Stay with Me

“Abide in Me” – John 15:4a

 

Ever have a problem with a relationship? Maybe you just aren’t a people person. Maybe you are in a fracturing relationship; a breaking marriage; a conflict with the kids; a problem with your parents; or maybe you’re having a falling out with someone at work or a neighbor. If any of this describes you, help is available. In John 15 Jesus speaks of relationship and how the Holy Spirit, the Helper, helps us with those relationships.

In John 15 we see that the Holy Spirit helps us to have a good relationship with Jesus (15:1-11). Then we see that the Holy Spirit helps us to have a good relationship with other believers (15:12-17). The Holy Spirit helps us in our relationships with those in the world (15:18-25). And lastly we see that the Holy Spirit and His help is a promise from the Father we can rely on (15:26-27).

The most important relationship for anyone is a relationship with Jesus. If that relationship is in order then all others relationships will fall in line. As we examine this chapter in the gospel of John you will see the blessed truth that Jesus wants us to stay close to Him. He’s not just looking for people to serve Him; He’s looking for friends. It’s not that He needs us. It’s that He loves us. What a wonderful Savior we have; One who seeks us out and holds us close. The Holy Spirit helps us to stay close to Jesus. The Helper helps us be held close to Jesus. Let’s looks at His welcoming words.

The Holy Spirit Helper helps us in our relationship with Jesus.  “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). This is the eighth “I am” statement of Jesus. And in this “I am” statement Jesus introduces the importance of a person’s relationship with Him. Like a branch that gets its life from the vine it is attached to, so too the follower of Jesus is alive and well only in that they are attached to Jesus.

This is a relationship that needs regular care. As Jesus refers to the Father as the vinedresser and at the end of the chapter refers to the Holy Spirit as the One He will send from the Father, we see the fullness of the Triune God at work in our relationship building. The first relationship, our relationship that must take priority over all others is our relationship with Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

Pruning involves taking away dead parts, propping up sagging branches and generally caring for the branches. Sometimes a branch laden with fruit is so heavy laden it is bent down almost to the point of breaking. If you’ve ever planted tomato plants you know a time comes, when the tomatoes are getting big that you have to put a stick in the ground next to the tomato branch and tie it with strings to the stick in order that the tomatoes don’t bend the branch down and break it. Similarly the Lord our vinedresser provides a support for us the branch so that we won’t break. “A bruised reed he will not break” (Matthew 12:20). The vinedresser keeps a watchful eye on the vine and its branches and provides loving care so it will produce a good harvest of fruit.

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). A healthy branch is fruitful and growing. We are the branches. A branch is attached to the vine and becomes a part of the vine. If a branch is not producing it means it isn’t connected properly to the vine. There may be something hindering its receiving the nutrients it needs to grow. But unfruitful branches are dead. A branch that is not producing fruit prevents the vine from growing and producing properly. A dead branch is therefore removed or pruned so that a healthy fruit producing branch can grow into its place and the vine can produce a harvest.

^“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3). A branch needs regular washing. Here Jesus speaks of the importance of the His word to the health of the branches. Branches are endangered by insects, dirt and pollutants. Such things need to be washed off the branch if it is to remain healthy. Branches need watering for nutrients as well as for cleansing. Fruit needs cleaning before it can be eaten. Jesus tells us the health of a branch is dependent on the washing. For us the branches, that washing is done with the water of the word of God (cf. also Eph. 5:26). We need to be regularly in God’s word to protect us from contaminants that would infect us and deter our spiritual growth. If we want to be clean and fruitful, if we want our relationship with Jesus to grow, we need to be washed regularly in the word of God.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).  We need to “abide” in Jesus if we are to be fruitful. Jesus illustrates what He means by “abide” (Greek meno – to stay in a given place, to continue in, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, and tarry) with the reference to the vine and its branches. A branch is a part of the vine; you can’t get closer than that. A branch is as close to the vine as it can possibly be. The idea is to be at home with; a branch is at home in the vine. Jesus is saying, “Stay close to Me; make your abode with Me.” How close are you to Jesus?

A branch that abides in the vine gets its nourishment from it. A branch also reproduces according to the nature of the vine to which it is attached. A healthy branch reproduces. We can also say that the vine holds onto the branches. It is from the vine that the branch is produced. There is an attachment to Jesus the follower has. But there is also an attachment Jesus says He has to us. The only way we can be fruitful followers of Jesus is through our abiding attachment to Jesus.

Jesus is speaking about relationship. And it is the Helper, the Holy Spirit who attaches or helps us to abide to Jesus in relationship. Our abiding relationship with Jesus is one where we walk with Him, talk with Him, and regularly consult Him throughout our day and our lives. It is only through this living Holy Spirit produced relationship with Jesus that we can grow in our faith and be fruitful. 

And Jesus has referred to “My word.” We abide in Jesus as we regularly meet with Him in devotions prayerfully taking in His word. We abide in Jesus as we get our reproductive DNA. We abide in Jesus as we are nourished from our attachment to Him. We abide in Jesus as through the Holy Spirit we remain in an ongoing conversation with Jesus throughout the day.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;” (John 15:5a).  We can’t do anything without Jesus. A branch removed from the vine dies. Nothing of eternal worth or significance can be accomplished without Jesus. We abide in Jesus and become fruitful in and through Him as we consult Him in prayer, obey His word, and then give Him glory for fruitful results.

 

What “fruit” are we to bear? What are we to be producing in our lives as we abide in Jesus? The Bible defines fruit as: Winning souls – John 4:27-38; Fellowship – Romans 1:13; Living a holy life – Romans 6:22; Giving – Romans 15:28; Serving and helping others practically – Colossians 1:6, 10; Praising and worshipping God – Hebrews 13:15; and Love – Galatians 5:22. How fruitful are you?

 

Jesus then points out, “for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). That done without Jesus has no eternal value. Just as that done without love has no eternal value (1 Corinthians 13:1-3), that done without Jesus has no eternal value. Something done in Jesus’ name means it is done for Jesus glory and the way Jesus would do it. If you leave Jesus out of the equation, what you do is worthless.

 

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6).  Abiding in Jesus is essential to spiritual life. Those who don’t abide in Jesus, who choose to walk an alternative route to heaven other than Jesus, those people wither spiritually. “Wither” (Greek xeraino) means to shrivel up, to dry up, pine away, be past ripening. There is no spiritual life apart from Jesus.

 

If you’re feeling spiritually dry or shriveled up, maybe it’s because in some way you’re not abiding in Jesus. But there are those who never abide in Jesus. Those will be removed and cast out into the fire; a symbol of eternal fire (cf. Rev. 20).

