Sharing Bread John 16:16

SHARING BREAD

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."


John 16:16 (NIV)

In our verse for today our Lord is desirous to give His guys a heads up to prepare them for His imminent departure and eventual return albeit all the while perplexing them with His Words. We can take heart that even the disciples – those closest to our Lord when He walked on this earth – those most accustomed to His style of teaching - could find themselves veiled from the true meaning of some of His difficult statements. Surely we should not be surprised if likewise we find ourselves stumped over the interpretation of the Master’s meanings – scratching our heads in wonder. There are many depths in them that we simply have no line to follow, no way to fathom. We must thank God for the statements for which He does give that even the simplest of minds (like mine) can clearly comprehend. It remains vastly important for us to continue to diligently use the light we have received so that more will be given. Surely spiritual growth is not most often immediate rather it occurs incrementally - one “ah-ha” moment at a time. Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew:

11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”  Matt 13:11-12 (NIV)

We are to be diligent in our study of God’s Word – showing ourselves able to rightly divide His Truth. This is part of “growing up” in Christ. Paul tells his beloved Timothy:

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  2 Tim 2:15 (NIV)




We are also reminded by the prophet Jeremiah:



13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:13 (NIV)



Paul encourages the Church at Philippi to live up to the knowledge they had already attained in order to grow up in Christ:



15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Phil 3:15-16 (NIV)




"Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them!" Warren Wiersbe



Jesus wants His disciples to clearly understand that His physical presence would soon be no more. They would no longer be afforded the pleasure of gazing upon Him with their bodily eyes. He will be in heaven and they will be on earth. After their horror of the cross occurs and the dust finally settles He wants them to remember His very important and comforting Words – they will see Him again. Certainly they saw Him after the resurrection prior to His final ascension as well yet I believe His Words here refer to His second Advent when He will arrive with great power and glory and all eyes will see. It is a given. He will return and not as a suffering Servant but as the Reigning Righteous King. John writes of this in Revelation:



7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. Rev 1:7 (NIV)



Jesus’ Words in our verses for today are encouraging for the modern day believers as well – He speaks here for the benefit of His whole church until His second coming not merely for the benefit of His then disciples. His Words both comfort and encourage us to persevere. It will always does us well to remember that earth is not our home rather heaven is. If we keep that focus our hearts will not be inclined to yearn for and cling to the perishing rather press on toward the eternal as Paul stated the mature in Christ will do:



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 3:12-14 (NIV)



“Most of us find it very difficult to want ‘Heaven’ at all – except in so far as ‘Heaven’ means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise.”  C.S. Lewis


What I glean from this:



• I am called to diligently study God’s Word and rightly divide His Truth.


• I am to live up to what I have already attained.


• I am to keep my eyes on the prize – heaven.

Sharing Bread John 16:15

SHARING BREAD

15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.


John 16:15 (NIV)


Everything belongs to God does it not? Indeed, all that we have, or are, or do which is eternally profitable, good or benevolent is owing to the merciful, rich and free grace of God. We should press the mute button on all of our prideful boastings - or perhaps even use some duct tape over our loud mouths whenever the urge strikes us - as pride should be forever excluded from our lives. I am reminded of Paul’s words to us in 1 Corinthians:

7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Cor 4:7 (NIV)



“There’s not a thumb’s breadth of this universe about which Jesus Christ does not say, ‘It is mine.’” Abraham Kuyper



Proverbs warns us of our need for wisdom as well - prohibiting us from leaning on our own understanding and exhorting us to attach ourselves to God who will always make our paths straight. He will bestow upon us His perfect wisdom through the indwelling Holy Spirit which is, Scripture adds, beyond comparison:



5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)



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. Prov 3:13-15 (NIV)



“We need to keep reminding ourselves that without the Lord we can do nothing. It needs to become a habit of mind with each of us to tell the Lord as we tackle each task, ‘I can’t do this without your help, please help me’, and then to expect to be helped because we have admitted our helplessness, given up self-reliance and are now looking to Him.” J. I. Packer


“How it pays to take one step at a time with God!” Isobel Kuhn


Jesus, on the other hand, rightly states to His guys in our verse for today that everything belongs to Him – just as it does to the Father. In Colossians Paul gives us the following Truths regarding our sweet Jesus: He is the image of God, the Firstborn over Creation (Firstborn denoting He both preceded Creation and is Sovereign over all Creation), He is the Creator of the universe, He is the Head of the church, He is the Firstborn from the dead, He is the fullness of God and He is the Reconciler of all things. Christ is the Supreme Sovereign of the universe:



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. Col 1:15-19 (NIV)




Christ also came to reveal God to man – “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations. But is now disclosed to the saints” (Colossians 1:26). In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge:



2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3 (NIV)



9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Col 2:9-10 (NIV)

It is no wonder King David expressed such a fervent plea to God in Psalm 25 – desirous that God would show him His ways as well as teach him His paths of wisdom and truth:

4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalms 25:4-5 (NIV)



Every true believer in Jesus is indwelled by the Holy Spirit who illuminates God’s Word - teaching and equipping the saint – so that they may grow up n Christ. Our growth occurs as we are obedient to the light we receive.



