Sharing Bread John 14:30-31

SHARING BREAD

30 “I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”




“Come now; let us leave.”

John 14:30-31 (NIV)

Ever looking for the opportune time, the devil now resurfaces. Satan was drawing nigh for his fiercest and final assault on our Lord Jesus. Give the devil his due, he continues to rare his ugly head until the very end even though fully aware of Who he was dealing with. Certainly he must be an optimist of the greatest degree to think he could overcome very God of very God. Perhaps he is simply the greatest fool or the cruelest deceiver overflowing with hate. One should never think they are permanently rid of Satan’s wicked schemes and evil ways – he does not give up the fight. The followers of sweet Jesus are certainly not above their Master and are to be on the alert for Satan’s cunning tactics as well. He always shoots his arrows at our weakest points.

“We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition; the more zealous we are, the more sure are we to be assailed by the myrmidons of hell. The church may become slothful, but not so her great antagonist; his restless spirit never suffers the war to pause; he hates the woman’s seed, and would fain devour the church if he could.” C. H. Spurgeon

Peter gives us the following warning in Scripture:

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)



“Satan doesn’t surrender his prey without a fight. He comes racing after the converted soul, chariot wheels churning the dust, seeking to discourage you, to defeat you. He pursues you with the intensity of Pharaoh. He may use your old friends, a spot of persecution, or discouraging responses by your family. He may show you a hypocrite in the church or afflict you with a general slacking of zeal. He may launch a missile of temptation right at your heart or fire a volley of trials and troubles into your life.” Robert J. Morgan

Christians are able to stand firm against Satan only to the extent that we rely wholly upon the Lord – the serpent has no hold on perfect Jesus. We possess no power in and of ourselves to withstand his wily attacks. This is why we are told to daily dress in the full armor of God:



10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:10-17 (NIV)



Even the Archangel Michael, though impressively powerful and authoritative, dared not to make a slanderous accusation against the devil rather relied on the Lord to rebuke him. Scripture states:



8 In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 1:8-9 (NIV)



“We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus’. Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! Let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.” C. H. Spurgeon



It is interesting to note that our Lord did not say that Judas or the Romans or the Pharisees were coming, only the devil. He is at the bottom of all evil and those he uses are mere pawns in his wicked hands. Woe to those who do his bidding. Of the extent to which the serpent has influence over the world we most assuredly have little comprehension. Jesus was aware that this attack, being Satan’s last on Him incarnate, would be especially violent and bitter. Considering both Gethsemane and Calvary we must certainly agree. Yet there would be no hold on our Lord – no sin was found in the perfect paschal Lamb of God who died to take away the sin of the world. Ever obedient to His Father’s commands, He sets forth the perfect example for every future disciple that follows. It is He who leads us in a triumphal procession – arise and tell others!



14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Cor 2:14 (NIV)



What I glean from this:



• Satan does not give up the fight – he continues to pursue my converted soul in an effort to both defeat and destroy me.


• I must totally depend upon the strength of the Lord Jesus to protect me from the evil one – clad in the full armor of God.


• There is always victory with Jesus.

Sharing Bread John 14:29

SHARING BREAD

29 “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.”


John 14:29 (NIV)

Jesus both graciously and lovingly foretold His disciples of His impending death which was - of course - according to Divine plan and purpose. Our Lord rightly knew this knowledge would afterwards redound to the confirmation of the faith of His guys. How like fulfilled prophecy to strengthen one’s faith! I am reminded of God’s words penned by the prophet Isaiah regarding God’s perfect Omniscience:

8 “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV)

The word that red flags me from Isaiah’s pen is “Remember”. It is as if God shouts with a megaphone to us to dwell on what we have been so sweetly given in Scripture – keep it in our hearts - both what He has done and what He is going to do. We are to meditate on His character and all His promises as it will strengthen us in our faith walk. If what is written has not yet come to pass, you can take it to the bank that it most certainly will.

“God wants us to reconnect with the powerful and timeless things He has done in the past, enabling us to build on them rather than always starting over. He not only desires that we be encouraged by remembering His past faithfulness, but also to realize that the promises and anointings released during those seasons are still available today.” Dutch Sheets

We are to memorize God’s Truths – dwelling upon them - this will serve as an enormous blessing to both ourselves and to our spheres of influence. Hiding God’s Word in our hearts proves to be a great source of both strength and encouragement for the modern day follower of our Lord as well. I believe that is why the “Shema” found in Deuteronomy was such an important text for the Jews – it was a warning to remember because God knows it is so easy for flesh to forget:

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deut 6:4-12 (NIV)




Peter also gives us a head’s up regarding prophecy found in God’s word. He tells us we are to pay close attention to its truth, to apply ourselves to it and to devote ourselves to the surety of it. The revelation of the prophets would be for believers as a light shining in a dark world – illuminating and inspiriting – enlightening us of God’s ways. All prophetic writings are a revelation from God. Indeed, all of Scripture is “God-breathed”:



19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (NIV)




In his gospel, John records Jesus stating almost the exact same Word as our verse for today two other times in an effort to encourage His guys – both then and now. Our Lord’s desire was to show that God indeed has a plan and He is in absolute control. By recognizing Jesus’ foreknowledge of future events, the disciple’s – both then and now - confidence in Him would grow:



19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” John 13:19 (NIV)




4 “I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.” John 16:4 (NIV)



“All lines of messianic prophecy meet in Jesus.” Fred John Meldau

31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Mark 13:31 (NIV)



“His love is unfailing, His Word unchangeable, His power ever the same; therefore the heart that trusts Him is kept in ‘perfect peace’…I know He tries me only to increase my faith, and that it is all in love. Well, if He is glorified, I am content.” Hudson Taylor

What I glean from this:



• Jesus foretold His impending death to His disciples so that afterwards their faith may be strengthened by remembering His Words. Our faith is strengthened as well when we remember.