 

But there are also times of “the dark night of the soul.” There are times when we become dry or feel distant from God simply because of our humanness. These are times when the Lord allows a darkness and distance between the believer and Him in order to build our faith and better appreciate His presence when we do enjoy it. The dark night helps us not take God’s presence for granted. The dark night provides an opportunity for our faith to be built not on feeling but simply on the word of God and trusting in His faithfulness; who He is.

 

How do we know whether or not we have distanced ourselves from abiding in God or are simply experiencing a dark night of the soul? Only through walking in the Spirit and meditating on His word can we discern what we are going through.

 

^“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7). Jesus target is our heart. Jesus wants His word to abide in us. But where does He want them to abide in us? Not merely our head, but in our heart. Salvation is in the heart and our heart is where His words need to abide. Our mind is too cool and calculating. It is our heart that is capable of getting a passionate grip on things.

 

There is a big difference between understanding Jesus with your head and holding on to Him with your heart. Our mind changes its view on things repeatedly. But the heart holds on. Ever date someone you knew wasn’t right for you or that wasn’t good for you? You may have known in your head that the person wasn’t the Lord’s will for you or was not right for you, but it was still hard to break up because the heart holds onto things; onto people.

 

It is in the heart that God works: “Thy word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not win against You” (Psalm 119:11). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph. 3:17). Jesus wants us to abide with Him with our heart; He wants us to take His word into our heart, because the heart is where we hold onto things, onto people, onto Him. The heart is the instrument of abiding.

 

Pray with your heart. The word of God and our relationship with Jesus abide in our heart as we prayerfully meditate and contemplate the word and Jesus. As we use our minds to think about the word and Jesus the word and Jesus slowly sink deeper into us and get planted in our heart. Make Jesus the focus of your thinking and He will soon become your abiding Lord. Focus on, memorize and study the word of God and it will soon be embedded in your heart in an abiding way. When Jesus and His words are abiding in us our prayers will be right on target and we can ask and receive freely.

 

^“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).  Fruitful disciples glorify God. Examples of fruitfulness would be sharing Jesus with other, winning souls, making disciples, sharing His word with others, and living in the love of Jesus; being a disciple. When we do that we bring glory to God. This is a work of the Spirit.

 

A “disciple” (Greek mathetes) is a pupil, a learner, a student. By referring to His followers as disciples Jesus is implying there is learning involved in following Him. A disciple lives a vibrant alive life of growing in their abiding relationship with Jesus. And all of this begins when one is born again by the Holy Spirit our Helper (cf. John 3). 

 

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (John15:9).  Disciples of Jesus abide in His love. Jesus again emphasizes the Father’s love for Him and His love for His disciples. And He then He says “abide in My love.” “Love” (Greek agapeo) means to welcome, to love dearly, to love socially and morally. Love as Jesus loved is to love in a self-giving way. Disciples of Jesus stay attached to and live in the love Jesus modeled to them.

 

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). We abide in Jesus’ love through obeying His word. Jesus modeled obedient love through His obedience to the Father. Jesus’ disciples must now follow in His steps by obeying His words as the expression of their love to Him. There is no love without obedience.

 

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11). All of this produces joy in the disciple of Jesus. “Joy” (Greek chara) refers to cheerfulness, calm delight, a settled assurance based on faith in Jesus that He is in control. When we express our love through obedience to Jesus’ word and are fruitful in the process, it leads to us having a joyful settled assurance in life. The one who trusts in Jesus and abides in Him by the Holy Spirit is the one who will have a settled not rattled outlook on life.

The Helper helps with our relationship with fellow believers.  “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). With their relationship with Jesus in place, the disciples are to turn to their relationship with other disciples. Disciples are to love one another as Jesus has loved them. There is no such thing as a disciple of Jesus who does not love. A person may claim to be a disciple of Jesus, but if they aren’t loving and growing in love they are making false claims. To abide in Jesus’ word is to abide in His love.

Jesus commands that we love. Love is not optional as far as Jesus is concerned. But love by nature is volitional; you have to choose to love. Machines can’t love. Love must be something agreed to in the heart. We decide whether to obey or not; we decide whether or not to love. Love is an action to take. Love is a matter of faith that works. Love is not a mere feeling. We don’t love or not love based on what we feel. Love is an action to be done in faith. Love transcends feelings. When we love we love regardless of whether or not we feel like it.

Feelings follow acts of faith. If we only acted on our feelings we would do a lot of wrong sinful things and probably neglect what is good and holy and loving. If we only loved those we felt like loving we’d probably not love as many people as God would have us love. But here’s the thing, feelings follow acts of faith. When we take a step of faith and love because Jesus us commands us to love, the feelings usually follow. If a couple has supposedly fallen out of love with each other, if they take a step of faith and act lovingly toward each other their feelings of love for one another will be rekindled. So next time you don’t feel like acting in love just remember, Jesus commands us to love; love is not an option; love is an action commanded for us by Jesus.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).  The greatest and most accurate expression of Jesus’ love is in laying down our life for others. “Greater” (Greek meizon) means larger, matured, and stronger. Love is mature and full when we lay our life down for others. Love by nature is counter to the flesh which is consumed with serving self. If the greatest love is defined and expressed by laying down one’s life for others, then the cross of Christ is the greatest expression of God’s love for us in eternity.

When England was in the throes of debauchery and a corrupt church, John Knox prayed, “Lord, give me Scotland, or I die.” That is a popular cry referred to when we want to emphasize the passion needed to win the lost. But what is not often included in John Knox’s cry is what John Know wrote of God’s answer to His prayer. Knox wrote that after He made His plea God told him “First die, then I’ll give you Scotland.”^[1] Are you willing to die for the Lord? Are you willing to die for others? Are you willing to die to see your enemies come to salvation in Christ? That is what Jesus’ brand of love is all about.

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).  You can’t claim friendship with Jesus and then disobey our live counter to all He represents. Two can’t walk together unless they are agreed (e.g. Amos 3:3). “Friends” (Greek philos) are people we are actively fond and associate with in order to wish them well and support their welfare. A friend is someone who encourages another to attain their best. A friend is one who desires God’s best for another. In that case, Jesus is our best friend; He is always looking out for our best interests.

Is Jesus your Friend? Jesus said the disciples were His friends. They were flawed in many ways and yet Jesus befriended them. We are flawed in many ways, and yet Jesus befriends us. Jesus doesn’t call us friends because we are smart or part of the “in” crowd. He befriends us because He likes us, He loves us. He enjoys us. We are a pleasure to Him. Have you befriended Jesus?

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).  There is a relationship with Jesus that is greater than a servant relationship. We are called to be servants of Jesus. Jesus modeled service to us (cf. John 13). But Jesus is speaking about a relationship with Him that is greater than a servant relationship; a friendship.