“Most of us get up in the morning saying, ‘I am going to make something of my life, and I’ll follow Jesus too.’ But I just want you to know that we can’t have it both ways. We have to have the formula right. ‘Follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and as you follow Me, I will make something of your life.’” Joseph Stowell, III




What I glean from this:



• Everything belongs to God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.


• I am to trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding – acknowledging Him in all my ways and He will make my paths straight.


• The Holy Spirit teaches and equips me to do God’s will.

Sharing Bread John 16:14

SHARING BREAD

14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.


John 16:14 (NIV)

Bottom line, the Holy Spirit will always be making much of Jesus. It is the Spirit’s job to continually guide believers in the Lord through teaching them and reminding them of His ways as well as empowering them to walk in them. In so doing He both exalts Christ and brings Him much glory. All the things we need to be successful in our Christian walk – the promises of God, the power of God and the preparation of God – are gloriously all available through the indwelling strength of the Advocate in every believer who willing seeks and applies the Truth He reveals.

"God doesn't reveal Himself to the curious or the careless, but to those who are ready and willing to obey." Warren Wiersbe

“‘Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 5 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’” Hag 2:4-5 (NIV)




13 “‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.’” Jer 29:13-14 (NIV)



“For in the eye of the Spirit there is no darkness……The limitations of your natural vision will be no handicap. The Spirit is not detained by the flesh. The Spirit will move in spite of the flesh and will accomplish a renewal and do a work of re-creating, so that the newly liberated creature will rise up in virgin life, starting out upon a ministry the foundations of which no man has laid. It will be a path of holiness, a way of miracles, and a life of glory. You will see My shining smile. Nothing will be required of you but obedience.” Frances J. Roberts

Just as Jesus brought God glory by completing the work He was given to do, the Holy Spirit brings Jesus glory by completing the work He was given to do. Jesus came to make God known to man; the Holy Spirit’s job is to make Jesus known as well. Jesus prays the following later in John:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”  John 17:1-4 (NIV)

Any religion that does not magnify the Lord Jesus has a fatal flaw and certainly cannot be from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will always testify to the things of Christ – revealing His ways – guiding believers into all Truth:

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth.  John 14:16-17 (NIV)



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. 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 14:26-27 (NIV)

All the graces and gifts, teachings and miracles, leadings and promptings of the Spirit are sent to point us to Jesus. The Counselor ever communicates Christ to the disciple as everything He shows and bestows is from the Lord. This is why we grieve the Spirit when we choose not to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel – unwilling to walk in His ways - it is a poor reflection upon our Savior. Paul tells us in Ephesians:

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Eph 4:30-32 (NIV)

“The best measure of a spiritual life is not its ecstasies but its obedience.” Oswald Chambers


What I glean from this:

• The Holy Spirit always makes much of Jesus.


• I am to seek and apply the Truth the Advocate reveals in my life.


• I am not to grieve the Spirit of God - with whom I stand sealed - by my own poor choices.

Sharing Bread John 16:12-13

SHARING BREAD

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 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.”


John 16:12-13 (NIV)

Our Lord shows us here that our Christian growth is to be incrementally progressing. As the Holy Spirit shines the light of Truth into our lives and we are obedient to His leading, we grow. The Spirit not only works on the enemies of Christ but also on His servants and agents. We do not become Christians and then automatically turn into grounded theologians. There are steps and degrees of Christian attainment and it comes through obedience to the light received. God does not go deeper still if we fail to move on the light already given – all that He shows us matters. He neither teases nor plays games with our growth in Christ – ever remaining seriously committed regarding our lives. God is abundantly aware that there is no full knowledge apart from our moral commitment – complete understanding results from complete yielding. None of us who presently walk upon this dusty earth are perfect (that may surprise some) – we are all in process of being conformed into the image of Jesus. Our growth will depend on our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Paul tells us in Romans:

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 (NIV)



Over and over in Scripture we are told to “Grow up in Him” who is Head. The experiences and circumstances allowed in our lives are to be used to work toward this end goal – to become more and more like Jesus. We finally arrive when we get home to heaven. Until then, it is step by step and day by day. We must remember that out Lord is unsearchable in all His ways – His understanding no one can fathom. There is never an end in learning of Him. Scripture tells us:

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" Romans 11:33-34 (NIV)


Also, Paul tells us in Colossians where the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are to be discovered:

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3 (NIV)





In our verses for today, it is evident that Christ’s disciples were not ready to hear more regarding the kingdom of God – they simply could not bear it. It would more than likely have confused and perplexed them rather than given them comfort and satisfaction. Our Lord therefore takes the opportunity to assure them of the sufficient assistance of the Holy Spirit. This is not the first time His guys had heard similar Words from their Master. Earlier in John we discover our Lord’s Words:



15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 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. 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 14:15-21 (NIV)



Notice verse twenty-one – the one who loves will obey (willingly) and the Father will love him and Jesus will love him and show Himself to him. Amazing – Christ was now leaving His disciples but He promises to continue to love them bearing them on His heart and ever living to intercede for them. This is not only true for our Lord’s first disciples but for every follower of Christ thereafter.



“The kind things he here said to his disciples were intended not for those only who were now his followers, but for all who should believe in him through their witness. The duty of those who claim the dignity of being disciples: Having Christ’s commands, we must obey them. Having them in our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The dignity of those who do the duty of disciples: Not those who have the greatest wit and know how to talk for him, or the greatest estate to spend for him, but those who obey his commands. The surest evidence of our love for Christ is obedience to the laws of Christ.” Matthew Henry



The Holy Spirit is promised to be our Guide into all Truth. Our growth in Jesus occurs as we are obedient to His leading. This is very important because our conscience is often defiled by sin and not a reliable guide by itself. We can convince ourselves of the rightness of anything we desire to do can we not? Trust me - this will not lead us down a very peaceful path – we must lean into the Spirit’s perfect leading. We will never be disappointed in following hard after Jesus.



“The human conscience is defiled by sin, says the Bible – and that is one reason it is not a reliable guide by itself. Our conscience needs to be cleansed by the purifying work of the Holy Spirit, and honed and sharpened by the truth of the Word of God. Satan can even twist our consciences if they are not yielded to Christ and convince us that wrong is really right.” Billy Graham




What I glean from this:



• I grow up in Christ when I am obedient to the light received from the Spirit.


• The depth of God’s wisdom and knowledge and ways are humanly impossible to exhaust.


• I demonstrate my love for Jesus through my willing obedience.

Sharing Bread John 16:8-11

SHARING BREAD

8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.


John 16:8-11 (NIV)


In our verses for today, Jesus tells His guys upon his departure, the Holy Spirit will come down in full force – in vastly increased power – convicting and convincing the world of sin and righteousness and judgment. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict – silencing the adversaries of Christ and His cause. He first convicts and then He comforts – opening the wound and then applying the healing balm.

No one can deny that after the day of Pentecost the Comforter did and continues to do just that. The Holy Spirit sent forth and strengthened the unlearned and lowly ragamuffin band of disciples to preach the Gospel after our Lord’s ascension and, quite frankly, turned the world upside down through this handful of cracked clay pots. In a mere two to three centuries, the Spirit altered habits, practices and tastes of the entire civilized world leaving changed ways and lives and opinions in His wake. He accomplished this miracle by using vessels with no special graces or eloquence (there is hope for me yet!). How like God – His greatest miracles done in the most obscure vessels – the One who gives the power gets the glory! Still in this malignant world He continues to savingly convict many in every age and in every place. Miracles always point to His power, not mans. We find the following description of two of the most well know disciples of Christ in Acts which is certainly anything but glowing:

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)



Jesus had promised His guys they would not have to worry about what to say or how to say it because the Spirit would be speaking through them. We find His Word to them in Matthew:



17 “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matt 10:17-20 (NIV)




“After the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost, the great Advocate of Me and my people, shall come into this world with such mighty power that He shall silence, convince, and stop the mouths of your enemies, and oblige them, however unwillingly, to think of Me and My cause very differently from what they think now. In particular, He shall convince them of their own sin, of my righteousness, and of the victory which I have won over Satan. He shall, in short, be a crushing Advocate whom the world shall not be able to resist or gainsay.” J. C. Ryle



A cursory look at Acts proves this to be true. It is clear from the narrative of the earlier portion of Acts that after Pentecost there was an irresistible power accompanying the work of the Apostles which the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles were unable to withstand. Even though men may have remained unconverted, their opinions were completely transformed. The Spirit sufficiently provides for the silencing of the prejudices and objections of the world against the gospel.



