Abiding in Christ and Bearing Good Fruit, Part 1 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 236)

spiritual-warfare

TEXT: John 15:1-2

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

———-

Today, I am continuing the daily Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign sermon series, which is aimed at sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with unbelievers and reminding Christians, in this important election year, to keep the main thing the main thing — and that is reaching unbelievers with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for their salvation, for the problem in America is not only disobedient presidents, politicians, and people, but disobedient pastors, preachers, and parishioners who have refused to obey the Lord’s Great Commission which is to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” and who have refused to obey God’s repeated commands to “pray without ceasing” for unbelievers, believers, and political leaders. Yes, you should pray for the right candidate to win; yes, you should vote for the candidate that the Lord gives you peace about voting for. But, don’t get caught up in it like the world does. Nothing much is going to change until people get saved and get their hearts right with the Lord.

This campaign is inspired by the following three verses: 1 Corinthians 2:2 which says, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Acts 5:42 which says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” And 2 Timothy 2:4 which says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

This series is not for Christians necessarily. However, I do hope you are one of those saints who still loves to hear the “Old, old story of Jesus and His love” — As another hymn says, “For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.” This series is primarily for unbelievers, so they can hear and understand the Gospel and be saved from sin and the punishment of sin which is hell. This is message number 236.

Joseph Parker said, “Humans need Jesus Christ as a necessity and not as a luxury. You may be pleased to have flowers, but you must have bread…. Jesus is not a phenomenon, He is bread: Christ is not a curiosity, He is water. As surely as we cannot live without bread, we cannot live truly without Christ: If we know not Christ we are not living, our movement is a mechanical flutter, our pulse is but the stirring of an animal life.”

In the continuation of His discourse with His disciples before He is arrested to be crucified, Jesus now turns his attention to how He and the Father will interact with the disciples during His physical absence. Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

The vine is a metaphor that everyone in Israel would be familiar with. Grapes, a fruit for which the land of Palestine was well-known, grew on the vine. A good crop of grapes was considered a sign of prosperity and well-being. Jesus takes this metaphor and applies it to himself and the union between His disciples and the Heavenly Father. Every Christian living today is also a part of this vine.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe describes this relationship thusly: “The vines I saw in the Holy Land were large and strong, and it was next to impossible for anyone to break off a mature branch without injuring the vine itself. Our union with Christ is a living union, so we may bear fruit; a loving union, so that we may enjoy Him, and a lasting union, so that we need not be afraid.”

While the concept of the vine was familiar to the disciples, the idea of Jesus being a vine was new to the disciples. It is significant that Jesus says, “My Father is the husbandman.” The husbandman is the person who is in charge of the vine. He plants the seed, checks on its growth, prunes bad growth or unfruitful branches, and then, in season, he collects the harvest.

The fact that Jesus tells us His Father is the husbandman ties this chapter in with the previous one where Jesus said He was going to the cross out of love and obedience to the Father. Just as the Father was in charge of Jesus’ life on earth, the Father will be in charge of the disciples’ lives on earth. Just as Jesus loved God and obeyed God, the disciples were commanded to love God and obey God.

This revelation is significant for two reasons:

First, Jesus is leaving physically, but the disciples are staying behind. The fact that they are “branches” in the vine indicate that they are an outgrowth of Jesus Christ. They are an extension of Him. They are, as C.S. Lewis put it, “little Christs.” An apple tree produces more apples. A tomato vine produces more tomatoes. So, must the Christ-vine produce more little Christs. The disciples could be encouraged knowing that, even though Jesus was gone physically, they were a part of something much bigger than themselves.

The second reason why this news is significant is because, this was Jesus’ first act of turning the disciples over to God. To this point, the disciples only knew God through Jesus Christ. Now, they would begin to know God directly as He began to work in their lives (made possible, of course, only because of Jesus’ sacrifice). This was a growth phase for the disciples. Just as a tree grows from a tiny sapling into a many-branched tree, the disciples would grow up from their step-by-step training with Jesus into full faith in God.