“Servants” (Greek doulos) are a slave, one in subjection to, bound to another. Jesus points out that He doesn’t look at His disciples as merely hired hands to be ordered around. Jesus partners with us in friendship. A servant is someone the Master says, “Go do this for me” to. But a friend is someone Jesus says, “Come on, let’s do this together” to.

Therefore we minister with Jesus and we minister together with Jesus too. We all abide together in Jesus the Vine. As we abide in Jesus together we are brought together as friends.

A “servant does not know what his master is doing.” Servants simply obey at their master’s instructions. But a friend is someone who is clued into the why of what they are doing. As “friends” of Jesus, He gives us insight into ministry and our working with Him in life. Jesus doesn’t just command us to do things without giving us some sense of “why” He is asking us to do it. True ministry is done with Jesus. True ministry flows out of our informed friendship with Jesus.

As friends of Jesus we are given insight into the purposes of what He calls us to do. That doesn’t mean we will have all the answers and information in all our ministry situations. It does mean that Jesus will be with us as we minister, directing us along the way. We are co-laborers with Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9).

^“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16).  This is similar to what Matthew records in his gospel account when Jesus is recorded to have said, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 20:16; 22:14). The gospel is offered to many people and a good number respond in faith and become born again believers in Jesus. God desires none would perish (2 Peter 3:9). Reality reveals that not everyone accepts Jesus as their Savior. But of those who do answer Jesus call to repent and be saved through faith in Him, only a few answer the call to discipleship and ministry service. This is the big problem with the church of our day. We live in a lukewarm Laodicean church age where the church is filled with Christian couch potatoes who do little more than attend services. That only leads to spiritual constipation; people constantly taken in spiritual information but hardly ever applying in life; the result is Christians bound up and immature in their faith.

Jesus chooses us.  Jesus “chose” (Greek eklegomai – to select, choose, make a choice) the disciples. They didn’t choose Jesus. Jesus walked by them and called to them to follow and they chose to respond to His call by following. Jesus initiated their lives as disciples. The fishermen, tax collector and others were all busy with their daily work and lives. But Jesus took the initiative to break into their lives and invite them to follow Him. And they chose to answer that call and respond to follow Him.  Jesus calls us to follow Him. Will you follow Him?

Jesus appoints us. He “appointed” (Greek tithemi – advise, appoint, commit to, conceive, lay down, ordain, set at a purpose, sink down) them to be apostles (i.e. sent ones). Jesus appointed the twelve and then seventy other disciples to go out into ministry. Of the general population of His followers he called or appointed twelve to be leaders. Of the twelve it appears peter, James, and John were then appointed to be three who were with Jesus on particular situations (e.g. transfiguration; Gethsemane). To be appointed is apparently to be selected for a task or position. When Jesus chooses and calls you to follow Him, will you then obey and do what he appoints you to do?

Jesus produces through us. Jesus’ purpose of choosing and appointing us is to bear lasting fruit.  One plants, another waters and the increase comes from Him (1 Cor. 3:7). Jesus chooses and appoints disciples to bear lasting fruit. Fruit is lasting that is reproducing and eternal in nature (e.g. souls saved, disciples made). Our lifeline to bearing lasting fruit is prayer. Jesus says the ones He chooses and appoints for the purpose of bearing lasting fruit are also those who “ask the Father in My name” – that is prayer. Notice how Jesus alludes to and interweaves prayer throughout His words in this chapter. Lasting fruit is a product of prayerful dependence on the Father in the name of Jesus.

That which is done “in My name” is done as Jesus would do it. When we do something in Jesus’ name it must take on the nature of the One named; Jesus. Jesus didn’t cut corners or bend the rules. Jesus was without sin and righteous. That is how that done in His name should and must be done.

If I write a check for a million dollars and sign my name it wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on. But if I present a check for a million dollars on it and it is signed by Donald Trump, that check is worth something. Similarly when we present a check to God in prayer and it bears Jesus’ name in its intent, purpose and request, that check is worth something. Ask in Jesus’ name and your request will be granted. And it is the Holy Spirit who helps us in this prayer life (Rom. 8:26-27).

What is the nature of doing things in Jesus’ name? Jesus said again, “These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17).  Ministry done in Jesus’ name is done in and through love. Again Jesus emphasizes that in all our work with other disciples and all our work done period, it must be done in Jesus’ love. Jesus keeps bringing the disciples back to His love.

The Helper helps us in our relationships with unbelievers. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Jesus now swings the disciples to their relationship with those in the world. We should not be surprised if the world rejects and hates us. The world hated Jesus and ultimately cooperated in His crucifixion. Because we are not of the world anymore once we turn from our sin to follow Jesus as His disciples, we can expect that the world will hate us like it hates Jesus.

The world loves its own. If the world loves you, maybe you’re too close to being of it instead of being of Jesus. If you fit right into the world you’re probably too close to it. Jesus chooses us “out of” the world. That doesn’t mean we no longer interact with the world. It does mean that while we still live in the world we are not like the world; we no longer have the same interests and priorities of those in the fallen world. Does the world love you? Do you love the world?

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (John 15:20-21). The response we should expect from the world is that the world will treat us like it treated Jesus. How do we know we have the right relationship with the world? We have the right relationship with the world when we see it treating us like it treated Jesus. Does the world persecute you like it did Jesus? Does the world keep your word like it kept Jesus’ word? Does the world know the Father?

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ (John 15:22-25). The world is without excuse. Jesus spoke a clear message to the world. He did mighty works that testified of who He was and is. But the world turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to Jesus and instead hates Him. Because of this the world of the lost is without excuse. No one will have an excuse for not following Jesus when they stand before God on Judgment Day. Jesus response to those attempting to excuse themselves will be “They hated Me without a cause.”

The Helper is the fulfillment of the Father’s promise. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).  Jesus is speaking of Pentecost here when he says, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father.” The ministry of the Spirit in and through the follower of Jesus is essential to experiencing all that Jesus is speaking about here. That is why at the end of the gospels Jesus instructs His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are empowered by the Spirit who will come upon them (e.g. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth.” Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). The Holy Spirit is the revealer and illuminator of truth. If you want to know the truth about something seek the illumination of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). God’s word is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is filled with truth (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Go to God’s word.

The Holy Spirit “He will testify of Me.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t bring attention to Himself; he shines the light on Jesus. The Holy Spirit works in the background. He always directs people toward Jesus. You know the Spirit is in a work when Jesus is exalted and lifted up. You know the Spirit is working in and through you when “you also will bear witness” of Jesus.

All of what we see Jesus sharing in this chapter is a work of the Holy Spirit in and through His disciples. Is the Holy Spirit in you? Is the Holy Spirit helping you? How are your relationships? Are you relying on the Holy Spirit’s help? Jesus is calling you to a close abiding relationship with Him. Will you answer His call?