Jesus tells us in these verses the Spirit was sent first to convict sinners of sin – the fact of sin, the fault of sin, the folly of sin and the fruit of sin – and that the end of all sin is death. He centers His conviction on their sin of unbelief – all sin begins there – it is the great reigning sin. When God speaks to us through His Son and we refuse Him Who speaks, it is the great ruining sin as every sin is against the remedy of Jesus Christ. The true reason why sin reigns is that man is not united to Christ by faith.



Secondly, the Spirit convicts the world of Christ’s personal righteousness. Having shown men their need for righteousness, He now shows them where it is to be found. Certainly, Jesus was as the centurion confessed at the crucifixion:



47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. Luke 23:47-48 (NIV)




Lastly, the Comforter convicts in regard to judgment - the devil was judged. He was revealed to be the great deceiver and destroyer. He is rid from the souls of men by the grace of God through the gospel of Christ. The prince of this world now stands condemned – his power disarmed by Jesus:



13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Col 2:13-15 (NIV)





What I glean from this:



• After Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit came down in great power to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.


• The greatest sin is the sin of unbelief.


• Stricken by Satan, sin is the sickness of the world. Jesus was sent as the remedy. He is the One I look upon to be saved.

Sharing Bread John 16:7

SHARING BREAD

7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.


John 16:7 (NIV)


The Advocate, the Counselor, the One who glorifies Jesus as well as supplies for our needs and kindly provides for our wants – is shown in our verse for today, as the good Gift promised by our Lord to His disciples on His departure from this earth. Sent to us from the Father in the name of sweet Jesus – the Counselor teaches us all things. It is His special office to enlighten us – to open the eyes of our understanding – to give us insight - to remind us of what we have learned yet perhaps have forgotten and to empower us to do God’s will. Earlier in John, Jesus describes one of the Holy Spirit’s responsibilities in the following way:

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)




Our Lord’s departure would be necessary and expedient for the coming of the Advocate albeit both painful and difficult for His disciples to comprehend. It would be for their good though they did not recognize it as such. Isn’t that a truism for many things that occur in our lives as well? Jesus is always for that which is most good and beneficial for us. He gives us the medicine we are loath to take, always having our interest at heart – with the full knowledge of what is ultimately for our best. What at first blush appears to be devastation for His guys ends in their delight. His going was necessary for the sending of the Spirit.



“The disciples must be weaned from His bodily presence before they were duly prepared to receive the spiritual aids and comforts of a new dispensation….Though He departs, He sends the Counselor; indeed, He departs on purpose to send Him.” Matthew Henry



They were crushed over the idea of Jesus leaving them. Yet His going would prove to be both profitable and beneficial for them – they had Jesus’ Word on it. If our Lord had not gone away, the Comforter would not have come. They had little notion of the full meaning of His Words believing His departure would leave them as orphans in a cold, unkind, and unfriendly world – a world that would not accept them - their hearts sinking from the thought of life without their Master. Jesus had already promised them that that would not be the case earlier in John:



15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 (NIV)




“Christ’s bodily presence draws men’s eyes, His Spirit draws their hearts.” Matthew Henry



Jesus comforts them with His Words by showing them His leaving would not be a loss to them but rather a gain – His absence more profitable and useful than His presence. The coming of his Spirit would be a necessity for the carrying forth of our Lord’s interests on earth – the building of His Body, the church. If Christ had not died, risen and ascended into heaven the Holy Ghost would not have come down with special power bestowing His manifold gifts at Pentecost and thereafter to every subsequent believer in the Lord Jesus. Certainly the disciples did far more through the power of the Spirit in Jesus’ absence than they had done when He walked among them. His Word must have come back to them again and again – ringing in their ears – as they accomplished mighty feats in his name through the power of the Holy Spirit:

“It is for your good that I am going away.”

“The true secret to all ministry (and individual lives) is spiritual power. It is not man’s genius, or man’s intellect, or man’s energy; but simply the power of the Spirit of the God of the Gospel. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zech.iv.6) It is well for all ministers (and believers) to bear this ever in mind. It will sustain the heart and give constant freshness to their ministry (and lives). A ministry (life) which flows from abiding dependence upon the Holy Spirit can never become barren. 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 (life), 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




What I glean from this:



• The Holy Spirit is the good Gift promised to me as a believer in Christ Jesus.


• Oftentimes I do not recognize the painful and difficult things in my life as being necessary or expedient. Yet, as His child, Jesus allows and uses these trials for my growth in Him – I can trust Him.


• As I depend upon the Holy Spirit my life will not be barren.

Sharing Bread John 16:5-6

SHARING BREAD

5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.”


