John 14 "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED" There are a lot of uncertainties in life, and when those things become the focus of our attention, we are troubles. "What is going to happen next?" "Why has God allowed these things to continue?" "How much worse can it get?" Questions like this affect us if what we are occupied with those things going on around us. Most people are concerned with events and issues that make the news. Outside the upper room where Jesus was with His disciples, the hosts of hell were gathering. The religious leaders had their plans made to kill Jesus. Judas had betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. Satan was orchestrating the whole thing even to getting the power of Rome involved. But in that upper room came words of comfort. "Let not your heart be troubled." Each one of those men there had the right to claim those words for himself. Jesus had told them previously of the assurance and encouragement of the Father's hand at the beginning of their life of faith. He had told them of the Father's honor as a challenge to faithful service at the present time in the walk of faith. Now He tells them of the Father's house to comfort them as they look ahead to the end of the journey of faith.
Eternal life experienced now contains promises that we can claim because of the One who made them. Heaven is a real place where there is room for all. It is not some disorganized, imaginary dream of one's mind, but is a "prepared place for prepared people." The Lord Jesus Christ told those disciples He was going to prepare that place. Perhaps He was making reference to the redemptive work He would accomplish at Calvary as well at the abode in the Father's house all God's people will share. Our eternal life found its origin when He gave His life that we might have eternal life through Him. Today we live in the good and enjoyment of that kind of life He gave us.
The promise of Christ's return for His own has comforted and challenged God's people since He first spoke those words of promise - "I will come again." Those words have been a comfort to the suffering and sorrowing ones down through the years since He spoke them. They are also a challenge to holy and righteous living because we do not know when He will come. The fact that there is no reference to a specific time or evidence of events that will bring this to pass, purifies us in view of the imminence of it happening. Trye believers do not want to be ashamed before Him when He comes. And yet in spite of ourselves and this knowledge, we sometimes are involved in things that would be an embarrassment to us. We can avoid being troubled in our hearts if we conduct our lives conscious of the fact that it may be today when He fulfills that promise.
Thomas' question introduced the sixth great statement of the deity of Christ and what it means to us today. Jesus is the only way to God. Through trusting Him alone for salvation we are placed on the path to the
Father's house. People often argue and are offended when Bible-believing Christians insist that Jesus is the only Way. Their complaint is that it is too narrow and excludes too many people. Actually, the truth of the matter is just the opposite. There is room enough on The Way for the whole world to be accepted to heaven if they are willing to come God's way, not a way of their own choosing. Jesus as "The Way" is a sure way, not one of men's speculation.
As "The Truth," the Lord Jesus gives promises that can be relied on without question. He is the reality of all God has promised. There is no need to wonder or argue over what He said. The promises of God are "Yea and Amen." Nothing has to be added to what He has assured us of in His Word. Scriptures concerning Him that were written hundreds of years before He came, were fulfilled when Christ was here in the world. As "The Life," He is God's provision for us. He has united Himself to us by giving us His eternal life so that we are joined to Him in sharing this life by grace alone. We do not do anything to merit or earn in any way this life. It is given to us as the gift of God.
Philip wanted to see the Father. For some reason he was not able to grasp the unity of the Father and the Son by trusting what the Lord Jesus said. He wanted to see something apart from believing on Christ in simple faith. Jesus is the visible revelation of God. To see Him is to see the Father and the Spirit. "In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Faith can see Him without a visible image. We experience fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. We know the Spirit is within us because He bears witness with our spirit that He is with us, teaching us of Christ and reminding us of the things the scriptures say that work in our lives daily. The Holy Spirit convicts us, guides us, shows us, fills us and empowers us to do the will of God when we are obedient to Him. To have the Holy Spirit is to have Jesus. The Spirit of Christ is unseen but real.
So when we pray in the name, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not just making an appendage to the end of some poetic words or rote we have learned. In fellowship with Him we approach the Father in confidence. Our love for Christ and desire to please Him and serve Him acceptably, makes our prayerful requests consistent with the will of God. That is part of the work of the Holy Spirit when He is not quenched or grieved. The Comforter (Counselor) who is our Teacher is the Spirit of Truth. Nothing He guides us in or to do, is ever out of the mind of God. He is God in us. He brings the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to our minds at the appropriate times. He assures us of the love of God when we are in need of comfort. The Lord Jesus loves His own unto the end. The Father and Son make their abode with us and we are conscious of the presence of divine Persons when we walk in the light. The Lord Jesus Christ left His peace with His own so we can find our joy and peace where He finds it. We do not find it in the world where there is no peace.
Looking ahead into the future those in God's kingdom have no reason to be troubled. By faith in Christ we have prepared for, and entered into, that kingdom. That is why we live our lives for Him when we live by faith. We are waiting for Him and know His promise to come again is true. Our faith in Him is not in vain because we believe in the Person the words of scripture tell us about. For that same reason our love for Him is real and we want to obey Him. What His word says we know is true and based on that word of truth, we trust Him completely. Satan has no power over Him and when we are obedient to Him, Satan has no power over us. Therefore, our hearts have no reason to be troubled. He was here in the flesh; He did accomplish redemption; He has gone to prepare a place for us and He has promised to come back again for us - of this we can be sure.
PROMISES (7 “I will’s”) v.3 The “I will” of hope A promise was made to us by the One who is the Truth The character of the Lord Jesus gives that promise its true worth. Our hope is not a wish for the future but it is an actual fact He who made the promise is definitely coming back.
v.14 The “I will” of answered prayer There is unlimited power in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord He will answer when we pray because He has given us His word. The answer may not always be exactly what I might want But the promise is made by Him and in prayer I will not doubt.
v.16 The “I will” of intercession Often, I don’t know a thing and fear what is ahead My Lord promises intercession and there is no need to dread. The Person of the Holy Spirit He has sent to dwell within
Both of them make intercession with a view that I don’t sin.
v.18 “The “I will” of comfort The Comforter has come we are not orphans but family And God has made provision through a Person I cannot see. The very fact the Lord has promised is comforting to me And gives assurance of His presence, from fear I am set free.
v.18 The “I will” of fellowship So now the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son All have come to abide with me and family fellowship has begun. His promise of such fellowship is one of His “I will’s,” That lets me enjoy God’s peace in spite of pressures that face me still.
v.21 The “I will” of love The commandments of God aren’t grievous they are able to be kept. When I do what God has asked of me, I am not of joy bereft. The love of the Father and the Son is promised to be known My love to Him is manifest when I make His Truth my own, v.30 The “I will” of success He did not promise to speak to us in words outside the Bible The word He gave us to fulfill each one by God is able. To practice in this world of men though an enemy opposes For He has given His own power to all of those He chooses.
“I am reminder today O God, that the promises of God are “Yea and Amen.” I have no doubt that all the Lord promised He does or will do. There are some today in great need of the comfort of the Holy Spirit and assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ is near them in their great loss. Remember them, O God, and give them some peace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”