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^[1] Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 566). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Help for Troubled Hearts

Let not your heart be troubled – John 14:1a

 

Is your heart troubled? Are you upset and broken because someone is leaving? Is there something else which has put your life in turmoil? Jesus has exactly what, no Who you need in times of trouble. On the night Jesus was to be arrested and He was to depart for the cross, His disciples were very troubled. The One who had been their Master, Provider, Protector, Instructor, and their loving Leader in life was now leaving. Greater separation anxiety and grief could never be known. Jesus knew the trial His leaving would create for His followers. So He shared with them that the help they needed to weather this storm was on the way.

The Christian life cannot be lived by mere human strength or resource. We need a Helper; the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus told the religious leader Nicodemus that “You must be born again” or be spiritually birthed by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5 and 7). Jesus explained to this very religious man, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Being a Christian and especially a disciple of Jesus is much more than religious ceremony or ritual. Eternal life is spiritual life and that life is found in and through Jesus (e.g. John 3:16).

Trials are frequently the means by which we learn eternal truths. God often uses difficulties that lead us to the end of ourselves to pass the baton of understanding and spiritual growth to Him. That is what happens here. Jesus has just told His disciples that He is going away (John 13:33 and 36). This naturally raises the eyebrows of His disciples. They have relied on Him for over three years now. They have grown to worship and adore Him. He is their “Lord.” To hear Jesus say He is going away and that where He is going is a place they cannot come was disheartening and very troubling. So Jesus uses this trial of separation anxiety to comfort and teach His disciples. Trials are a little more bearable if we learn something from them; answer the “Why?” question.

Jesus offers help for troubled hearts. John 14 begins Jesus’ most detailed and thorough teaching on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is introduced by Jesus as “the Helper.” The first “help” we see the Holy spirit provide is help for troubled hearts.  The Holy Spirit is the Helper who helps us live Jesus’ abundant life. The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us live the abundant life through times of want and despair. Let’s look at this encouraging chapter in Jesus’ ministry to the disciples. There is much to learn and apply that will help the troubled heart.

“Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1a). Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t mean you won’t be troubled. The disciples were “troubled” (Greek tarasso); stirred up and agitated. There are many causes of a troubled heart in this life. Here the disciples were experiencing inner turmoil when Jesus said He was leaving them. It’s never easy to hear that loved ones are leaving temporarily or permanently from this life to the next. Even in the best of circumstances it is difficult to handle. Parents grieve the departure of their children. Children grieve the departure of their parents. Loved ones are grieved when they have to be separated due to business or calling.  Death is the great separator: “We finish our years like a sigh. . . . So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:9 and 12). “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Death disturbs our heart. It’s troubling to people when they are separated from their loved ones. That is what the disciples were feeling now and that is what Jesus is going to comfort them about.

Jesus continued, “you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1b).  Trust Jesus when you’re troubled. The first thing Jesus says to those troubled by separation anxiety is to believe in Him. Jesus instructs His disciples to move beyond their generic belief in “God” to believe In Him. This shows Jesus equates Himself with God. But it also shows He wants His disciples to have a personal faith relationship with Him.

Are you experiencing a troubled heart or inner turmoil due to separation from a loved one? The first thing to do is turn to Jesus and trust Him. “Believe” (Greek pisteou) is a verb which means to have faith in, to entrust, and to commit to, to put trust in. A verb is a word of action. Jesus uses this word to tell His disciples to entrust their troubles to Him. That is what we need to do as well. When you are troubled by any situation the first thing is to bring it to Jesus and entrust it to Him.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2).  When troubled understand Jesus has a plan. Jesus was leaving but He was leaving for a purpose. Jesus had a plan. And that plan involved returning. Whenever we are troubled we should take comfort in knowing that God has a plan He is working out.

Jesus eases the troubled hearts of His disciples by pointing them to heaven. That is a good path for us to follow too. Whenever this temporal world gets us down, we need to remember this place is not our home. We have a wonderful eternal place called heaven that awaits us (cf. 1 Cor. 15:19; Colossians 3:1 ff.).  

Heaven is a place where we will have all the time in the world to enjoy all God has put in our heart to enjoy, because there is no time there. Heaven is a place that is “for you.” It has eternal enjoyments tailored to every “you” or individual. We will worship and be with the Lord, but we will also enjoy with Him our unique interests.

Heaven is a place where work will cease to be labor but will be reset to something humanity enjoys to partake in (Genesis 3; Psalm 73). Heaven is a place and existence where everything is just right and perfect. We will have eternal bodies and be perfectly suited in every way for eternity with the Lord. Heaven is a place where we won’t have time restrictions to cause us to rush; there won’t be time!

Jesus speaks of His Father’s “house” (Greek oikia), a building, abode or house. This can also mean an estate (Greek oikos which in Koine Greek became interchangeable with oikia). Jesus says in His Father’s house are “many” (Greek pollai) “mansions” (Greek monai) or places to stay, abiding places. “Many” means more than one or numerous but with no specific number in mind. The meaning of “mansions” here carries with it the idea of a prolonged stay or permanent place. Life on this earth is temporary. Life with Jesus in His Father’s house is permanent (John 14:2a).

Some have speculated that the “mansions” Jesus speaks about could be our glorified bodies necessary to live eternally with God. That is possible. Paul referred to the human body as a “house” (2 Cor. 5:1). But the words Jesus uses here seem to convey the idea of a place in the presence of His Father. It is a place where people live in close proximity to the Father. It is Jesus’ Father’s house so Jesus will be there too. It is more likely that Jesus is referring to what John describes in the book of Revelation as “a new heaven and a new earth” which make up God’s estate (cf. Revelation 21).

If this wasn’t the case Jesus said “I would have told you” (John 14:2b). This is therefore something we can count on. We can trust Jesus. If on the Father’s estate there wasn’t a place for Jesus disciples to stay Jesus would have told us that. But we can look forward to being with Jesus on His Father’s estate. And what an estate it must be!

The purpose of Jesus’ departure is to prepare “a place” for His disciples (John 14:2c).  “Place” (Greek topos) can be defined as a place, a location, an area, a region or a room. Jesus is preparing a place “for you” or that is particularly personally suited for the disciples.

There may also be a connection with wedding imagery here. In the Kedushan wedding ritual, in preparation for the wedding the groom would go and prepare an addition to His father’s house for him and his bride to live in. When the addition was completed the groom would then come for his bride, and take her to his father’s house, have the wedding, and then have a one week honeymoon in their newly built addition to his father’s house and then live their lives there.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).  When troubled understand Jesus has a purpose. Jesus comforts His disciples with the assurance that His departure is for a purpose that will benefit them and that His separation from them is not permanent but temporary. That must have been a huge comfort to the disciples.