• God desires for me to be encouraged by His past faithfulness and not to forget His showers of grace upon my life.


• God’s Word is eternal and never changing. I can trust it.

Sharing Bread John 14:28

SHARING BREAD

28 “You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”


John 14:28 (NIV)

Good-bys are never easy are they? Someone you have loved and cherished - poured into and prayed for – must leave and it rips at the heart. Love is costly. Here we see the disciples saddened over Jesus’ words - muddled in their lack of complete understanding. They certainly got the part about Jesus leaving and they simply could not get past that dismay to achieve clarity. Their thoughts were focused on the announcement of His imminent departure and it loomed over their heads like a dark cloud. Seemingly clueless of their Lord’s reason for leaving, they remained in distress, saddened by His Words. They had not fully understood His person, or His nature or His work. Had they comprehended, they would have rejoiced over His departure since it demonstrated the thorough completion of the work He had been sent to accomplish. They loved Him much but understood Him or His agenda little. How like many still.

Jesus the God man – both fully God and fully man – seems almost oxymoronic does it not? Yet our Lord fulfills both roles perfectly. The God became the man – leaving His cloak of glory by His Father’s side - becoming flesh – and dwelling among His creation – living His life as an example for all mankind to follow – giving His life for all mankind’s salvation. In His incarnation and humiliation, Jesus willingly became temporarily inferior to the Father taking on the form of a servant. Hence He could say, “the Father is greater than I”. Laying aside His glory for thirty-three years, dwelling in a body inferior to the Father, Jesus was standing at the ready to resume that which He had rightly had before the world was. He was about to depart once more to be Almighty with the Almighty. Paul gives us the following tribute to Jesus’ incarnation, impressing upon our Lord’s followers to have this same attitude:

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:5-11 (NIV)




“The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him and imitate Him.” John Milton

In the first four verses of the Gospel of John, we are also given a clear preamble of the Deity of Christ written from the pen of “the one whom Jesus loved”:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 (NIV)

Robert J. Morgan writes the following regarding these verses:

• Christ is eternal: In the beginning.


• Christ is God’s communiqué to the world: was the Word.


• Christ is equal with God: The Word was with God.


• Christ IS God: And the Word was God.

• Christ is the Creator of the Cosmos: All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.


• Christ is the Source of life: Life was in Him.

• Christ is the Source of hope: And that life was the light of men.


Paul also gives us the following description of our Lord in Colossians:

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. Col 2:9 (NIV)


Indeed, Jesus Himself states His Oneness with the Father earlier in John:

30 “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30 (NIV)

Jesus had tabernacled in inferiority for the thirty-three years of His incarnation being in the form of a humble servant. In leaving the world He would take up again the equal position of glory and honor with the Father.

“No one has ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.” H. A. Ironside



What I glean from this:

• I must remember that when I am saddened my emotions may muddle my thinking – I am exhorted in Scripture to keep my eyes on Jesus: 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2 (NIV)


• In His incarnation, Jesus left His glory in heaven and humbled Himself by taking on the very nature of a servant in being made in human likeness.


• Jesus and the Father are One.

Sharing Bread John 14:27

SHARING BREAD

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”


John 14:27 (NIV)

True peace is not derived from circumstances, people or things; true peace is derived from Jesus. Christ’s peace is peculiarly His to give as He purchased it with His precious blood, He being the substitution for a perishing world. Jesus was commissioned to bring peace to mankind.

“Grace remits sin and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever. Only Christians possess this victorious knowledge given from above. These two terms, grace and peace, constitute Christianity. Grace involves the remission of sins, peace and a happy conscience. Sin is not canceled by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the law…the fact is the more a person seeks credit for himself by his own efforts, the deeper he goes into debt. Nothing can take away sin except the grace of God. In actual living, however it is not so easy to persuade oneself that by grace alone, in opposition to every other means, we obtain the forgiveness of our sins and peace with God.” Martin Luther

The peace Jesus offers is precious and dearly costly compared to the worlds paste gem variety. The world gives temporary satisfactions and excitement that gratify the passions and affections and pride of the natural man for a season yet always leaves a longing for more. The world is unable to offer what Christ’s peace affords for it does not possess it to give – there is no rest of conscience with the world. Indeed, what Jesus bequeathed, the world cannot offer at all - peace of heart, peace of conscience and a peace from a sense of pardoned sin. The peace our Lord bestows is an inward calm and rest for the soul even amidst the greatest trials and tribulations – when circumstances become stern and severe. Those who possess this inner peace of Jesus wear strength and hopefulness like a robe – clad in garments of praise in lieu of shrouded in spirits of despair and death.