John 16:5-6 (NIV)

In our verses for today, our Lord’s disciples appear both absorbed and overwhelmed with sorrow over their Master’s announcement of His imminent departure. His mission on earth was fast approaching its end. Yet, in lieu of seizing the opportunity to learn more of His work and place in heaven in the time they had remaining with the Teacher; they chose to steadfastly focus on and be consumed with their own sadness. It is certainly not foreign to human nature to be self absorbed in our time of grief and loss – it is most difficult to fix our gaze further still. It would seem we need a constant reminder to make the most of every opportunity – even in the times we go forth weeping. Scripture tells us:

15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)

The disciple’s preoccupation with their own problems prevented their understanding of the crucial nature of the moment and the momentous significance of the upcoming events – our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Distracted by discouragement, disillusioned over plans differing from their own, the disciples wasted what little time and energy they had left, wallowing in wailing. They miss out on what would truly bring them comfort by indulging in their woes. They quite simply neglected their means of peace by continuing to look at that which was against them and overlook that which was for them. Isn’t that the common way of human nature? Paul tells us clearly in Romans where our source of abundant joy is found – in the constant love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)




“The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that ‘in all these things we are more than conquerors.’ We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.” Oswald Chambers



Interestingly, either Christ is a deceiver having even duped the apostle Paul or else something extraordinary as well as magnificently unearthly occurs when someone holds on tightly to the love of God when everything appears totally against him. Let’s consider for a moment Paul’s “easy” life. The following is his description of some of his circumstances:



What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 2 Cor 11:21-29 (NIV)



Yet through all this Paul could say he was more than a conqueror. He could maintain the perspective of the following verses that he penned earlier in 2 Corinthians:



16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NIV)



“Afflictions are but the shadow of God’s wings.” George MacDonald

“God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and He loves everyone the way He loves you.” Augustine

What I glean from this:

• It is easy for me to be overwhelmed with sorrow from circumstances and miss out on the “limitless miracle of the love of God”.


• There is something extraordinary and magnificently unearthly when I hold on tightly to the love of God in my trying circumstances.


• God desires for me to be more than a conqueror in all things.

Sharing Bread John 16:1-4

SHARING BREAD

1 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 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 16:1-4 (NIV)


In our verses for today Jesus lovingly gives His disciples – both then and now – a heavenly heads up to keep us from falling into the trap of the enemy through our sufferings. It is most definitely a dangerous thing for a believer to indulge in the false expectation of a trial free life. Jesus never held back the subject of the cross nor concealed the difficulties to His followers of the way to heaven. Indeed, He confirmed it – tribulations would be a given – a part of the territory. He told them of the worst that they may consider the cost of following Him. We should likewise not be surprised at offense as we are just as apt to stumble at the cross as our Lord’s first disciples rather than to heed His many warnings. It is a dangerous temptation – even for good men – to turn back from the ways of God:

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)




29 “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” John 14:29 (NIV)

Our Lord warns us of battles, conflicts, wounds, and persecutions – perhaps even death - before it happens so that when it does happen we will not be alarmed rather prepared. He gives us notice in order to remove the terror. Sadly, the devil’s work has often been done in God’s name by those whose zeal is not based on knowledge of the Father or His Son. Many pretend to know God in this world yet remain totally and wretchedly ignorant of Him. They think it perfectly acceptable to persecute good people. Jesus wants us to be warned. We find His similar Word to us a little later in this same chapter of John:

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)

Paul ditto’s Jesus’ warning in 2 Timothy:

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim 3:12-13 (NIV)




“Persecution is one of the surest signs of the genuineness of our Christianity.” Benjamin Fernando

Our Lord tells us we must beware – He wants us forewarned in order to be forearmed with both preparation and prayer. Jesus desired for us not to be surprised or discouraged by the persecution of the unbelieving world which could cause us to be ensnared in the trap of the evil one – discouragement being one of his choicest tools. Indeed, the words “go astray” - used in verse one of our Scripture passage today - are translated from the Greek word “Skandalizo” meaning “a trap or a stumbling block; the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, and which, when touched by an animal, springs and causes it to close, trapping its victim; to entice or lead to ruin, allowing someone to adopt a course in which he will unknowingly come to mischief and ruin.” Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids. Peter gives us similar words to increase our understanding of this subject:

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV)



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



“Afflictions are but the shadow of God’s wings.” George MacDonald

What I glean from this:

• Jesus gives me clear warnings of trial and tribulations – He does not want me to be surprised.


• Persecution can come from the hands of those who claim to know God but are wretchedly ignorant of the Father and the Son.


• I can have peace in my trials because the Prince of Peace is always with me.