Jesus’ return is as certain and reliable as Jesus Himself. He said he would rise from the dead and He did. He said He will return to take us where He is going and He will. You can trust Jesus.

Jesus will return for His disciples. He would see them again after the resurrection. Then He ascended to heaven. But even at His ascension angels informed the disciples that He would “come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). Jesus is coming back! He will return for His saints at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:10) and He will return with His saints at the 2^nd Coming (Revelation 19). For us we echo the words of Peter who said, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). We wait joyfully for the return of our Savior.

“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:4). When troubled rely on what Jesus has already revealed to you. When we’re troubled we often are looking for what we don’t know or understand. Instead of searching for what we don’t know we need to first remember what Jesus has already revealed to us (in His word).

Jesus has been referring to His heavenly destination throughout His ministry (John 6:62; 7:36; 13:33, 36). He has just told them He is going to His Father’s house. The disciples have overlooked or not paid close enough attention to what Jesus has been saying and teaching them. They are troubled in part because they are in a state of denial or ignorance due to negligence and inattentiveness. God always prepares us and He uses His word to do it.

^“Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Thomas the inquisitor needs more information and clarification from Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions. That’s how we learn. If it weren’t for Thomas’ question we might not have had one of the greatest gospel truth statements of the Bible.

^“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). When troubled turn to Jesus to find the way, the truth and the life of your situation. Jesus answers with another “I am” statement. Jesus is “the way” in that He is the road one travels in order to get to the Father’s house. Jesus is like a bridge that enables us to span the chasm caused by sin that separates us from the Father. Jesus is “the truth” in that He lights the way with His truth so that we know to stay on the road to heaven (John 8:12). His truth exposes darkness of sin and helps us stay on His path of eternal life. Jesus is “the life” in that He is the way of life to be imitated (John 13:15; 1 John 2:6). He is also “the life” as the means the energy and power by which we can experience abundant eternal life that culminates in eternal life.

 

“No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the exclusive way, truth and life that lead to the Father. There are not many roads that lead to the same destination. There is only one exclusive way, truth and life and that is bound up in Jesus alone. You have to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord if you want to reside with His Father. There are no alternatives or detours; only Jesus.

 

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” ⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:7-9). When troubled consider whether or not you “know” Jesus. If you don’t know Jesus and a trial hits that troubles you, your problem will be compounded by groping for answers because you don’t know the One with the answers. Sometimes God will use a trial or trouble to draw you to know Him. The best preparation for the inevitable troubles of life is to have a saving personal relationship with Jesus in place when they come.

It is the final night before Jesus goes to the cross and He wants to make sure His disciples, who have shown a certain spiritual dullness, understand who He is. Jesus shares how knowing Him leads to knowing the Father. “Known” (Greek ginosko) means to become aware, perceive, understand, and be conscious of. Jesus has performed signs, taught with power and authority, He allowed them to see His prayer life, and brought the disciples to live with Him for three years of ministry. Jesus is leaving no room for speculation. He is clearly stating He is the way to know the Father.

 

These words of Jesus to Philip show a degree of disappointment at his dullness to grasp after over three years of ministry just who Jesus was. Jesus doesn’t harshly rebuke the disciple. He demonstrates some of His love in longsuffering and lifting up to understanding (cf. John 13 notes and 1 Corinthians 13:4a). And Jesus would soon teach them of a Helper who would assist their understanding (John 14:26; cf. also 1 Cor. 2:9-14).

 

^“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:10-11).  When troubled go to Jesus understanding He is God. When Jesus says, “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me” He is speaking of His part in the Triune Godhead. God is eternally one God in three Persons – Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Not three gods but One God in Three Persons. Jesus therefore is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1). When you see Jesus you see God in the flesh; He makes His abode or tabernacles with us (John 1:1, 14 and 18; cf. also John 10:30; 12:45; col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).

 

Jesus words that “the Father is in Me” also have great significance. They mean incredibly that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Salvation is totally a work of God and His grace. His Triune nature makes such a redemptive plan possible.

 

This is something Jesus says we should believe based on His words as well as His works. John used the record of Jesus’ sign/miracles the way he did because Jesus said they confirmed who He was.

 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). When troubled understand that through faith in Christ you have what you need to get through your trials. This is an incredible statement and promise by Jesus. He speaks of doing “greater works” than what He did. In what sense would His followers do greater works than Him? The book of Acts is filled with accounts of miracles but none are greater than the ones Jesus did. Therefore, when Jesus says “greater” He is not speaking about greater in quality but doing greater works in terms of quantity. His followers have done a greater quantity of works than Jesus since His ascension.

 

But note the qualifier to doing greater works. “He who believes in Me” is the prerequisite for doing such “greater works.” “Believes” (Greek pisteou) is in the present tense and conveys the idea of an ongoing continual growing belief in Jesus. You can’t just cite His name and poof, a miracle happens. These “greater things” flow out of a living vital saved faith relationship with Jesus.

 

The words and works of Jesus were done in conjunction with the Father in Jesus (John 14:10b). The works Jesus did were in accord with the Father’s will. Therefore when Jesus speaks of His disciples doing “greater works than these” it includes that those greater works are part of the Father’s plan and will.

 

^“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). When troubled pray. It isn’t as though Jesus is uninvolved in the subsequent works of His church. Miracles and ministry are done in His name and by the Spirit’s empowerment and gifting. We are co-laborers with Christ (1 Cor. 3:9-11). We plant and water the seed of His word. The increase comes from Him (1 Cor. 3:7-8; cf. also Mark 4:26-29). That done in Jesus name means to be done like Jesus would do it. That done in Jesus’ name, the way he would do it, is what brings glory to God.

 

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). When troubled consider if you have a genuine love for Jesus. Jesus states the fruit of true genuine love of Him is obedience. His commandments are summed up in loving like Him (John 13:34-35). If you say you love Jesus, you’ll love others like He would love them. When a person claims to love Jesus but lives in a hateful sinful way, it exposes a false “faith” and hypocrisy.

 

^“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (John 4:16). When troubled seek the Helper – the Holy Spirit. Jesus responds to genuine love with a prayerful request to the Father. Jesus is interceding for us right now (Hebrews 7:25). And what He prays for is that the Father would “give you another Helper.” “Another” (Greek allon) means another of the same kind. “Helper” (Greek Paraclete) means helper, one who comes alongside to help or one called alongside to assist. The Spirit therefore is by nature a Servant, like Jesus. The Spirit comes alongside us to help us in our walk with Jesus.