“To added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.” Annie Johnson Flint



“Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.” Matthew Henry

Furthermore, our Lord is neither unwilling nor sparing in His distribution of His precious peace to those who believe – amazingly, being far more willing to give than the world is to receive.

“Peace is Christ’s peculiar gift: not money, not worldly ease, not temporal prosperity. These are at best very questionable possessions. They often do more harm than good to the soul. They act as clogs and weights to our spiritual life. Inward peace of conscience, arising from a sense of pardoned sin and reconciliation with God, is a far greater blessing. This peace is the property of all believers, whether high or low, rich or poor.” John Charles Ryle

I am reminded of the prophet Isaiah’s words regarding the believer’s fixed focus for continued perfect peace – it always begins and ends with Jesus. This ever availability of inner tranquility encourages believers to continue to trust in the Lord. It is a quiet knowing that God can most certainly be trusted.

3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)



There will never be lacking anything on Christ’s part for the believer’s comfort - if we only come to Him we will receive. He provides every medicine for a troubled heart and provides it in abundance - always doing more than we can ask or imagine. Scripture tells us:



20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)



10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalms 81:10 (NIV)




This peace from Jesus is not mere formality; it is a real and true blessing – enriching the soul eternally. This is sufficient reason for our hearts not to be burdened down with the troubles of this world. Jesus tells us tribulations are a given – whether a believer or not. We live in a fallen world where sickness and death, hunger and poverty, deceit and betrayal press down upon us as heavy weights. Yet Jesus tells us to take heart – be courageous - for He has overcome this world:



33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)



The Christian’s peace affords calm in the midst of a storm. We are to be as a tender child in the comforting arms of his father who is never taken by surprise and remains with us even in lion’s dens and the fiery furnaces of life. He enables us to soar above our circumstances as we take captive our thoughts in obedience to sweet Jesus.



What I glean from this:



• True peace is not derived from my circumstances – true peace is derived from Jesus.


• The peace Jesus offers me is precious and perfect and permanent.


• My peace remains steadfast as my focus is fixed on Jesus.

Sharing Bread John 14:25-26

SHARING BREAD

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”


John 14:25-26 (NIV)


“The Father in heaven loves to fill His children with His Holy Spirit.” Andrew Murray


Sent from the Father, in the Name of Jesus, every true believer in Christ receives the Gift of the promised Advocate – the Comforter - the precious Holy Spirit. It is He who is promised to teach us all things and to remind us of all things prior taught. The Truths Jesus had spoken, He would not retract – His Word would most certainly abide and it would be the Holy Spirit’s office to remind us of these precious Truths. What a blessed assurance for the followers of our Lord! I cannot speak for your memory but I can assure you mine rejoices with this promise! Seriously, who among us does not often have weak memories when our spirits have become troubled or disheartened? Perhaps we may even find ourselves fumbling and stumbling and losing our way. The Person – not influence – of the Holy Trinity is promised to abide within every believer of sweet Jesus, teaching and enlightening all true lovers of the Lord in every age for all time – shedding light on the Truth and bringing back to our remembrance what has been prior taught. To all the saints the Spirit of grace is given to be a reminder as well as the achieving power. It is His special office to open the eyes of our understanding – teaching, leading and empowering us into all Truth:

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 16:13-14 (NIV)



“It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.” Jeremy Taylor

Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians:



7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2:7-11 (NIV)





What a needful promise this is! How many times do we, like the original disciples, stand scratching our heads in our lack of understanding or find ourselves discouraged or shaking with fear for our lack of power? We need only listen and heed the Spirit’s leading. Sometimes hearing His still small voice over the world’s megaphone is not easy. This is why Scripture exhorts us to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.



“O Lord, I plead thy precious promises; and thou canst not deny thy word. Thou hast laid thyself under obligation to help a feeble, praying soul. Then let thy Holy Spirit abide with me, to quicken my soul when fainting, and to rule my heart in all things, that no sin may have dominion over me.” K. H. Von Bogatzky

John states earlier in his gospel the ministry of the Holy Spirit was needed to bring clarity to the disciple’s thoughts - both then and now:



16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. John 12:16 (NIV)



“There is to be communication of the Holy Spirit with the individual Christian in the present life, and in a sense the Holy Spirit’s communication carries with it the entire Trinity. In a sense the Spirit is the Trinity’s agent in communicating with us humans. If I am going to walk in this present life according to my high calling as a Christian, I need a strength higher than my own strength. I need the power of Christ. How is this power of Christ to be mine? It’s not enough just to imagine that I have this power. It’s not even enough to take the second step and reckon myself dead to sin and alive to Christ. There must also be a communication of the power of Christ to me through the agency of the Holy Spirit who indwells me.” Francis Schaeffer




13 “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 (NIV)




“If a man is drawing on his own resources, he will soon run dry. It matters not what his powers may be, or how extensive his reading, or how vast his stores of information; if the Holy Spirit be not the spring and power of his ministry, it must, sooner or later, lose its freshness and its effectiveness. How important then, that all who minister (and live) in the gospel…should lean continually and exclusively on the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows what souls need, and He can supply it. But he must be trusted and used. It will not do to lean partly on self and partly on the Spirit.” C H Macintosh, Notes on the Book of Numbers, 1861



What I glean from this:



• The Holy Spirit is my Comforter, Counselor and Strength.