One hymnwriter put it this way —

He’s the vine and we’re the branches,
We should ever abide in Him,
And He should always abide with us
As the flow of life within.

As we hear His instant speaking,
He’s the rich indwelling Word;
To abide we must be faithful
To the speaking that we’ve heard.

Oh, how precious this abiding,
Oh, how intimate and sweet;
As the fruit of life is added,
And our joy is made complete.

Jesus wants you to be a part of His vine and to place your life under God’s control today. Here is how you can do that right now.

The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Please understand that because of your sins, you deserve punishment in hell. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death…” This is both physical death and spiritual death in hell.

But here is the good news. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The phrase “For God so loved the world” means that if you are in this world, God loves you no matter what you have done.

The next phrase, “that He gave His only begotten Son” refers to Jesus Christ. He is God’s son who suffered, bled, and died on the cross for your sins and for mine, and He was buried and rose again.

Our next phrase is “that whosoever believeth in Him”. The word “whosoever” means anybody at anytime. The phrase “believeth in Him” means to trust in Him, to depend upon Him, to rely on Him, or to have faith in Him for your salvation.

Our next phrase, “should not perish”, refers to eternal punishment in a place called hell.

And, lastly, the phrase “but have everlasting life” means to live eternally in Heaven with God.

The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please e-mail me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 22 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 235)

JJMessage

TEXT: John 14:29-31

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

———-

Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf said, “Do you think it was self-denial for the Lord Jesus to come down from heaven to rescue a world: Was it self-denial? No, it was love — love that swallows up everything, and first of all self.”

As this portion of Jesus’ last few hours alive draws to a close, Jesus highlights the reason why He is going through with His sacrifice on the cross. It is not because the Jews will demand His death. It is not because the Romans will nail Him to a cross. It is not because Satan is coming to drag Him away to His death. It is not because Judas has forced His hand through betrayal.

It is because of the reason given in verse 31: “That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so do I.”

Jesus loved the Father and would be obedient to Him unto the end. The disciples knew that Jesus loved the Father; Jesus had tried to impart that love to them throughout His life and ministry. Just as the disciples’ love for Jesus would be shown through their obedience, Jesus’ love for His Father would be shown through His obedience to the Father’s command.

The Father’s commandment was for Him to lay down His life for the salvation of the world. If someone, even God, told you to lay down your life for someone else, would you do it? If you loved that person dearly, you might consider it. But what if God told you to suffer the death penalty for a serial killer? Would you do that? Jesus did. That is what it meant for Him to be obedient to the Father’s command.

In Shirley Jackson’s famous short story, “The Lottery,” a small American farming town of about 300 people holds an annual drawing to ensure a good harvest. Every family must write their name on a slip of paper and put it in a box. The next day, the drawing is held and a family is selected. The head of household, Bill Hutchinson, takes the slip of paper with his family’s name on it. Then a second-round drawing is held and one person above 16 years of age in that family is selected. Bill’s wife, Tessie, is picked. The townsfolk pick up stones and stone her to death, sacrificing her, they believe, to ensure a good crop. When Mrs. Jackson published that story in The New Yorker in 1948, many readers were so appalled by it that they sent hate mail and cancelled their subscriptions for several months.

We can easily identify with how those readers felt regarding the unfairness of that situation, not to mention the false, superstitious beliefs of the townsfolk. While Mrs. Jackson never claimed to be a Christian, some critics have recognized Christian symbolism in her story. One can imagine God looking down from the towers of eternity across the vast plain of history past and future, searching for a suitable sacrifice to save fallen humanity. Having found none, He turns to His own Son and gives Him the commandment to lay down His life for the good of the world.

Rodney A. Whitacre said, “The cross itself will demonstrate what everything else in Jesus’ life has also testified — that he loves the Father and is obedient to him. Here is a manifestation for the world that is meant for the salvation of the world. The cross is both God’s judgment and his evangelism, and both are expressions of his love.”

