Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other languages. We are honored the be here with you today, and thanks for joining us. We will continue our study from the book of John in just a bit; before we do that, I’d like to share a few things with you.
You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging; He keeps His promises. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share His teaching with as many people as possible. Our ministry focuses on radio teaching and Bible distribution, and we love hearing testimonies of lives that have been touched by the Gospel.
For example, Isaac from Ghana writes, “I don’t know how to thank you for your inspirational messages, you have really helped me spiritually, and I will continue to listen for spiritual growth.” If you are touched by this program, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the end of the program.
During today’s teaching, we will be finishing John 16, and we will look closely at three statements Jesus made. These statements a very clear and understandable. Now, let’s hear from Bible Teacher J Mark as he tells us about Plain Speech.
For the disciples, Jesus’ words were often above their understanding. They puzzled over them. There are people today who still puzzle over the words of Jesus. They are unsure as to what they mean.
Well, we all want PLAIN SPEECH. We say, make it simple; take it out of the complex and make it simple. That’s what I try to do when I come to you each week; I try to make it simple. It is more important to be understood by people than to baffle them.
We learn from the Gospel records that the common people in Jesus’ day heard Him gladly, and it is amazing how simple many of His teachings were. Let’s see once what happens in John 16:28-33, where we have the disciples saying, “He now speaks plainly.”
28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Fat her is with me.
33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In this talk, Jesus made several STATEMENTS which the disciples could understand. Let’s talk about this plain speech.
His first statement: “I Leave the World.”
I have often been impressed how Jesus lived with a se...