• I must rely on the Spirit’s power – listening and heeding His leading.


• The Holy Spirit is the good and perfect Gift sent from the Father.

Sharing Bread John 14:24

SHARING BREAD

24 “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”


John 14:24 (NIV)


Jesus was pristinely clear – His Words were not His own rather He spoke the Words of His Father. Jesus was God’s Word to humanity speaking decisively through Him.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

The issue Jesus came declaring was to obey the commands of His Father – to obey the Father is to come to eternal life. We are to observe the condition as well as to depend upon the promise of our Lord.

“Belief is a truth held in the mind. Faith is a fire in the heart.” Joseph Fort Newton


To reject the Word of God through Jesus would be to abide in death. Indeed, Jesus was the Prophet Moses had prophesized about in Deuteronomy when God spoke through him:

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. Deut 18:18-19 (NIV)




Jesus’ doctrine was by divine revelation - He was neither educated in the schools of the prophets nor taught at the feet of rabbis. He had no need to receive human “wisdom” from man. The Words He spoke were directly from the Father full of grace and truth. We find Jesus stating the following again in John:



16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." John 7:16-18 (NIV)



49 “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:49-50 (NIV)



10 “Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” John 14:10 (NIV)



As lovers of our Lord Jesus we will obey the teaching He came to proclaim. Where there is no obedience there is no love. Nothing can be plainer than our Lord’s repeated warnings in regards to our obedience to His commands. Without this practical obedience all the profession, talk, knowledge, dutiful church going, feelings, and rampant emotions are worth nothing. Talk is cheap and emotions may sway the soul but never cause one to stand. It is our obedience to His commands alone which is proof of our devotion and love for Jesus. Obedience is an act of the will and can function regardless of how we may feel. We are to live by God’s standards and not the worlds. It is a blessed and high calling. Child of the King, be holy.

“A baptism of holiness, a demonstration of godly living is the crying need of our day.” Duncan Campbell

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.” D.L. Moody

What I glean from this:

• Jesus came speaking the Words of His Father.


• If I love Jesus I will obey Him – my obedience is a test of my love.


• I am called to be holy.

Sharing Bread John 14:22-23

SHARING BREAD

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"


23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”


John 14:22-23 (NIV)

In our verses for today we see John carefully distinguishing between the Judas’ – two of Christ’s disciples bearing the same name. One was the traitor and the other the brother of James – a very bad man and a very good man – the apostate and the apostle. It is important when reading Scripture not to confuse the precious with the vile. Interestingly, the apostle Judas appears here humble, amazed and a bit confounded over the design of divine grace. Why on earth, he mused, did the disciples alone deserve such great favor?

Next our Lord clarifies His Word for His guys – the promise of the glorious manifestation of Jesus and His Father would not be just for them alone but rather for “anyone” who would love Him and in turn demonstrate that love by obedience to His teaching. John 3:16 clearly comes to mind:

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” John 3:16-18 (NIV)


God does not delight in the condemnation of anyone. His desire would be for none to perish. Ezekiel tells us:

23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? Ezek 18:23 (NIV)



Paul adding in 1Timothy:



1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-4 (NIV)





It is God’s desire for all men to come to knowledge of the Truth through a loving relationship with the Lord Jesus who is Truth. Yet sadly, many staunchly choose to refuse His Hand. Turning from the free and glorious offer of salvation so lovingly held out to them. Going our own way, stomping our feet, stopping up our ears and blindly treading down the path of damnation we turn our backs on the offer of love to save our souls. The world, the weakness of the flesh and Satan all prove powerful foes against humanities embracing of the Truth. We are constantly bombarded and indoctrinated by untruths which we must learn to filter through the sieve of God’s Word. No matter how enticing or palatable something may sound, if it brings God no glory then He is not in it. Remember the One who gives the power gets the glory and we are the most satisfied when He is the most glorified in and through our lives. Discernment is the key to rightly dividing worldly wisdom from Godly wisdom. It is our responsibility to know what we believe and why we believe it. It is no wonder Paul writes the following:



13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Cor 11:13-15 (NIV)




Remember whitewashed tombs may appear righteous but inside they are filled with death and decay. Certainly this must have been why Peter gives us the following warning:



8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this, and could not contradict him, but they sneered at him. Let us consider this as their sin, and the fruit of their covetousness, which was their primary sin. Many who make a great profession of religion and abound in the exercise of devotion, are yet ruined by the love of the world. These covetous Pharisees could not bear to have that touched, which was their Delilah, their darling lust; for this they derided him, they turned up their noses at him, or blew their noses on him. It is an expression of the utmost scorn and disdain imaginable. They laughed at him for going so contrary to the opinion and way of the world. It is common for those to make a joke of the word of God who are resolved that they will not be ruled by it.” Matthew Henry


Lastly, we must look at the ones whom Christ accepts as lovers of Him – those who both have and obey His commands. We must not only have His commands in our heads (the Pharisees), they must also be rooted in our hearts and lives (the Disciples). The surest evidence of our love for the Lord is to be found in our obedience to the laws of Christ. In return for our obedience we have the blessed assurance of both the Father’s love and the Son’s love to be poured out upon us as well as the promise that our hearts will be their home. Surely, the more we have of Him, the more we want of Him. Paul writes to the Philippians:



10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:10-14 (NIV)





What I glean from this:



• Jesus offers salvation to all.