 

The Holy Spirit is the Third person of the Triune Godhead. He is separate and distinct from Jesus. But He is just like Jesus. And therefore, when the Holy Spirit comes and indwells a person it is just like the presence of Jesus with you FOREVER. Jesus is saying that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit His disciples would never be separated from Him. Their hearts must have rejoiced at that.

 

Jesus continued, “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).  When troubled the Spirit will speak through the truth of His word; the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit is not the author of lies, Satan is (John 8:44). The Holy Spirit inspired God’s word the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Jesus said God’s word is “truth” (John 17:17). How do we discern the voice of the Spirit from the voice of another? We simply hold up to the template of God’s word anything we hear. If it is within the parameters of God’s word then we can be assured it is from the Spirit of truth.

 

When troubled understand where you stand with the Helper/the Holy Spirit. The world can’t receive the Spirit of truth because it belongs to their father the devil (John 8:44). The god of this world Satan has blinded the sinner (2 Cor. 4:4). It is only by the grace of God and the Spirit’s convicting the world of their need of a Savior Jesus that anyone could or would be saved (cf. Acts 26:18; Ephesians 2:1ff.). The person who lives without Jesus is spiritually dead. They must be born again of the Spirit to know the Spirit.

 

Jesus said the disciples “know Him” the Holy Spirit. They may not have been aware of the Holy Spirit but Jesus said the Spirit of truth had been working with them all along. The Holy Spirit works in anonymity. We will see that the Spirit points people to Jesus.

 

Jesus used prepositions to describe the relationship the disciples had and would have with Him. Jesus said, “for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus said the Helper Holy Spirit “dwells” with the disciples. “Dwells” (Greek meno ) means stays with, stand fast, dwells, abide, continues with, waits, endures, or be permanent with.

 

Jesus said that at that moment the Spirit dwelt with the disciples. They had yet to be indwelt by the Spirit. At that moment the Spirit was with them. The Holy Spirit is with a person prior to conversion. The Spirit convicts the sinner of their sin and need of a Savior. The Holy Spirit draws sinful people to consider and accept Jesus as Savior.

 

Jesus said the Holy Spirit “will be in you.” It is apparent by these words that the disciples had not yet been born again of the Spirit. We will see evidence of this happening later in John (cf. John 20:22). Jesus speaks prophetically that the Holy Spirit would indeed indwell these disciples. But it is clear too that at this point that had not occurred. These disciples were not yet born again and indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

 

By the beginning of the book of Acts Jesus’ disciples had been born again. But Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them before they launched out to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus referred to this as the Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4-5) and being baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

 

There is a third preposition “upon” used in the Bible to describe our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This third preposition describes a totally surrendered heart of a person and a total trust in the Holy Spirit to empower them for service (Acts 1:8). At Pentecost the followers of Jesus who had been praying (Acts 1) were all empowered by the Holy Spirit coming upon them (Acts 2).  (The generic phrase “filled with” can also be used to refer to this experience.) When the Spirit came upon the disciples they were transformed from fearful hiding disciples to bold witnessing and serving disciples. The book of Acts is an account of the effects of the Holy Spirit on the lives of Jesus’ followers.

 

The nature of the power of the Spirit is a compelling driving love for Jesus and love of Jesus for others (Romans 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:14-21). The disciples, baptized with the Spirit, were so in love with Jesus that they would give their lives in ministry for Him and wanted the world to know and worship their Lord of love.

 

^“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).  When troubled understand Jesus is with you by the Holy Spirit. Jesus brings His conversation full circle. They were concerned with His departure. Jesus is telling them that while he may be leaving them physically, He would always, through the Helper Holy Spirit, be with them eternally. That must have been an incredible blessing.

 

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). When troubled hope in the risen Lord Jesus. In a few short hours Jesus would go to the cross and give His life a ransom for many. They would see Him no more as he was put in the tomb. But three days later they would indeed see Him as He would rise from the dead. For 40 days he would appear to them and then he would ascend to heaven. His resurrection from the dead meant others would rise from the dead too. But Jesus is not in a stone cold tomb, Jesus has risen; HE IS ALIVE TODAY; NOW; RIGHT NOW! And through the Holy Spirit He is reaching out to you. He is knocking on the door of your heart waiting for you to open and invite Him in to fellowship (cf. Rev. 3:20). Will you answer His knock? Will you open and invite Him in ?

 

^“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20). When troubled understand whether or not Jesus dwells in you by the Spirit. The resurrection will be pivotal in the understanding of the disciples. The resurrection is the Father’s imprimatur on all that Jesus said and did. The resurrection proves Jesus and the Father are One; united in relationship; Triune in nature. And “at that day” when Jesus has risen from the dead and the disciples see Him, they will know that He is the way, the truth and the life and they will fully trust Him. They will be born again of the Spirit entering into that eternal relationship of “you in Me, and I in you.”

 

This doesn’t mean the disciples will become part of the Godhead. It means they will know Jesus in a saving way and have a personal relationship with Him by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It means Jesus indwelling us by the Holy Spirit is our hope of glory (Col. 1:27).

 

^“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21). When troubled don’t obey as a bargaining chip with Jesus, obey out of love for Jesus. This relationship between the disciples Jesus and the Father is one held together by the love of Jesus. We demonstrate our love for Jesus by keeping or obeying His commandments. Jesus and the Father love those who show their love to Them in this way. Jesus asks us to obey Him out of love for Him not out of fear of Him. Religion uses fear and guilt. The religious person obeys as a bargaining chip with God; to earn favor with God in hopes that He will meet our demands or requests, e.g. “If I go to church You have to fix my relationship,” Or, “I will go to church and You do this for me.” Without love people relay on coercion, manipulation, extortion with others and with God. That is not the way of Jesus. Religion relies on works; relationship with Jesus receives the work of the cross Jesus offers in love. Jesus is not about religion, He is about relationship.

 

Jesus relies on love to motivate His followers to obey. He loves us as much as He can already. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39).  His love for us is established on the cross. We don’t earn His love; His love is a gift of His grace. When we realize that truth, it fills our heart with a love that motivates us to want to please Jesus and bless Him with our obedience. When we realize how much the One who resides in us loves us, it makes us want to live our lives as a love offering to Him (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:14-21).

^“Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” (John 14:22). This Judas is not Judas Iscariot who betrays Jesus. He is also known as Thaddeus (Mat. 10:3). This is the only words attributed to him in the Bible.

Judas might have been fishing to see if Jesus would establish His kingdom on earth at this time. This would have been on the minds of those waiting for Messiah. How and why would Jesus manifest Himself to the disciples and not the world if as Messiah he would establish a Kingdom?

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:24).  When troubled live a genuine love that obeys Jesus; obedient love is an invitation for Jesus to take up residence in and with you. Jesus doesn’t respond to the short sighted query. Instead He speaks of love evidenced in obedience. Disobedience is equated with not loving Jesus. And not loving Jesus is equated with not loving God as a whole.