Sharing Bread John 15:26-27

SHARING BREAD

26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”


John 15:26-27 (NIV)

The Comforter - the Advocate - coming from both the Father and the Son – the precious Holy Spirit – a deep and mysterious union of the Trinity - all of which we have neither eyes to fully see nor minds to totally comprehend. Indeed, there is a close and personal connection between the Spirit, the Son and the Father – none being greater or less than the other. In His essence, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth going out from the Father. He is both distinct and divine in His Person. He is both divine light and divine power. In His mission He comes overflowing with His graces, gifts and powers. He is an Advocate for Christ and a Counselor for the saints against the hatred of the world. He also bears witness for the Lord Jesus as He qualifies ministers and sanctifies believers – both testifying of their faith in Christ through their works and words. Just as the work of Jesus was to promote the Father and not Himself, the work of the Spirit bears witness to Jesus as the Messiah as He continually testifies to the Truth. Earlier in John Jesus tells us the following regarding the Counselor:

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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18 (NIV)


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)



Every true believer in Jesus is sealed with the precious Holy Spirit – He is our deposit guaranteeing us of what is to come. We are anointed with the Spirit so that, like Christ, we can glorify God with our lives as we become more and more conformed to the image of Jesus through the Spirit’s indwelling power. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit is reminiscent of the anointing of Priests with oil in Biblical times. The Spirits presence identifies us with Christ and shows that we are God’s property – both protected and cherished by Him. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:



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)



“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



The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Gift. Upon conversion, He is the precious Gift believers receive. He comforts and consoles us as well as convicts and councils; He brings Truth to light by reminding us of things once learned and illuminates the new for our greater understanding; He strengthens, equips and empowers us for our God given tasks; He is the Song in our step, the Song in our hearts and the Song in our nights; He is a Gentleman and will never force our obedience; we may shrink His presence by our poor choices, but He will never leave us. Through the Spirit’s power Jesus tells us that we will do even greater things than He did. In our willingness to be faithful vessels to share the Gospel, His power will transform the life of the hearer and we are made part of the eternal even in our humanness. Jesus tells His disciples in Luke:



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)



My question is, with all this available power indwelling believers, why is it we see so little manifestation of the Spirit? Seriously, where are the Peter’s and Paul’s and John’s of our day? Where are those who will stand for the hard right against the easy wrong; those who will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord; those who will clean up their own lives to be a model and reflection of Jesus; those who will die to stinking self and live for Christ? We have one life and we are each accountable for how we live it and the only things done for Christ through the power of the Spirit are acceptable and eternal.



“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 Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are a deep and mysterious union none being greater or less than the other.


• The Spirit is my Counselor, my Advocate, my Power, and my Teacher.


• I am accountable for my life and only those things done for Christ through the Spirit’s power are acceptable and eternal. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

Sharing Bread John 15:25

SHARING BREAD

25 “But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'”


John 15:25 (NIV)

Rejection without reason, prophesized and now Jesus states, fulfilled. Surely there is a “stupidity in wickedness” as well as “the madness of folly” as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 7. The love of the darkness among mankind proves more palatable than their love for the light. Earlier in John we find:

19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21 (NIV)



I am reminded of Isaiah’s words describing the suffering Servant:



3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

Christ – the Light – exposes the evil hidden in the darkest corners of a man’s heart. Flesh loves to cover its flaws does it not? Hiding behind our masks of purity and holiness, sin lurks. It’s a Halloween costume in reverse to be sure – the monster lurking behind the mask of righteousness. Yet God sent His Son to this earth not only on a salvation mission but also on a mission to demonstrate a perfect life lived. Not too dissimilar to the time of the Judges, those in Jesus’ time as well as now, have a tendency to do what is right in their own eyes. We create God according to our own definitions – not Scriptures:

25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Judges 21:25 (NIV)

The light of Jesus’ life and Words exposes the evil within us prompting us to turn to turn to Him and be saved. Scripture tells us there is no one righteous – not even one and that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Scripture also tells us the wages of our sin is death – separation from a holy and perfect God who cannot commune with sin. People do not yearn to be saved until they realize that they have a need to be saved.