• God does not delight in any perishing.


• God wants me to know the truth of His Word. His wisdom enables me to discern against worldly wisdom.

Sharing Bread John 14:21

SHARING BREAD

21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”


John 14:21 (NIV)

Our Lord again reminds us that the manifestation of our love for Him will be in our obedience to His commands. Keeping Christ’s commandments is and always has been the best test of our love for Jesus. This lesson is vastly important for our own good and therefore one that we need to be continually reminded of. It is a steady obedience – walking in Christ’s ways – that is the proof of our being true believers.

“Holiness is not a feeling – it is the end product of obedience. Purity is not a gift – it is the result of repentance and serious pursuit of God.” Frances J. Roberts

Obedience is the evidence of grace in a life. This is not what saves us – our best works being full of imperfections - rather, Scripture states, it manifests our salvation. If we profess to love Christ we must show it with our lives. We are to follow our Lord’s perfect example of obedience to His Father. Head knowledge, good feelings and fervent emotions are useless if they are not accompanied by action. James, Jesus half brother, tells us:

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:14-20 (NIV)




“Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence of sincere and supreme love for Him.” Nathanael Emmons

Just a few verses prior - in this same chapter – our Lord stated the exact same thing – albeit a bit more succinct. Repetition in Scripture is always given as a red flag – so to speak - to grab our attention - emphasizing its importance:

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15 (NIV)



In the above verse Jesus was speaking specifically to His disciples yet in our verse for today He is laying down a general principal applicable for all Christians for all time. Obedience will always be the true test of love for our Savior – not head knowledge, not wordy assent, not heavy emotionalism but rather simple obedience to the commands of God. And, Scripture tells us, His commands are not burdensome rather they encompass life giving freedom and victory:



3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)




Indeed, Jesus is quite clear in the Sermon on the Mount that obedience is the test He chose as proof of one’s love for Him:



21 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” Matt 7:21-23 (NIV)



There are many blessings that follow obedience to our Lord’s commands for the believer not the least of which are mentioned in our verse for today. It behooves us greatly not to be careless or loose in our following of them. Jesus tells us we will not only be loved by the Father but He will specially love that follower, bestowing upon him ever increasing manifestations of His grace and favor – we shall know comforts and joys that mere inconsistent professors of the faith and the unrighteous know nothing of. It is certainly true that those who follow Christ more closely will obtain more of His comforts and peace and feel more of His presence and pleasure.



“There is more of heaven on earth to be obtained than most Christians are aware of.” John Charles Ryle



“If we want to be eminently happy, we must strive to be eminently holy.” John Charles Ryle



Surely, the promises in Scripture are not in vain when they proclaim:



14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. Psalms 25:14 (NIV)



20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 (NIV)



What I glean from this:



• My love for Jesus will be shown through my obedience to His commands. "Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ." A.W. Tozer


• Love and obedience are so entwined in Scripture that one implies the other.


• There are blessing unearthly in their pleasure for the obedient follower of Jesus.

Sharing Bread John 14:19-20

SHARING BREAD

19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.


John 14:19-20 (NIV)

The unbelieving, harsh and malignant world which cries out: “Take Him away! Crucify Him!” will sadly get their wish – they will see Jesus no longer. One should be careful what one wishes for. Our Lord’s disciples, however, receive the precious promise from His lips that they will not only see Him physically after His resurrection but they will continue to see Him through eyes of faith after His ascension. Indeed, “you will see me” indicates a fixed and steady and habitual gaze. Jesus’ followers will have an uninterrupted communion with Him in His absence. This is certainly true for all believers today as well. As we gaze upon Him with eyes of faith, we see what the world does not see. Is that not the very definition of faith given in Hebrews?

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (NIV)

Our Lord’s guys were grieved because He was going away. In their veiled understanding and their deflated emotions they could not clearly see or fully comprehend His forthcoming redemptive action. Even the best saints know but little while remaining in the body. Ever the encourager, Jesus sets forth precious Truth to comfort them – they will see Him. Furthermore, because He is the Head and He lives, they too will live – as well as every subsequent believer. “I live” quite literally means “the Living One”. This is not too dissimilar to “I AM” - the term both God the Father and God the Son claimed - meaning “I am He who is” or “I am He who exists” or “I myself am He who is”. Followers of our Lord will live both the full and abundant life in the here and now and the eternal life in the hereafter - they are permanently secured in this promise. The divine nature of which all believers are partakers will never perish. Though weak, we are closely knit to the Head - being members of His body, the Church. Paul writes in Colossians regarding Christ:

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Col 1:15-20 (NIV)

We also find in Ephesians where Paul writes:

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1:22-23 (NIV)



15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4:15-16 (NIV)

Lastly, Christ speaks of the believer’s intimate, inseparable union with Him. Just as our Lord is in the Father, we are in Him and He in us. The promise of the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is within each believer in Jesus – it is the good Gift:

18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1:18-23 (NIV)



Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, every believer in Jesus has an amazing source of spiritual vitality, power and strength for living the Christian life. It is no wonder that Scripture teaches us to “shrink not the Spirit” by our own poor choices – ever emphasizing to choose wisdom. As followers of Christ, we have a spiritually dynamic and living force dwelling within us – right alongside our sinful, woefully inadequate human nature. When we acquiesce to our weaker side, it is we who are the greatest losers. Proverbs states:



13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. Prov 3:13-17 (NIV)



“Considering Mary, how did she “walk by the Spirit” and glorify Christ when God gave her an impossible circumstance? She believed God for the impossible---“How will this be, for I am a virgin?” And she lived a life of repentance—“I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said”. What does a life of repentance look like? It is a daily recognition that you are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. What is your life response to the impossible issues you are facing? How must you walk by the Spirit, in the way of repentance and faith, like Mary? I must believe God that I am an adopted son or daughter. That I am loved unconditionally; that I am forgiven and really free from sin in my life. I must believe I have the Holy Spirit’s seal of approval…I must believe God can and will do miraculous things in my life….in the lives of others around me…. I must stop living life by and for myself… I must repent of my self-saving ways….My idols of comfort, security and approval. And I can because Jesus has already done all for me. Not just some of what I need, but all of what I needed and need, on the cross and He continues to do, by the active Presence and Power of His Holy Spirit.” Tom Wood




What I glean from this:

• The promise of Scripture is that I will see Jesus through the eyes of faith.


• Jesus is the Head of the body, the Church – Jesus is my Head.


• The Holy Spirit empowers me to do things too hard for me to do.

Sharing Bread John 14:18

SHARING BREAD

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.


John 14:18 (NIV)

Certainly nothing seems to conjure up the feeling of helplessness in our minds like the word “orphan”. Left bereft, longing for unconditional familial love and hugs of both affirmation and acceptance – often all presented to one at such a tender age as to paralyze with sorrow and fear or release to a life of rampant rebellion. Even as I write these words I realize that we can all feel like “orphans” in different periods of our lives. Take for instance the spouse that is rejected and is no longer loved, or the loneliness that can occur amidst bustling crowds and swarms of people, or the feeling of friendlessness even in the flurry of facebook! With all of our technical gadgets and know-how to keep connected, we seem more alone than ever – more isolated – more island-like. Alone is not what Jesus is about. Indeed, we serve a “with us” God. I am reminded of our Lord’s Word to us in Matthew:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:20 (NIV)



In our verse for today our Lord reminds His guys of a promise that permeates much of God’s Word – He will be with us. From Moses to the psalmist to the writer of Hebrews, Scripture is replete with this comforting golden promise. We find Moses speaking these words to the Israelites in Deuteronomy:



6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6 (NIV)




God told Joshua - the man who followed in the footsteps of the great leader Moses - almost the exact same encouraging Word:



5 “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Josh 1:5-7 (NIV)




“We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus’. Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! Let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.” C. H. Spurgeon




One of my favorite verses in Scripture shows the tenderness and availability of our God as we rest upon His lap with our heads between His shoulders. I suppose I have tender memories of sitting in my Daddy’s lap and it was such a secure, safe and loving place to be. Certain that not all share this same memory, Scripture tells us that it is God’s desires for us to rest secure in His:



"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." Deut 33:12 (NIV)




“God often uses the repetitive events and themes in daily life to get my attention and draw me closer to Himself. Now instead of just listening for God's whisper, I am trying to recognize the sacred echoes- those moments when God speaks the same message to my heart again and again. I call them sacred echoes because I've noticed that throughout my relationships, daily life, and study, the same scripturally sound idea or phrase or word will keep reappearing until I can no longer avoid its presence. Is this mere coincidence or is it something more? When it comes to hearing from God, I firmly believe the Bible is our source and authority. God's Word is like a megaphone to His people. Throughout Scripture God speaks through kings and queens, princes and prophets, poets and pilgrims. He speaks through weather patterns, barnyard animals and even the stars in the sky. God is not only creative, but He is persistent in getting our attention and communicating with us.” Margaret Feinberg

I am reminded of the words the apostle Paul penned to his beloved Timothy when he sat alone in prison – sans cloak and parchments - deserted by friends and comrades save Luke the faithful physician – awaiting his imminent execution:



9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Tim 4:9-18 (NIV)




“When God is our strength, it is strength indeed; when our strength is our own, it is only weakness.” St. Augustine



“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.” Thomas a Kempis



What I glean from this:



• Jesus will never leave me.


• Jesus loves me this I know.


• When God is my strength, it is strength indeed.

Sharing Bread John 14:16-17

SHARING BREAD

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.


John 14:16-17 (NIV)

In our verses for today, our Lord gives His guys this great and glorious promise through His encouraging words - as long as He is in heaven, they shall never want for a fresh supply of grace and comfort, wisdom and strength - given to them through the indwelling of the precious Holy Spirit. They shall never know the lack of a Comforter. This blessed promise was not only sure for them but also for every true believer in Jesus thereafter. The Holy Spirit will never depart from a true believer in Christ – we are sealed – indwelled until He returns. Sadly, Scripture also states we can both grieve and quench the Spirit within us through our poor choices yet the promise remains that He will never depart from us. We are red flagged regarding our actions through the pen of the apostle Paul:

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:30 (NIV)




19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 1 Thess 5:19 (NIV)

Paul also writes that the Holy Spirit is our identification of ownership to God as well as our authentication and approval – our certification of genuineness so to speak:

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1:21-22 (NIV)

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. Eph 1:13-14 (NIV)


Jesus tells His disciples a little later in this same chapter of John:

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)




“When God designed the great and glorious work of recovering fallen man, and the saving of sinners, ‘to the praise of the glory of His grace,’ He appointed, in His infinite wisdom, two great means thereof: the one was the giving of His Son for them; and the other was the giving of His Spirit unto them. And hereby was way made for the manifestation of the glory of the whole blessed Trinity, which is the utmost end of all the works of God.” K. H. Von Bogatzky




“The gift of the Holy Spirit closes the gap between the life of God and ours.” Austin Farrer

Interestingly, when Jesus states the Father will give “another Counselor” the wording indicates another of equal quality – just as our Lord. While Jesus is presently at the right hand of God the Father as our permanent Priest – always living to intercede on our behalf - believers have been given the Gift of the precious Holy Spirit. The Spirit is poured out upon us, equipping us to be like our Lord – not just outwardly but inwardly as well. The presence of God in this world is to be the Spirit indwelling in the heart of every believer. We are the vessels of clay that carry around such a great Treasure. Paul states:



7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Cor 4:7-10 (NIV)



In contrast, the world cannot accept Him because they have chosen to neither be aware through careful observation nor come to know Him by experience or reason. Yet the Spirit constantly abides within the believer – equipping and comforting, encouraging and strengthening. Scripture warns us in Proverbs of the rejection of God’s wisdom:



22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. Prov 1:22-23 (NIV)



29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Prov 1:29-33 (NIV)



“You cannot imagine how great is people’s foolishness…..by hoping in themselves and putting trust in their own knowledge.” St. Catherine



What I glean from this:



• The great and glorious promise of Jesus is that as a believer in Him I am sealed with the precious Holy Spirit.


• As a believer in Christ, I shall never know the lack of the Comforter.


• The world does not accept Him because they have not carefully observed nor come to know Him by experience or reason.

Sharing Bread John 14:15

SHARING BREAD

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”


John 14:15 (NIV)

Our Lord Jesus came to this earth fleshing out the pattern of love and obedience that His disciples – both then and now – were and are expected to follow. This is not a legalistic set of rules, rather an obedience that flows freely from a life of love for our Lord – all that He is and all that He has done and all that He continues to do for us. Scripture tells us:

17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 1 John 4:17 (NIV)



19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)




“Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence of sincere and supreme love for Him.” Nathanael Emmons

Jesus desired for His disciples upon His departure to demonstrate their love for Him not through a lamenting grief rather through a loving obedient duty. The truest test of love of a disciple towards Jesus has and always will be the practical fleshing out of obedience to His commands – this is better than both tears (emotion) and sacrifice (works). It is a life which does not limit God working through us by either our human emotions or thinking.

“Sanctification is a life of Christ-centered choices, made evident in loving obedience to God.” Mel De Peal

Scripture is replete with this message. I am reminded of God’s Word through the prophet Jeremiah:

21 “'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” Jer 7:21-24 (NIV)

Who can forget Samuel’s poignant conversation with the disobedient King Saul who forsook God’s orders for fear of mere man? Samuel’s words to Saul encapsulate the essence of our discussion:

22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.” 1 Sam 15:22-24 (NIV)


To be sure, obedience to God in its basic essence boils down to our trust that He has our best interest at heart. It is a knowing faith that His plans for us are for our wellbeing - plans to prosper and not harm – to give us hope and a future. It is a faith that is based on a firm knowledge of Who He is and of a greater understanding of His ways. The more we know Him, the more we will love Him and the more we love Him the more we will trust Him and desire to be obedient to His will. John tells us:



3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)



“Love for God and obedience to God are so completely involved in each other that either one of them implies the other too.” F. F. Bruce

It is when we go our own way, leaning upon our own flawed understanding and abilities that we stumble and fall. We sadly make life worse for ourselves and for others in our spheres by our own poor choices. We really don’t want to go there.



"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ." A.W. Tozer

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4 (NIV)



“Every revelation of God is a demand, and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience.”

William Temple




What I glean from this:



• Jesus came to earth as our pattern of love and obedience - if we claim to live in Him, we are to walk as He walked. “Holiness is not a feeling – it is the end product of obedience. Purity is not a gift – it is the result of repentance and serious pursuit of God.” Frances J. Roberts


• The truest test of my love for Jesus is my obedience to His commands.


• The measure of my obedience equates to the measure of my trust.

Sharing Bread John 14:13-14

SHARING BREAD

13 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”


John 14:13-14 (NIV)

Effectual, fervent prayer, seriously, is there anything more difficult? To go into a room and close the door and pray to the Father who is unseen sounds simple and blessedly rewarding enough yet I find that it all too often takes more effort and skill to stay on task than I apparently possess. Something tells me I am not alone in this. Indeed, the disciples wanted the Lord Jesus to teach them the secret of His achieving prayer after observing Him model a life of it. We find their request in Luke:

1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:1 (NIV)




Our Lord was constantly praying in Scripture – He could be found both rising early as well as praying through the night. He certainly prayed prior to or at every major event of His life – His baptism, His choosing of the disciples, in the garden prior to His betrayal and even on the cross – setting forth for us an example that we would all do well to follow. Paul tells the Thessalonians:



17 pray continually; 1 Thess 5:17 (NIV)



James adds to this:



The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

It is God’s desire for us to have continual communication with Him in the midst of our daily living. In our verses for today, Jesus was basically telling His disciples – who were also His closest earthly companions – how they would stay in touch with one another after His soon to be departure. They would derive power from Him when He had gone to His Father’s side through prayer and petition with thanksgiving. They would send forth their prayers and Jesus would communicate to them by the Spirit.