 

Jesus speaks of the indwelling presence of God in the disciple’s lives. “We will come to him and make Our home with him” speaks of the experience of the indwelling of God in the believer. Imagine, God in us. Incredible! Do you understand that as a Christian God dwells in you? And if God dwells in you, can you imagine the unloving disrespect and offense it is to parade sinful things before Him in your house? God in Christ is in the house. Love Him. Show your love by obedience.

 

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:25-26).  When troubled and searching for answers and solutions rely on the Holy Spirit to teach you. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He “will teach you all things.” The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s word. So go to the word of God and prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s illumination and insight of God’s truth. When you study the word of God do so prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand.

 

The Holy Spirit will help “and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” the Holy Spirit will even help our memories! That is a wonderful promise especially as we get older.

 

What more could we want to live victoriously than to understand Jesus’ words and help to remember them?

 

^“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). When troubled seek the peace of Jesus. “Peace” (Greek eirene) means peace, harmony, tranquility, health. Jesus peace is distinct from anything the world offers. We have peace with God through faith in Jesus (Romans 5). And through the prayer of faith we can experience the peace of God that settles us in times of trial and anxiety (Philippians 4:6-9).

 

But there is a part we play in receiving this peace. Jesus exhorts His disciples to “Let not your heart be troubled” (Greek me – not; tassestho – Present/Middle/Imperative – troubled, stirred up). “Neither let it be afraid” (Greek mede – not; deiliato – be cowardly, timid, or fearful). Jesus exhorts, “Don’t let your heart get stirred up or troubled, don’t be cowardly and fearful.” This is a call to act in faith. Jesus has taught them about His presence in the Spirit. They need to take what He has said to heart and live it by faith.  Resist fear by faith in Jesus.

 

There is very practical truth for us to apply here. When we are tempted to be troubled in heart and afraid in some way, we need to step out in faith and trust in Jesus. He is there with us in the Spirit. We need to rest in His presence. That’s something the world just can’t offer or understand.  

 

^“You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). When troubled remember that Jesus is coming back. Here Jesus speaks of the other orientation of His love. Jesus is telling His disciples to stop merely thinking of themselves and think about the bigger picture of what Jesus was doing.

 

When Jesus says, “For My Father is greater than I” He isn’t saying He is less in quality or nature than the Father as though He weren’t God or part of the Triune Godhead. Jesus set aside His position of authority to come to be incarnated with humanity. When He refers to the Father as “greater than I” He is saying the Father is in a “greater” position of authority than He was while incarnated on earth. Jesus and the Father are of equal quality and nature but as the plan of the Triune God is being carried out and Jesus is Man, He is in a position of submission to the Father like any other man. That is what Jesus is saying.

 

We might understand this in terms of us and the president of the United States. The president is greater than us in authority and position but that does not necessarily make him a better human being. We actually may be more moral and have more integrity than the president of the United States. But he is in a position of superiority as president. Once his term is over he will have as much power as a non-officed citizen.

 

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.  I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.  But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here” (John 14:29-31).  Jesus has prepared them for what is to come. Jesus gives us His word to prepare us for what is coming so that we will be able to believe in what He is doing. Satan has plans but they have nothing to do with Jesus. Plans made without consulting Jesus in prayer are more likely to be influenced by the devil. The purpose of what Jesus will do on the cross is “that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.” That commandment is love. Jesus is doing what He is doing to show the love of God.

 

There is help for the troubled heart. Jesus has laid it out for you in John 14. The help we need is from the Helper the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to turn your life and life situation over to Jesus by faith. Admit your sin to Him. Ask His forgiveness based on the belief that Jesus paid your sin-penalty of death on the cross. Receive His forgiveness by faith and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Do that, and whatever trouble you’re in, you will be helped.

 

 

The Philistine Cart

“So they set the ark of God on a new cart” - 2 Samuel 6:3

Why is it that Christians think that living like the world is acceptable to God? The church at large blatantly ministers in worldly ways.  Throughout the Bible God repeatedly expressed His desire that His people would be distinct from the world. God’s people are to be holy. Why is this so critical to God? It’s important to God because His children are living epistles, a letter for the lost of the world to read and see Christ (2 Cor. 3:2-4). Before unsaved people read God’s Word, they usually read His people. The unsaved are drawn by what they see or read in God’s people. God uses the beauty of holiness to attract the lost (Ps. 29:2; 96:9).

When I speak of “holiness,” I’m not talking about maintaining a set of rules. Holiness is loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving your neighbor as you already love yourself (Mark 12:29-31). Holiness is a way of life; it is life lived for the Lord in His love. Such love is the product of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is love. There is a beauty to that love that attracts the lost. The beauty of holiness in a child of God communicates otherworldliness. It manifests love’s joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It proclaims liberation to the one shackled in the sins of this world.

When a Christian or the church lives or ministers in a worldly way, it’s like spray-painting graffiti on a Picasso. You can’t love the world’s system and love God at the same time. Loving the things of the world is diametrically opposed to the love of God (1 John 2:15-17). The worldlier you are the less in love with Jesus you are. Even the unsaved sense the contradiction between Christianity and worldliness. Worldly ways are unacceptable to God.  

The answer to all these questions is illustrated in the Old Testament history of a Philistine cart. One of the lowest points in the history of Israel occurred when Eli was the high priest. He served in the tabernacle of God with his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. So low had the nation sunk spiritually that the sons of Eli were openly pilfering the sacrifices of God and having sex with women at the threshold of the tabernacle. When all of this was happening Eli offered only a weak rebuke to his sons (1 Sam. 2:12-26). Because of these conditions God raised up the judge, priest and prophet named Samuel. Samuel was born in answer to his mother Hannah’s prayers (1 Samuel 1). She promised that if God would answer her prayer for a son that she would dedicate the child to God for the rest of his life. God answered Hannah’s prayer, and Samuel was born. The anointing of God was on Samuel. From a young age he ministered before the Lord with a heart wholly dedicated to God (1 Sam. 2:18-21; 3).

Before Samuel could succeed Eli and his two sons God brought judgment on the corrupt priestly family. The perennial opponents of Israel were the Philistines. Toward the end of Eli’s life Israel went out and fought against the Philistines. The Philistines soundly defeated Israel. When the people returned the elders asked, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?” (1 Sam. 4:3). Without praying for an answer they simply presumed the reason for their defeat. They believed it was because they hadn’t brought the Ark of the Covenant with them into battle. Nothing good ever comes from proceeding without prayer.

