jesus corrects us, but he commends. Well done thou good and faithful service servants. In Revelation chapter Two and three Jesus commends the believers. Regarding things that were worthy of commendation.

Then he corrected and rebuked. Yes, of course. Are you so full of self that you can't commend? You always feel that you can do a better job and are better qualified than the other person. The Bible says to prefer your brother over yourself.

Sure, you you you're always better. What's that mean? Full of self not the Holy Spirit. Can you rejoice with others in their accomplishments? We always want to Critique and correct. Are you a fault finder.

Always finding faults. Always finding faults with everything? Never acknowledging the good that a person does. Do you want to know listen carefully? Listen, do you want to know if you've gotten bitter towards someone?

You've got unforgiveness in your heart every time you hear the person. See the person or hear about what the person has done. You're cynical. Can't see any good always have to indict it. You're blinded comfortable when you hear the person's name.

Almost like what the the disciples said when they found out that Jesus was coming out of Nazareth. What they say. Can anything good come out of Nazareth. You're bitter towards someone. That's what you say.

Can anything good? Come out of that person's life. That bitterness needs to get out or else it'll be a poison. That'll destroy you and others see. That's being full of self. Being full of self means that you're constantly comparing yourself with other people.

Constantly comparing yourself with other people. Now brothers and sisters, please don't be discouraged. Don't be despondent when the Word of God comes forth and you are exposed. This is not unto condemnation.

We're in the new covenant this is unto life as God shows us our need in our poverty and our depravity. Christ stands in our midst saying I am Your righteousness. I am your covering. I am your life. But we can only lay hold of the fullness of God in measure to how we see our own depravity.

We're not going to be desperate for God until we see how desperate we are without God and Oftentimes we get quite smug and quite comfortable in our little religious world and we lose touch with how desperate we really need God and therefore God takes his word and Helps us to see constantly comparing ourself with other people.

Constantly comparing ourself full of self. Immature. There's Peter. What was he doing? Lord though all men forsake you. I won't. He was looking he was checking John out and James. Bet you John's gonna forsake him.

I bet James is gonna forsake him. I Won't though. I'm better than I'm better than Norman. Oh I'm better than Brian. I Brian's got some problems, but I don't come on. I'm better than that brother. I could do it better than Brian.

I could do it better than Norman. What does that mean you're spiritual. That you that the Holy Spirit's working in your life. That you're an example for others to follow no means you're full of self. Religion, yes, but self one thing about self is self is a very religious individual.

Entering the World of John 14–17

You see how the Lord Jesus wants to do a deep work in our life. Say well, what's the answer? What's the answer to all this. John chapter 14. John chapter 15. John chapter 16. John chapter 17. Jesus brings us into a world in those chapters.

It's a world. It's a world out of self. It's a world where things don't revolve around me. Things don't revolve around. I'm not the center of the universe when we go into John 14 through 17. The father becomes the center of the universe.

The son becomes the pearl of great price. The father's house becomes The issue and it's the father's where it's the Holy Spirit. Another comforter will come. Our attention is taken from us and our strength to the power of the Holy Spirit and what he'll do.

The answer is an emancipation from ourself into the world of God's Word the world of God's house. Oh my goodness, where he is all and all. If I were in charge I Could do a much better job. I'm sure Mike gets that from time to time in his business.

Everybody knows better. If I were in charge, I could do a better job rather than brother. Can I walk beside you and help you? How can I serve? How can I help? Where's that today? It's not there why too full of self see cuz self can't Come down self has to go up.

See self has to go up. Self has to exalt itself. Self has to be self has to be the chief hog or forget it. What about walking together? What can I do to help? Well, it's the last time you said that instead of criticize someone.

What does that mean? You're full of self? What does Jesus do? He takes off his outer garment and he wraps it around himself and what does he do? He washes his disciples feet, there's a lot more to that than everybody taking their shoes off.

I mean, I'm not opposed that if people want to do that. I just rather wash my wife's feet though. No one else's. I Think that can get a little weird. You know when you start choosing whose feet you're gonna wash I think I get my little uncomfortable with that although I'm not gonna criticize people who want to wash feet.

It's probably a very humbling experience. I Mean, you know, but you know what Jesus is saying there. What what were the feet the feet were the part that what? Got dirty. Now Jesus said now when Peter said no, you're not going to wash my feet.

Listen carefully. The Spirit of God is speaking brothers and sisters. Let's take the wax out. I saw a program last night on Idaho potatoes. They're incredible. That's where all the french fries from McDonald's comes from and the process of making, Idaho potatoes and growing them.

It's it's unbelievable. It's a real real system. It's a real business, but get the potatoes out of the ears. Listen listen listen. The feet were the part of the body that got dirty. Especially in the Old Testament.

They didn't wear shoes. They were sandals and everything was dirty and filthy and the thing that you did when you came into someone's house is what? Somebody was appointed to be the servant and they would wash your feet that.

They would stand at the door say get out of here. You filthy person. No, what they do. They wash their feet and When Jesus told Peter now Peter I got to wash your feet and Peter said no Lord, you can't wash my feet Peter.

Jesus then said Peter if I don't wash your feet you have no part with me and boy Peter's tune changed didn't it? Oh Lord, basically what he said was Lord, then you wash my whole body. But what did Peter say?

What did Jesus say? No, that's not necessary. Oh What truth no Peter relax? Relax, I don't need to wash your whole body. You're clean you're totally clean except what your feet. So when Jesus washed his disciples feet and then he said I have set an example follow you know what he was saying.

