John 14:15-21
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
I blow it sometimes. I mess things up and when I do, I need my Advocate … someone to speak on my behalf … someone to counsel me … someone to encourage me … someone to comfort me. That someone is the Holy Spirit.
I could hire a lawyer to speak for me, a psychiatrist to counsel me, find a pastor to encourage me or turn to my wife for comfort. There is nothing wrong with any of these options. In fact, they are gifted by God to perform their important roles.
Jesus promised something better. The Holy Spirit He promised has all the attributes of the Father and the Son. Most important, when you become a believer, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you. You don’t have to seek Him out. He is always there. In good times and in times of trouble the Holy Spirit is present.
Three in One … Father … Son … Holy Spirit … the Divine Trinity.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
IN JESUS NAME
John 14:8-14
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus, the Way to the Father
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
There is no separation between God’s name, His Word and His will. When we add ‘in Jesus name’ to the end of our prayers, should we automatically expect those prayers to answered in the affirmative? I believe that our prayers are answered affirmatively when they line up with God’s word and are submissive to His divine will. Let me give you an example.
I am a robber and I pray for forgiveness something like this:
“Lord, I robbed my neighbor. Forgive me and guard me from the consequences of my actions, in Jesus name, Amen.”
It is in God’s will, when we confess, for Him to forgive our sins but it is contrary to God’s Word to expect that the consequences will be removed. We shall reap what we sow. Adding, in Jesus name to this prayer does not obligate Jesus to do something contrary to God’s Word. Does saying this say that this scripture (John 14:8) is wrong? Absolutely not! This statement by Jesus must not be taken outside the context of the totality of God’s Word. His Word … His will … His name … cannot be separated.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus, the Way to the Father
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
There is no separation between God’s name, His Word and His will. When we add ‘in Jesus name’ to the end of our prayers, should we automatically expect those prayers to answered in the affirmative? I believe that our prayers are answered affirmatively when they line up with God’s word and are submissive to His divine will. Let me give you an example.
I am a robber and I pray for forgiveness something like this:
“Lord, I robbed my neighbor. Forgive me and guard me from the consequences of my actions, in Jesus name, Amen.”
It is in God’s will, when we confess, for Him to forgive our sins but it is contrary to God’s Word to expect that the consequences will be removed. We shall reap what we sow. Adding, in Jesus name to this prayer does not obligate Jesus to do something contrary to God’s Word. Does saying this say that this scripture (John 14:8) is wrong? Absolutely not! This statement by Jesus must not be taken outside the context of the totality of God’s Word. His Word … His will … His name … cannot be separated.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
THE WAY
John 14:1-7
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus, the Way to the Father
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
During my college days, I joined a fraternity. We have a history all pledges are required to learn. We also have secrets only members should know … a handshake … code words that reveal membership to other members.
During the days of the early church, because of persecution, Christians used signs and code words to reveal themselves to believers of like faith. One of the signs was the fish, drawn in the sand. One half of the fish was drawn by the first person. If the other person completed the drawing, they felt comfortable to share their common faith.
They also used the code words, ‘The Way’. The source of these words are right here when Jesus says, “I am the way…”. I can hear conversations where statements like, “I know the way” or “ I follow the way” or “Do you know the way?” are casually inserted to inform those speaking of ones faith in Jesus Christ.
Most of us do not have to speak with code words to share our faith. We can openly declared our Christianity. We can boldly proclaim that we follow Jesus Christ. This freedom allows us many opportunities to share our faith with others.
Purpose in your heart to show someone ‘The Way’ today.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus, the Way to the Father
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
During my college days, I joined a fraternity. We have a history all pledges are required to learn. We also have secrets only members should know … a handshake … code words that reveal membership to other members.
During the days of the early church, because of persecution, Christians used signs and code words to reveal themselves to believers of like faith. One of the signs was the fish, drawn in the sand. One half of the fish was drawn by the first person. If the other person completed the drawing, they felt comfortable to share their common faith.
They also used the code words, ‘The Way’. The source of these words are right here when Jesus says, “I am the way…”. I can hear conversations where statements like, “I know the way” or “ I follow the way” or “Do you know the way?” are casually inserted to inform those speaking of ones faith in Jesus Christ.
Most of us do not have to speak with code words to share our faith. We can openly declared our Christianity. We can boldly proclaim that we follow Jesus Christ. This freedom allows us many opportunities to share our faith with others.
Purpose in your heart to show someone ‘The Way’ today.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
THE ROOSTER CROWS
John 13:31-38
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
I don’t get to hear it too often any more. When I was growing up, we would visit my grandmother. She always had a yard full of chickens. At dawn we would be greeted with the crowing of the rooster. Despite the fact that I don’t hear the rooster crow, like clockwork, I can still count on the dawning of a new day. God is faithful that way.
Jesus knew when He selected Peter and the other disciples, that these were not perfect men. They each had shortcomings … they each would fall short … one would even be the betrayer. As a future reminder for Peter, Jesus foretold his denial and it happened just as predicted.
I wonder what failure Jesus knows about in my life that will occur before tomorrow dawns? Despite Peter’s denial, Jesus loved him. And despite my sin (which Jesus hates), Jesus still loves me. Does this give me a license to sin? God forbid! It should only give me motivation to be more faithful … to do better each day that dawns … better each time the rooster crows.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
I don’t get to hear it too often any more. When I was growing up, we would visit my grandmother. She always had a yard full of chickens. At dawn we would be greeted with the crowing of the rooster. Despite the fact that I don’t hear the rooster crow, like clockwork, I can still count on the dawning of a new day. God is faithful that way.
Jesus knew when He selected Peter and the other disciples, that these were not perfect men. They each had shortcomings … they each would fall short … one would even be the betrayer. As a future reminder for Peter, Jesus foretold his denial and it happened just as predicted.
I wonder what failure Jesus knows about in my life that will occur before tomorrow dawns? Despite Peter’s denial, Jesus loved him. And despite my sin (which Jesus hates), Jesus still loves me. Does this give me a license to sin? God forbid! It should only give me motivation to be more faithful … to do better each day that dawns … better each time the rooster crows.
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