Just as Tessie was stoned to death by the people for the good of the people, Jesus Christ allowed himself to be put to death by the people for the good of the people. Of course, Jesus went to the cross willingly because He loved His Father. Later, the world would look on Jesus’ willing act of sacrifice and marvel at the love, the sacrifice, and the obedience of the only begotten Son of God. Thus, at the end of this part of their discussion, Jesus tells His disciples, “Arise, let us go hence.” ‘The time for talk is over. Let me walk this path of obedience, love, and sacrifice.’

Isaac Watts wrote:

Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, His creature’s sin.

That is why Jesus went to the cross… because He loved God and because they both loved the world and desired to save it from sin.

But here is the good news. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The phrase “For God so loved the world” means that if you are in this world, God loves you no matter what you have done.

Our next phrase, “should not perish”, refers to eternal punishment in a place called hell.

And, lastly, the phrase “but have everlasting life” means to live eternally in Heaven with God.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 21 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 234)

JJMessage

TEXT: John 14:29-31

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

———-

Max Lucado said, “If you knew that only a few would care that you came, would you still come? If you knew that those you loved would laugh in your face, would you still care? If you knew that the tongues you made would mock you, the mouths you made would spit at you, the hands you made would crucify you, would you still make them? Christ did.”

From verse 29, we talked about the fact that Jesus was in control of everything that was happening around Him. Jesus further asserts His control in verse 30.

First, Jesus says, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you.” In other words, the time for discourse is almost over. Soon, there will be action, although, as we will see from the next few chapters, Jesus still had a lot to say to the disciples. The contents of those chapters appear to have been compressed into the space of a few hours — at the last supper, after the last supper, on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, and then while Jesus and the disciples were in the Garden before Jesus went to pray alone.

Jesus’ warning that He would not spend time talking with them much longer would have served to get the disciples to sit up and pay attention to whatever Jesus would say next.

Now, Jesus says, “For the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” The prince of this world is Satan. And Satan was coming. Like Jesus, Satan felt as though he were in control. He felt as though Jesus was on the edge of a cliff, and all it would take was a little push to send Him over the edge. The Jewish religious leaders had made it clear they wanted Him dead. The Romans were poised to crush any disturbances in the city. Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, had betrayed him. The remaining disciples were scared and worried, and they would prove useless in the hours ahead. All of this, not to mention the massive Satanic spiritual presence in the city at that moment.

Satan felt he had Jesus isolated, all alone. But, Jesus said, “the Prince of this world hath nothing in me.” What did he mean? The Bible Knowledge Commentary states that “Satan was moving his forces against Jesus. And yet Satan had no hold on Jesus. Sin leads to death, and sin and death give Satan a hold over people. But since Jesus is sinless, Satan cannot claim Him for his kingdom of darkness.” Satan had strings on the Romans, on the Jews, on Judas, even on the other disciples. But he had no strings on Jesus.

Perhaps Satan thought he had a chance to pull Jesus down because He was in flesh as any other man at this moment. Many men have broken under the weight of isolation, betrayal, opposition, and Satanic oppression. But, not Jesus. Satan thought, since Jesus had refused to bow to him three years prior, that if he could engineer Jesus’ death now, he would win. But he was mistaken.

Jesus was not dragged to His death, an unwilling victim. He went willingly, in complete control of His own person. He permitted the actions of the Romans, the Jews, Judas, and the disciples. Jesus could have stopped them. He could have stepped in and brought Satan’s plans to a screeching halt — but that would have only handed Satan the victory that he wanted, and Jesus would go home a failed Messiah.

Every time Jesus turned around , it seemed as if the deck was being stacked against him. That every one who had said they loved Him was leaving Him, betraying Him, denying Him, or growing too afraid to do anything about the present situation. But Jesus pressed on. He continued on His path to the cross. He never gave up because He loved you and me.

One hymn puts it like this:

Just before His trial, Jesus entered dark Gethsemane;
Leaving eight outside, he took Peter and two sons of Zebedee.
Oh, the anguish in the garden, as again He left the three;
And He went a little farther, all the way to Calvary!