Jesus’ Foot Washing as a Pattern of Humble Service

Come on, listen. When you see dirt on your brother's feet wash him we got a lot of dirt inspectors in the church. They go up and they can see the dirt in your life but instead of taking off their garments of importance and their garments of Self-righteousness and their garments of self and their garments of I'm better than you bless God and putting on the garment of Christ washing the feet and Love and tenderness the body of Christ is being destroyed today.

Because people Aren't washing one another's feet well as the last time you saw dirt on your brother's feet and instead of criticizing them to 25 people and ruining their reputation you prayed and said father I thank you Lord because my feet are ten times dirtier than my brothers and They smell worse than his.

Do you realize that? Do you realize your feet are dirtier than what you see have you seen dirt on my feet while yours are dirtier. When was the last time you prayed with tears of compassion Lord? How can I Not when the last time was you saw it and you went and told someone and you talked against the brother And criticized him.

Oh, you were right. You knew what you were saying. Brothers and sisters, these are the things that one day are going to be revealed. One day are going to be revealed. It's best that we pray. Oh God change me now.

Change me now. Work these things in me now. You see so the feet washing service is a nice thing. But the meaning of it is what Jesus was after and that's what? Grossly and greatly lacks in the body of Christ today.

Why we're too full of self there. There's no self that's going to bow down and wash someone's feet unless they get something out of it for themselves. Well, I'll wash brother so-and-so's feet because he's rich and maybe he'll give me some of his money.

Self will look Christian but self always has an impure motive behind its energy. This is what Peter looked like. What were they arguing about when they were walking with Jesus who was going to be what.

The what that's it. Who's going to be what the greatest they were arguing who's going to be the greatest full of self. When we're full of the Holy Ghost, do we really care? Who's the greatest we see the great one when religion or self dressed in religion Goes about in the Christian life, this is what it does.

It serves expecting to receive honor from people expecting to receive praise and esteem and Recognition from people. This is what Peter was doing. This is what this is what James's mother wanted Jesus.

Could you arrange where my son sit next to you? I? Mean, I mean when the press takes the picture can my son be there so they know he's one of your special ones. You know why there's so many broken relationships in the body of Christ because 99 of the service Among the body of Christ is based on conditions.

I'll serve you. I'll serve you if or but and when they fail to meet the expectation what happens. I Don't have any interest in you anymore. That's not being full of the Holy Ghost brothers and sisters expecting to gain an advantage by serving so these are a little bit of the characteristics and qualities of being Full of self.

The Holy Spirit’s Life of Contentment and Self-Giving

What happens when we when God brings us through the transition and we're not full of self anymore. We're full of the Holy Spirit. Our lives begin to change and the words. Listen, please brothers and sisters the words of John chapters 14 through 17 suddenly.

Become the focus of our attention being full of the Holy Ghost. We're filled with praise and thanksgiving in all circumstances. Philippians chapter 4 in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Number two we live in divine peace and contentment when we're full of the Holy Ghost. We're not grasping. Greed and covetousness is not motivating us. We've learned the secret of contentment. We've learned that in whatsoever state I find myself.

Therein am I content? For the Lord has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Therefore the Lord is my helper. The Lord is my sustainer. I get my satisfaction From the Lord not from plenty or from lack the Lord becomes My all-in-all.

Number three being full of the Holy Ghost. We are not driven After things whether they're material or spiritual or religious. Material or religious we're we're we're after God alone. Matthew chapter 6.

Gentiles seek after things. Jesus said Gentiles seek after things. But the kingdom of God and those in the kingdom of God, what do sons and daughters seek after God. Seek first the kingdom of God and number four.

We live a life poured out for others. Laying our life down for those That have been united to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. You live a life of fullness. Through a life of being emptied fullness comes through being emptied, but when we're full of self, we think fullness comes by grasping and holding but fullness comes by Empty being emptied laying my life down.

For the sake of the brothers for the sake of the Lord's interest and last week we spend our life looking for his appearing. Oh God I need you Lord. Okay, brothers and sisters, there's a more complete profile of what Peter looked like in John chapter 13 verses 36 through 38 as we continue at a later time in John chapter 14 15 and 16 We're going to discover.

Union with Christ, Hatred from the World, and Christian Unity

The world that God is calling us into is a world that revolves around Father His house His word the Holy Spirit His ministry what he will do. The power he gives and to enable us to obey his word to see Jesus then the consequences of being United to Christ the branch and the vine we become one with Christ our life is one with him.

We die to ourself. It's no longer about us. And then the consequences the world will what love us. No, the world will hate us. The world will reject us the world will do us think they're doing a favor by trying to destroy us and Then that brings us to John chapter 17 the ultimate desire of the Lord Jesus Christ for his body.

That we might be one and become the fullness of his dwelling place through which the world can see The beauty of Jesus Christ, so as we close. I Would just want to ask this question, okay. What? Have you seen?

Today by God's Word God's Holy Spirit. What have you seen today about your own heart your own life. Where are you at? Do you find yourself very much alike with Peter? Do you find yourself in the midst of a great trial where everything's being turned upside down wherever you are?

I Encourage you build an altar spiritually right now where you're at and Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and he'll meet you Minister. Let's bow our hearts father in the stillness of this moment.

We pray that you'll give us the capacity to hear What you have spoken to us. Give us meekness and humility to receive it Lord. Give us grace to be changed. Changes Lord Transform us by the power of the New Covenant Heal us Lord.

We pray to spend the next few minutes now in his presence and let him minister to us. Feel free to pray one with another. And beseech God to change our hearts.