Sermons | City Church Wolverhampton City Church Wolverhampton

Jehovah-Qadesh:
In Exodus 19, having redeemed Israel out of Egypt, provided for and protected them in the wilderness, the Lord now tells Israel they are his treasured possession among the peoples - a holy nation. He is Jehovah Qadesh - the Lord who sanctifies - Israel, and us. He sets us apart for relationship with himself and for priestly ministry towards the world.

Jehovah-Nissi:
In Exodus 17 Israel was being hounded by an enemy, and the odds didn't look good. At God's instruction Moses stood on a hill with the 'staff of God' - the symbol of God's power and presence - held high. There was a great victory. Moses declared 'Jehovah-Nissi' - the Lord is my banner. The Lord fought for Israel - and us. Jehovah-Nissi is the banner of victory. The banner under which we stand.

In John 18-19v16, Jesus is condemned to death in a sham trial concocted by the religious and political authorities who collude against him. Knowing all that was to come, Jesus confidently and willingly walks into the situation for the glory of the Father and for the sake of all those the Father had given him out of the world. Join us this Sunday as we look at what it means to follow Jesus as he is sent into the world that it might believe that Jesus came from the Father.

We often call the outline for prayer Jesus gives his disciples in Matthew 6 ‘the Lord’s Prayer’, but it would be more accurate to call John 17 ‘the Lord’s Prayer’. Here Jesus intercedes for his disciples on the eve of his death. It’s a wonderfully intimate moment where we get the opportunity to listen in as Jesus talks to his Father about the glorious master plan and our part in it - both present and future.

In John 16, Jesus concludes his teaching to the disciples on the eve of the cross. They are confused and fearful, but Jesus encourages them that the Holy Spirit will be at work in the World, that their joy will far outpace their sorrow because they will see him again, and that ultimately they will have everything they need because they will be able to ask the Father directly in Jesus’ name.

On the night before Jesus died, he teaches his disciple what they will need to know as He leaves them and sends His Spirit for the next part of God's plan for the world to hear about Jesus. We’ve looked at how we as his followers are to forgive as we have been forgiven, how the Spirit of Jesus will work in his disciples. Now in chapter 15, using the picture of a vine, we will see how we need to live in relation with Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit will enable us to be countercultural now in the world and how he will himself work in the world.