See Him praying, hear him groaning; death sweeps over Him like a flood;
“Let this cup pass from me, Father”—sweat runs down as drops of blood!
“Not my will, Lord, I will drink it: let Thy will be done in me.”
And He went a little farther, all the way to Calvary!

Now He marches to Golgotha, scourged and thorn-crowned on the road;
Bears the cross upon His shoulder, sinks beneath the heavy load!
Mocked, reviled, by friends forsaken—all for you, and all for me—
And He went a little farther, all the way to Calvary!

Jesus did not give up on making sure that salvation was made available to you. Will you receive the free gift that He offers out of love? Here is how you can trust Jesus Christ as your Savior today.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 20 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 233)

JJMessage

TEXT: John 14:28-29

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

———-

Alexander Maclaren said, ‘He that has no present Christ has a future — dark, chaotic, heaving with its destructive ocean — foreboding with evil in the present and evil in the future. But He to whom there is a present Christ may well live in all the glorious distance of the unknown to come. His presence shall make all your past, present, and future to be bright and beautiful because all are centered in Him.’

In the closing words of John 14, we see again the emphasis that Jesus has placed on the fact that He is in control of everything that is happening and that is about to happen. Jesus tells His disciples, “now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” Jesus could have kept all that was about to happen to Himself and explained everything to the disciples later. But, Jesus wanted them to believe in Him and to trust Him just as much as He trusted the Father.

In the disciples’ mind, they could not see a reason why anyone would kill Jesus or why Jesus would willingly go to his death. They were shocked at the news that there was a betrayer among them. Peter was bewildered by Jesus’ prediction that he would deny Him three times that very night. They were still struggling to wrap their heads around the fact that Jesus was going away.

For those very reasons, Jesus tells them what is going on ahead of time so that when they see it happening they will believe. This would, of course, cause them to believe Jesus even more. Their faith would grow because they would realize that Jesus had been in control all along. Suppose someone successfully and repeatedly predicted events in your life years, months, and weeks before they happened, and each time you turned around, you realized that they had been right. Well, after several cycles of prophecy and fulfillment, you would begin to have confidence in that person. You would listen to what they say. When they tell you something — even something that may not make sense to you — you would be inclined to believe them.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary states, “Fulfilled prophecy is a great comfort and support to believers. Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection many times. When this came to pass, after the disciples’ initial shock, it would greatly help their faith.”

Telling the disciples what would happen ahead of time was also another way in which Jesus tried to comfort them on this, their last night together. The thing most people worry about is the future. What’s going to happen tomorrow? What’s going to happen next week? What’s going to happen next year? Jesus wanted the disciples to know that they did not have to worry about the future; they could have assurance and peace because they knew the One who knew the future. And, if Jesus was not worried — if Jesus knew everything would be all right — the disciples had no reason to worry either.

Katharina A. von Schlegel wrote:

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

You can have peace, confidence, and assurance about the future — not because you know what is going to happen, but because you know Jesus who is in complete control of what is going to happen.

Here is how you can trust Him as your Savior today.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 19 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 232)

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TEXT: John 14:28-29

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

———-

A.B. Simpson said, “We must learn to live on the heavenly side and look at things from above. To contemplate all things as God sees them, as Christ beholds them, overcomes sin, defies Satan, dissolves perplexities, lifts us above trials, separates us from the world and conquers fear of death.”

Jesus has talked about giving His disciples joy, peace, and comfort in light of His soon-coming absence from them. But now, in this part of the discussion, we gain a glimpse of Jesus’ joy at the prospect of going home.

Jesus says, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.” Jesus is glad, not that His disciples will be left here on the earth, but that His journey is almost complete. He is eager to return to Heaven. He is eager to go back to His throne beside the Father once He completes His work on earth.

But, now, it sounds like He is putting the disciples on a guilt trip. He says, “If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father.” It sounds like Jesus is saying something that one of us might say. “You’re my friends. You ought to be happy that this good thing is happening to me, even though it’s not happening to you.”