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus, prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need.” John Piper

Remember, Scripture states that Jesus is our great High Priest who sits at the right hand of the Father living to intercede for us:

24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7:23-25 (NIV)

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:16 (NIV)




There are a few tips that I have found beneficial in my prayer life and you may perhaps discover they are beneficial to you r prayer life as well:



1. I find that there are many ways to offer prayer and all are just as necessary and important. It is essential to have our time alone with the Lord – in the closet so to speak – pouring out our inmost thoughts and concerns. Sometimes in our deepest heart matters it is simply best to just let Jesus know – He most certainly can take it. Jesus tells us in Matthew: 6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:6 (NIV)




It is also important to pray with others. I find it helpful to pray with the person as soon as I receive a request or desire a request myself from another – this keeps me from forgetting to pray as well as having the high privilege of corporate prayer. Again, Jesus tells us in God’s Word: 19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt 18:19-20 (NIV)




Other times I pray throughout the day as the thoughts arise – perhaps it is to praise Him or thank Him, perhaps He brings someone to mind for me to pray for. I seek to respond quickly to this though sadly I all too often fail. I am confident I neither praise nor thank the Father a fraction of what He is due. King David rightly proclaims: 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. Psalms 145:21 (NIV)




2. I seek to pray back God’s Word. He is always faithful to His promises. Hiding His Word in my heart helps keep it always at hand. Scripture is full of promises to pray for ourselves and for our families. One of my favorites is found in Colossians where Epaphras prays for the Church at Colosse to stand firm in all of God’s will mature and fully assured. Contrary to popular belief, the center of God’s will is exactly where we want to be – and where we want all we whom we love to be - whether we know it or not. It is the place of perfect peace no matter what the circumstances – it is the safe place. Paul writes: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Col 4:12 (NIV)

3. I seek to remember to thank God for His answers. Unfortunately, it is easy to take things for granted. God enjoys it when His children are appropriately thankful for what His hand bestows. Journaling your prayer requests is an easy way to keep up with the answers received for your petitions. Again Paul tells us: 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• I am to pray continually. “The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.” F. B. Meyer


• I receive mercy and love at the throne of grace. “Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.” John Bunyan


• The One who gives the power gets the glory. “And we do well to remember that this gracious God, who has condescended to place His almighty power at the command of believing prayer looks not lightly on the blood guiltiness of those who neglect to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the perishing….” Hudson Taylor

Sharing Bread John 14:12

SHARING BREAD

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”


John 14:12 (NIV)

In our verse for today, Jesus gives forth a comforting Word to His disciples. In a solemn announcement to them, He proclaims that His miraculous works would not cease just because His physical Presence would. Those with faith would continue His eternal work. I am reminded of the conversation between Jesus and the father whose son was possessed by a demon:

17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:17-24 (NIV)

Not too dissimilar to this father I find myself crying out the same oxymoronic phrase: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Lack of faith in God - lack of trust - is the root of all spiritual failure. To be sure, I can trust the Man who died for me.

Jesus would not leave His guys weak or helpless and unable to do things to attest to an unbelieving world. Then He adds this powerful statement - they would accomplish even - “Greater things than these”. Greater things than healing the sick, greater things than casting out demons, greater things than raising the dead or feeding the multitudes – what in the world could He possibly have meant by “Greater things”??? Perhaps it had something to do with the temporal versus the eternal works. For certain, Lazarus no longer walks on this dusty earth rather on streets of gold and the blind eyes that were opened now gaze upon the beauty of the Lord rather than a flower blooming in the springtime. The greater things - at the very least - must include the eternal salvation of souls. I am reminded of Pentecost when Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spoke Truth to the crowds and over three thousand souls were converted. There is no recorded occasion where Jesus converted such a number as this – that would fall under the category of “Greater things” to me. We find in Acts:

36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:36-41 (NIV)

This ragamuffin group of guys - filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – miraculously carried the gospel of God’s kingdom out of Palestine and into the whole world. No jet planes, no cars, no computers, no Bibles simply the power of the Holy Spirit in willing and obedient vessels.

“One of the most urgent tasks facing Evangelical Christendom today is the recovery of the gospel.” J. I. Packer


There is power in the message of the cross. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians:

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:17-18 (NIV)




Brilliant and eloquently persuasive words may perhaps win a person’s mind but not their heart - leaving an unconverted soul in the wake of their jargon. Yet the simple unadorned words of the gospel – though seemingly silly by human standards – are made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit which indwells every true believer in Jesus opening the Way for their hearer’s hearts to believe.



“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become.” Henry Martyn

What I glean from this:

• Miraculous work did not cease simply because Jesus’ physical presence did.


• I can trust the Man who died for me.


• The message of the cross is powerful and effective.