“I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Do I have faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made the perfect atonement for sin. Am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things. The redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is the great act of God which He has performed through Christ, and I have to build my faith on it. If I construct my faith on my own experience, I produce the most unscriptural kind of life – an isolated life, with my eyes focused solely on my own holiness. Beware of that human holiness that is not based on the atonement of the Lord. It has no value for anything except a life of isolation – it is useless to God and a nuisance to man.” Oswald Chambers

Jesus came showing us our need and flesh often fights it. We seek to cover our shenanigans (as if God cannot see all), we run and hide as Adam and Eve did in the garden, we stop us our ears and stomp our feet because, quite frankly, we enjoy our wallowing. In our ignorance we forgo God’s best for a cheap imitation offered by the world that will never satisfy. We enjoy the Burger King mantra of having it our own way. The reality is that men often do not change their ways because they simply do not want to change their ways - choosing the disguise of piety as the Pharisees did rather than the true repentance of a broken and contrite heart that is never despised by the Lord:

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV)

God desires for us to be fully penitent over our sin – to be grieved as He is grieved. Sin is not simply a slight in God’s eyes, it breaks our relationship with Him, it always brings death to everything its tentacles touch - not life - and it ultimately never brings good only harm. That is why we are constantly told to flee from it for our own good.

32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• There is stupidity in wickedness as well as madness of folly.


• Jesus came to save me and show me how to live.


• God never despises a broken and contrite heart.

Sharing Bread John 15:22-24

SHARING BREAD

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.


John 15:22-24 (NIV)

There is both privilege and responsibility that accompanies revelation from God. What do we do with what we have received? It matters.

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

In our verses for today Jesus clearly states that those who have been privy to what God has revealed through His Word and through His miraculous signs and wonders yet willfully rejects them are without excuse. Indeed, God tells us through the pen of Paul that there is enough evidence of God’s eternal powers and divine nature in the creation alone to leave man without excuse:

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20 (NIV)

When religious privileges and revelations are misused, man’s guilt is intensified and his condemnation increased. Those Christ spoke to had both heard His teachings and seen His miraculous works – all fingerprints of God – yet continued to remain unbelieving, unmoved. They willfully rejected the clearest possible light and were therefore the guiltiest of all men. What more could He have done for them?

“To see light and not use it, to possess knowledge and yet not turn it to account, to be able to say ‘I know,’ and yet not to say ‘I believe,’ will place us at the lowest place on Christ’s left hand, in the great day of judgment.” John Charles Ryle

We who live in the land of open Bibles and freely preached Gospel should certainly take pause at our Lord’s Words and consider our own lives as well. Revelation must not be lightly regarded - if embraced it helps us toward heaven, if shunned - we only sink deeper into hell. This is not something God merely winks at or takes lightly. We are held accountable to what our ears have heard and our eyes have seen. Our judgment is held according to our light. Luke tells us:

47 "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)




Earlier in John Jesus tells us:



36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent."  John 5:36-38 (NIV)




God lovingly still continually seeks to get our attention and draw us to Himself. He is vastly creative in His efforts using everything from nature to the pastor in the pulpit to the waitress at the restaurant to the child in the neighborhood speaking into our hearts over and over again. Margaret Feinberg calls them “sacred echoes”:



“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


“(Why does God) bother to speak to us? The truly staggering answer that the Bible gives to this question is that God’s purpose in revelation is to make friends with us. It was to this end that he created us rational beings, bearing his image, able to think and hear and speak and love; he wanted there to be genuine personal affection and friendship, two-sided, between himself and us—a relation, not like that between a man and his dog, but like that of a father to his child, or a husband to his wife. Loving friendship between two persons has no ulterior motive; it is an end in itself. And this is God’s end in revelation. He speaks to us simply to fulfill the purpose for which we were made; that is, to bring into being a relationship in which he is a friend to us, and we to him, he finding his joy in giving us gifts and we finding ours in giving him thanks”. J I Packer



What I glean from this:



• Every revelation from God carries with it both privilege and responsibility.


• I must not take God’s revelation lightly.


• God still continues to get my attention drawing me closer to Himself.

Sharing Bread John 15:20-21

SHARING BREAD

20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.


John 15:20-21 (NIV)

Here our Lord reminds His guys (and us) of a Truth previously spoken – the servant is not greater than the Master – go figure. Jesus had delivered similar words to His disciples earlier in John regarding following His lead by demonstrating loving humble service to others. He now takes His principle of leadership and gives it a further application – we are called to share in the sufferings of Jesus as well. This is a high calling indeed and one we sadly often run from and shun. We mistakenly fall into the pattern of believing that if something is difficult it must not be God’s will. Seriously, what could have been more difficult than His innocent Son dying on the cross to save sinful and ungrateful humanity? When will we learn that it is not about us rather it is all about Him?

“In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing.” Charles Spurgeon

It would greatly behoove us to consider our Lord’s Word as He states we are blessed in our obedience to them. We are not blessed by what we know rather we are blessed by our proper response to what we know.