Now, the disciples did love Jesus, but their love for Him was not strong enough (at this point) to overcome their fear of being alone without Jesus. They were still focused on themselves. They did not like how things were shaping up for them with all this talk about Jesus being God. Yes, Jesus said the Comforter would come, Jesus said He would return for them, but they had no hard evidence to go on. So, they were not too happy about Jesus going back to the Father.

Why should they be happy about this? Jesus says it is because, “My Father is greater than I.” This simple sentence has been the subject of great debate since early on in the church’s history. Some have tried to use this verse to say that Jesus’ “Godhood” was less than that of God the Father. But that is not the case.

John Walvoord and Roy Zuck said, “Arians and Jehovah’s Witnesses argue from the statement, The Father is greater than I, that Jesus is a lesser god. But this would make Jesus a created being or would lead to polytheism, both of which are clearly unbiblical. The Father and the Son share the same essence. The Father and the Son are “One” in purpose and essence. Thus the Father is greater in office or glory than the Son was in His humiliation.”

The Bible Exposition Commentary states, “When Jesus said “My Father is greater than I”, He was not denying His own deity or His equality with God, for then He would have been contradicting Himself. When Jesus was here on earth, He was necessarily limited by having a human body. He voluntarily laid aside the independent exercise of His divine attributes and submitted Himself to the Father. In that sense, the Father was greater than the Son.”

Jesus’ great love and devotion throughout His life was to His Father. He has previously testified to the fact that He has always been obedient to the Father and has spoken and done only what the Father has commanded Him to speak and do. Jesus’ return to Heaven would be triumphant and glorious. But why should the disciples rejoice?

Dr. Warren Wiersbe said the disciples should rejoice because Jesus’ return to Heaven “made possible His wonderful intercessory ministry on our behalf as our great High Priest in heaven.” This is not to mention that Jesus’ return to Heaven meant that God would send the Holy Spirit to live within the disciples, something that Jesus had never done. It also meant Jesus would continue His work of preparing a place in Heaven for His disciples.

If the disciples had stopped to think about it, they would realize that they had three major reasons to rejoice at Jesus’ return to Heaven. Then they could say with the hymn writer:

I’ve a home prepared where the saints abide,
Just over in the glory land;
And I long to be by my Savior’s side,
Just over in the glory land.

I am on my way to those mansions fair,
Just over in the glory land;
There to sing God’s praise and His glory share,
Just over in the glory land.

What a joyful thought that my Lord I’ll see,
Just over in the glory land;
And with kindred saved, there forever be,
Just over in the glory land.

These three reasons to rejoice would give them the comfort, peace, and joy that Jesus had promised. You, too, can have reasons to rejoice in the midst of the troubles of your life if you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior today. Jesus will be in Heaven praying for you. God will send the Holy Spirit to live inside of you. And Jesus will be preparing a home in Heaven for you.

Here is how you can trust Jesus Christ as your Savior today.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 17 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 230)

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TEXT: John 14:22-26

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

———-

F.F. Bruce said, “Where love and obedience are shown, the presence of God and of Christ is realized; the Father and the Son together make their home with each of the children.”

Jesus has made it clear that the test of love is obedience. Those who love Him and obey Him are those to whom the Father and the Son will dwell with and manifest themselves. Jesus now says, “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” There will be those, like Judas, who claim to love Jesus, but will not obey Him. Jesus reminds us that such a person is disobeying God because His commands come from the Father.

Rodney A. Whitacre said, “In this passage, as throughout the Gospel, we have the dependency of the Son upon the Father. The Father, in love, sent the Son, and so those who receive the Son in love will receive this love of the Father. For the word that they obey in love is not the Son’s but that of the Father himself. Jesus’ word is not the word of a mere human teacher that can be debated and modified; it comes from the Father and thus is and expresses ultimate reality. Those who do not love and obey the Son reject the Father himself.”

Jesus anticipates that His disciple will not understand all that He is saying to them now. With His arrest and crucifixion looming and the disciples going into hiding for fear for their own lives, they will certainly not be able to digest Jesus’ words fully. So, Jesus returns to the subject of the Comforter, introducing him now not just as an encourager and constant companion, but as a teacher.

Verse 26 reads, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

In the very near future, the disciples would need to be reminded of Jesus’ words. At that time, the Holy Spirit would bring those words to their remembrance and would help them understand exactly what Jesus meant. They would learn by living out their lives as believers. This is how the disciples got through all of the difficulties that they faced as they followed Jesus’ command for them to take the Gospel to the whole world. The were sustained, guided, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. They never forgot Jesus’ words because they had the Holy Spirit to remind them.

Many who are not saved cannot understand why Jesus did what He did or said what He said. Even if someone were to explain it to them, they still would not grasp it. What that person needs is the Holy Spirit living inside of them to show them, teach them, and reveal to them the meaning of Jesus’ words in the course of everyday life. Of course, the Holy Spirit will only come to them if they first believe on Jesus Christ as Savior.

Understanding is not a prerequisite to salvation. Jesus did not hang around to make sure His disciples understood everything that He had said. He just made sure that they believed in Him and were dedicated to obeying Him. They would understand everything by and by.

We are tossed and driven
on the restless sea of time;
somber skies and howling tempests
oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day,
when the mists are rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by.

Temptations, hidden snares
often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed
for a thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test
when we try to do our best,
but we’ll understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are in the sky,
we’ll tell of how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by.

You may not understand everything there is to understand about salvation now, but if you trust Christ as your Savior today, you will understand it better by and by?

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 16 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 229)

spiritual-warfare

TEXT: John 14:22-24

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

———-

Philip Yancey said, “The New Testament tells us that love for God, which means acting in loving ways toward God, nurtures the relationship and leads toward growth. I do not get to know God, then do his will; I get to know him by doing his will.”

In our last message we read that for a little while the world saw Jesus, but once Jesus left the earth, only the disciples would see Jesus. Jesus had used the word “manifest” to explain how He was God showing Himself to the world. The meaning of the word “manifest” is to show forth, to make plain, or to reveal. So the disciples couldn’t understand what the deal was with Jesus saying He would from now on manifest Himself to them, but not to the world.

One of the disciples named Judas asked this question, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” (This Judas was the son of Thomas, and is normally identified with the disciples named Thaddeus by Matthew and Mark.) How could Jesus show Himself just to the disciples, but not to world?

This is Jesus’ answer: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

What Jesus is saying here is that He will no longer abide with people who do not love Him and who do not obey Him. They will not get to know who Jesus is. They can read about Him, they can hear about Him, they can be informed of who He says He is, but they will not know Him intimately like the disciples know Him. They will not be a part of His family, and God will not be their father.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe says that this does not mean that Jesus is changing His divine plans for the world to be saved. “Jesus had been rejected by His own people, so He could not manifest Himself to them. In fact, it was an act of mercy that He did not manifest Himself to the world, because that would have meant judgment. He has revealed Himself to His church and left the church in the world to be a witness of God’s love…. One day He will return and the world will behold Him [as the Judge of the universe].”

Another way of putting it is that Jesus has revealed Himself to His disciples and to His church. It is the responsibility of the church to reveal Him to the world — to invite people to become a part of His body.

If anybody wants to know Jesus or have Jesus’ presence manifested in their life, they must do two things: (1) They must love Him, and (2) They must obey Him. That is what Jesus means by “keeping” His words. Only then, Jesus says, “we [Him and His Father] will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” The word “abode” means a permanent residence. Imagine, God and Jesus Christ coming to live with you and in you. That is what Jesus meant when He told His disciples that they would “see” Him and that He would continue to manifest Himself to them even after He was gone. Jesus lived in them and with them and He wants to live in you and with you today as well.

Margaret E. Barber wrote:

Can you be obedient
To the Lord of all,
Though the earth should tremble,
Though the heavens should fall?
Face even a disaster
With an obedient heart,
Knowing naught can harm him
Who with Christ will start?