“He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.” Thomas Fuller

Not to follow His example is to exalt ourselves above Him and to live in pride. The plainest Truths are often the strongest arguments for the most difficult duties:

16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16-17 (NIV)





26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26 (NIV)


We perhaps follow the Master now in humiliation yet later it will be in honor and glory. God is our compensation for every sacrifice made on His behalf – and we never out give Him. It also serves as well to remember that everything accomplished or held tightly in the hand apart from Christ will prove “meaningless” or “utterly futile” in the end. All is perishing but the souls of men and the Word of God – it is important to get that straight. Paul tells us in Romans:

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17 (NIV)

“Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.” D.L. Moody

Paul also writes to the Church at Philippi similar words:



29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Phil 1:29-30 (NIV)



“Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger…these are nothing when compared with the glory that will be revealed in, and for us.” David Livingstone



Peter also strengthens this point with his words as well:

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:12-17 (NIV)




“No man is fit to comprehend heavenly things who has not resigned himself to suffer adversities for Christ.” Thomas a Kempis


Just as love is our Lord’s primary theme, hate is the adversaries. It is important to note that a malicious, envious, spiteful spirit is not of Christ but of the world in which Satan now rules. The favorites of heaven are quite plainly not the darlings of the world. They will treat us this way because they neither know Jesus nor the One who sent Him.



What I glean from this:



• I am called to follow Jesus’ lead – I am to pray for strength equal to the tasks He gives me. “Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.” Phillips Brooks


• I must not be surprised by the hatred of the world towards me.


• God is my compensation for every meager sacrifice I make and He is more than sufficient. I can never out give Him. It is He who overflows my cup.

Sharing Bread John 15:18-19

SHARING BREAD

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”


John 15:18-19 (NIV)

It never ceases to amaze me how often I forget or simply disregard the clear red flag warnings found in God’s Word. Jesus has stated I should not be surprised if the world hates me – yet I continue to be caught off guard by it causing me much trouble and perplexity. Our Lord’s Words here are meant to bring both comfort and warning to the believer. We are not to be shocked by the harsh treatment of this world. The world will hate us because we are not like it – if we were, we would be loved by it. This will be found true in every generation as believers in the Lord Jesus will always be as aliens in a foreign land. We would do well to remember earth is not our home, rather heaven is. In like manner, I should not be surprised when I experience trials and tribulations on my sojourn here - according to our Lord Jesus, they are a given as well:

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)



So much for the name it and claim it and no troubles theory so prevalent in our day! Seriously, could our Lord have been any clearer in either of these passages? If we are His disciples, if we follow hard after Him, chances are very good we will not be embraced by the world – perhaps even hated by it. The carnal mind is enmity against God and God’s image in His people. Furthermore, we can expect trouble. This was exactly how our Lord was treated while His feet trod this dusty earth. From His birth (King Herod) to His death (the cross), He was met with hostility and hatred therefore we should not be surprised at the same treatment. Ridicule, slander, mockery, misrepresentations, etc. still express the feeling of the unconverted towards the true Christian. Real vital Christianity will always bring with it a cross. Paul gives us the following warning:



12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim 3:12-13 (NIV)




Peter adds his warning as well:



12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14 (NIV)




“Christ’s followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had.” Matthew Henry



“Jesus promised His disciples three things: that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” F.R. Maltby



Indeed, James goes so far as to state that if we are friends of this world – the system of organized society that is hostile towards God and under the control of Satan – we are enemies of God. As believers in Jesus, we are not to blend with the world:



4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 (NIV)

Furthermore, Christians are to beware of both the praise and the criticism of man. Our emotions - our significance - are not to be controlled by man at all. Pride – that insidious monster - has served to bring the demise and downfall of many - even more so than the debasing slurs which often simply paralyze us.

“To inoculate me from the praise of man, God baptized me into the criticism of man, until I died to the control of man.” Francis Frangipane



“Because Jesus Christ came into the world clothed in humility, He will always be found among those who are clothed with humility.” A.W. Tozer



The example Jesus set forth for us was to simply not care about man’s opinion rather God’s. We are to live our lives before an audience of One. Our Lord knew what was in the hearts of men – He was well aware of the superficiality which lurked within them. John writes earlier regarding this:

24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. John 2:24-25 (NIV)



“It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man.” John Witherspoon



If our relationship with Jesus is right, all our other relationships will fall out from there. He will guide us in our dealings with men. He calls us to love God and to love others whether they embrace or accept His love or not. We are to show the world Jesus in our jars of clay – leaving behind His aroma in our every encounter.

What I glean from this:

• As a believer, Jesus warns me I should not be surprised if I am not embraced by the world.


• I should not expect better treatment than Jesus.


• I am to live my life before an audience of One.