Are you ready to start your life with Christ today by trusting Him as your Savior? Here is how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 13 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 226)

TEXT: John 14:16-18

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

———-

Charles Spurgeon said, “Between Christ on earth and his disciples what a distance there was! In his condescension he came very near to them; but yet you always perceive a gulf between the wise Master and the foolish disciples. Now the Holy Ghost annihilates that distance by dwelling in us.”

When Jesus first described the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the third member of the Godhead who is just like Himself, the disciples must have been glad. Surely they felt better knowing that some semblance of Jesus’ presence would continue to be with them even after He had return to Heaven. Surely they felt comforted.

In our last message, we talked about how the Holy Spirit comes alongside and dwells in believers. He is a constant companion, friend, counselor, and guide. Surely, everyone wants a friend like this in their life. However, there are some who cannot receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls Him “the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.”

Why is it impossible for those in the world to count the Holy Spirit as their friend? Because Satan is the Prince of this World and the Father of Lies. He deceives the world, hoping that people will not come to Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in those who are still bound to Satan’s world system. Only those who are free and have been saved by the blood of Jesus receive the Holy Spirit; because we, like the disciples, “know him”, and we see the world as it truly is.

Dr. Walvoord and Dr. Zuck add: “The world cannot receive the Spirit because the world lives ‘by sight’ and not by faith. Furthermore, the world does not know Jesus Christ; and you cannot have the knowledge of the Spirit apart from the Son. The presence of the Spirit in this world is actually an indictment against the world, for the world rejected Jesus.”

Yes, it is a tragic fact that, while believers can joyfully sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus,” the world misses out on the friendship of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus ends this little dialogue with these comforting words: “He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” What a relief this must have been to the disciples who had constantly heard Jesus talking about His impending death. Historians tell us that Jewish religious leaders were often considered the “fathers” of their disciples — at least spiritually speaking. When their leader died, those disciples became orphans — without a head, a guide, someone to instruct and defend them. Jesus did not leave His disciples that way. He left them with the Holy Spirit. They did not have to fear being orphans.

Jesus’ words, “I will come to you,” are a relief for us today because, although Jesus was raised from the dead and is in Heaven right now, sometimes, we can still feel lonely on this earth. We can feel like God is nowhere to be found. But, we do not have to feel this way because the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and comforts us.

Anne S. Murphy wrote —

There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
A peace that it cannot take away;
Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I’ve a peace that has come and is here to stay!

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
Constantly abiding, rapture divine;
He never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:
“I will never leave thee,” Jesus is mine.

Are you ready to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior so that you can receive the Holy Spirit? If so, here is how.

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 12 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 225)

JJMessage

TEXT: John 14:16-18

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

———-

Corrie ten Boom said, “Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”

The first major assurance that Jesus gave His disciples in light of the fact that He was about to leave them was that He was going to Heaven to prepare a place for them and that He would return to take them with Him. Today, we come to the second major assurance in this discourse: it is that God would send a Comforter to be with them forever.

Jesus told His disciples, “I will pray the Father…” Henry Alford notes that the future tense of this verb — “will pray” — indicates that a physical closeness is implied here. Jesus was planning on making this request after He got back to Heaven and was sitting right beside the Father.

Jesus’ request, however, is not for Himself, but for His disciples and for all who would believe in Him. He asks for “another Comforter, that he may abide with you [the disciples] for ever.” This would have been great news to the disciples. They would have been glad to know that someone else would be coming to be with them just as Jesus had been with them. And, not just someone else, but someone just like Jesus — that is what the Greek word used for “another” means — another of the same kind.

The word “Comforter” has the meaning of someone who is called upon to help or to come to one’s aid. One writer said this word, “signifies not only a comforter, but also an advocate, a defender of a cause, a counsellor, a patron, and a mediator.” The Bible Exposition Commentary states, “The Holy Spirit is given two special names by our Lord: ‘another Comforter’ and ‘the Spirit of truth.’ The Greek word translated ‘Comforter’ is pa-ra-kli-tos and it is used only by John. It means one who is ‘called alongside to assist.’ The Holy Spirit does not work instead of us, or in spite of us, but in us and through us. Our English word comfort comes from two Latin words meaning ‘with strength.’ We usually think of ‘comfort’ as soothing someone, consoling him or her, and to some extent this is true. But true comfort strengthens us to face life bravely and keep on going. It does not rob us of responsibility or make it easy for us to give up. Some translations call the Holy Spirit ‘the Encourager,’ and this is a good choice of words.”

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit — the Third Person of the Trinity — is all of this and more. God answered this prayer request for Jesus on the behalf of the disciples after Jesus returned to Heaven. Since then, every believer has been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would “abide” with them forever. Jesus was leaving, but the Holy Spirit would be with God’s children for all time. He fulfills in those who are saved the same role that Jesus’ physical presence fulfilled when He was with His disciples. He teaches us, explains things to us, guides us in the right direction, and helps us to see the world through God’s eyes.

The Holy Spirit is better than the best of friends. A good friend encourages you, supports you, comforts you, strengthens you, explains things to you, and helps you make right decisions, but a good friend must eventually leave you and live his or her own life. Those of us who believe in Jesus are blessed to have the greatest Friend in the world — one who abides with us forever.

Andrew Reed wrote —

Holy Spirit, truth divine,
dawn upon this soul of mine;
Voice of God and inward light,
wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, love divine,
glow within this heart of mine.
Kindle every high desire,
purify me with your fire.

Holy Spirit, power divine,
fill and nerve this will of mine.
Boldly may I always live,
bravely serve, and gladly give.

You can have this Friend in your life as well if you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ today. You too can have the Holy Spirit as your Comforter in this life.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 11 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 224)

JJMessage

TEXT: John 14:15

15 If ye love me keep my commandments.

———-

Ignatius said, “It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”

One thing about Jesus that the disciples never had to doubt was His love for them which He showed through His words and actions. Now, they were about to be separated from Him and He was leaving them with instructions and advice, as well as spiritual comfort regarding what they should do in His absence.

Now, Jesus tells them, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

The only response to Jesus’ love for any of us is love in return. As John wrote, “We love Him because He first loved us.” But, what is the true measure of love? Jesus says that love is evidenced by obedience. Peter and the other disciples were bold in saying that they would never betray Jesus, that they would die for Him, that they would be with Him unto the end. However, Jesus said the way the disciples would show their love for Him was by keeping His commandments.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary said: “The disciples’ love for Christ is revealed in their obeying His commands. Christ has set the pattern of love and obedience; His disciples are expected to follow.”

For a while in our Christian life, our love for Jesus might be shown through fervency, emotion, and passion. However, like in a marriage, fervency, emotion, and passion often fade. How do you love Jesus when you don’t “feel” like you are in love with Him? At such times — and at all times — love for Christ is shown through obedience.

While love ought to be the driving force of our obedience, our obedience is also proof of our love. The person who truly loves Jesus will obey Him. The person who obeys Him is the person who loves Him.

Obedience is not always easy. But don’t we do difficult things for those whom we love? Good fathers get up and go to work at jobs they don’t like because they love their families and know that they must provide for them. Good mothers make sacrifices all the time because they love their children. Soldiers risk their lives for love of country. Teachers endure disrespect and inadequate pay because they love their students.

The disciples showed their love for Jesus by their obedience to Him. After He returned to Heaven, they endured persecution, hatred, difficulty, and death all because they were obeying Jesus’ command to take the Gospel to the whole world. In the end, each of the disciples proved their love for Jesus in the very ways that they had boldly proclaimed that they would — through following Him through difficulty and death. They loved and they obeyed.

As the hymn says…

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

If you are ready to begin your journey of love, trust, and obedience to Christ, please trust Him as your Savior today. Here is how.

First, please understand that you are a sinner and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Please understand that because of your sins, you deserve punishment in hell. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death…” This is both physical death and spiritual death in hell.

But here is the good news. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The phrase “For God so loved the world” means that if you are in this world, God loves you no matter what you have done.

Our next phrase, “should not perish”, refers to eternal punishment in a place called hell.

And, lastly, the phrase “but have everlasting life” means to live eternally in Heaven with God.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

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