The Ark of the Covenant was a rectangular gold-plated box that contained holy artifacts from God’s miraculous works of the past (Heb. 9:4).  It was more than just a pretty piece of furniture. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God among His people. That’s a good thing. And because it was associated with God’s presence it was also associated with God’s power. But the prayerlessness of the people demonstrated they had come to see the ark as something magical rather than something holy. To the people the Ark was merely a religious formula for success. Bring the ark into battle and you will be victorious. They weren’t thinking about the presence of the Lord at all. If they had been thinking of the presence of the LORD they would have sought His direction in prayer. They were only interested in the bottom line—winning.

We do the same thing today. We are consumed with a lust to succeed. And that success is usually defined and pursued from a worldly perspective. We proceed prayerlessly. We try to formulate victory. But you can’t reduce ministry and life as a Christian to religious formulas. A life pleasing to God flows out of our relationship with Him and by walking in the Spirit. The Bible teaches us that God works in various ways that are higher than ours (Isa. 55:9-11). His work can’t be accomplished by humanly deduced formulations. Humanly deduced formulations don’t work.

We haven’t gotten to the Philistine cart yet but we need to drive home a point before we do. Observing the church today it’s pretty easy to deduce that the church is on the ropes. We have our own modern versions of Eli and his two sons. There are some deep troubles and divisions in the church today. Prayer meetings, if even held, are sparsely attended. The church is not reaching out to the lost as it should. The church is not building up believers into disciples. Souls aren’t being saved, and disciples aren’t being made. We’re off track.

The same is true of the individual in the church. Christian lifestyles aren’t very different from that of the unsaved in the world. In fact, Christians are looking more and more to the world for answers! Most Christians rarely if ever share their faith. Even when they do they are generally ineffective. This is because they really aren’t interested in doing so. This is appalling when one takes into account the eternal destiny of the unsaved. They are rationalizing and excusing sin instead of killing it off on the cross of Christ. There is little or no victorious Christian living. (Do we even know what “victorious Christian life” is anymore?) You may object to these assertions, but they’re true. Christians starving for victory and blessing in their lives are lowering God’s scriptural standards. They then glory in a diminished definition of what victory in Jesus really is.

The Bible has been cast aside by much of the church. This discard of God’s Word came gradually. It began with laziness. We casually trusted in the preachers without confirming what they were saying. We neglected our responsibility to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). This disconnect from God’s Word increased as commentaries became a substitute for the direct personal study of God’s Word. (Commentaries can be a valuable tool, but they are no substitute for your own study of God’s Word.) Slowly but surely our focus shifted from personal study to relying on the words of “Christian celebrities.” Soon a weakened church didn’t have the heart or time to sit and take in a balanced meal of God’s Word. We were drawn away from the table of the Lord to live on quick TV-sermonette dinners, Christian-lite cotton candy and junk-food religion. Christians living on this unhealthy spiritual diet became confused with what true Christianity really is. They began looking outside the church for answers. Eventually the church opened its doors to all kinds of practices. These methods of “ministry” were not based on prayerful processing or scriptural assessment but on fleshly profits. This set the stage for the introduction and reliance upon what I refer to as The Philistine Cart.

Things are not always what they appear to be on the surface. Sometimes what seems alive and powerful is dead within. There are times when Christians are deceived by smoke and mirrors. Right now much of the church is all about style and woefully lacking in spiritual substance. That is why the church mimics the world and its ways. Its methods and styles are eagerly welcomed and adopted. This is a serious problem because it exposes a lack of spiritual depth. The closer a person or church is to the world the farther away they are from God and His love (cf. 1 John 2:15-17).

The ark was brought from the tabernacle and into the camp and we are told, “Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook” (1 Sam. 4:5).  It was pretty impressive. The Philistines thought so. The Philistines thought “God has come into the camp! . . . Woe is us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?” (1 Sam. 4:7-8). Reading the passage it looks as though the Philistines were resigned to defeat. But if they were going to die they would die “like men.” They would go down fighting (1 Sam. 4:9). Even those in the world can have honorable attitudes.

Well, the Philistines didn’t die. In fact when they went out to battle the Israelites (who had the ark of God) they won again, and the soldiers of Israel fled away (1 Sam. 4:10). The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died in the battle. Some may have interpreted that as good. But something unprecedented and devastating happened in this battle. The ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:11). This had a devastating impact on God’s people.

Hearing of the loss of her unfaithful husband was bad enough, but when Phinehas’s pregnant wife heard the ark was captured, she gave birth prematurely. And then she named her son Ichabod. Ichabod means “the glory has departed.”

Eli’s heart had trembled in fear for the ark of God when it was taken into battle (1 Sam. 4:13). Even he saw that actions based on prayerless impulse never bring good outcomes. Eli withstood news of the death of his two sons. But when old Eli heard that the ark was lost in the battle he fell over backward, broke his neck, and died (1 Sam. 4:18).

The consequence of prayerless actions is always death even if we have the best of intentions. When we act separately from God and His Word we are acting on our own; in our own strength. That is a dangerous thing to do. We may be able to fight off a foe or have a measure of victory in our own strength, but it won’t last for long. And God will actually allow us to experience defeat to teach us our need to depend on Him. 

The ark eventually was returned to Israel. God brought plagues upon the pagan Philistines because they had His ark (1 Samuel 5 and 6). They decided it wasn’t worth it or safe to have God’s ark in their possession. But here we have an important part in the account. We need to take note of how the Philistines returned the ark. The way they sent the ark back left a lasting impression on God’s people. They made a “new cart” to transport the ark back to Israel (1 Sam. 6:7). It must have been an impressive new cart. You’ll see why this is important as we continue.

The joy of the ark’s return was short-lived. There needs to be reverence in worshipful celebration to the LORD. The men of Beth Shemesh treated the ark without the holy respect and reverence an object belonging to God deserves. God struck down around fifty thousand men as a consequence. This led the survivors of Beth Shemesh to respond, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God” (1 Sam. 6:20). They sought for someone to take the ark off their hands. The word went out, and the people of Kirjath Jearim welcomed the ark.

When the ark returned the people in Kirjath Jearim were moved by the holiness of God. They repented and a revival broke out under the leadership of Samuel. When the Philistines came up against Israel again Israel turned to the LORD for help. This is what they should have done in the first place. This time the LORD fought for Israel and defeated the Philistines. Samuel then set up a rock between Mizpah and Shen and called it “Ebenezer,” meaning the stone of help. They remembered the source of their help and victory. From that point on the people of Israel regained the land previously lost to the Philistines and “the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel” (1 Samuel 7).

True revival comes when His people sense the holiness of God. That sense of God’s holines moves His people to repent. That is the true and substantial basis for revival. The closer we come to God the more clearly we see our sin (cf. Isaiah 6). Coming close to God shatters our pride and humbles us. And while God opposes the proud, He gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5-6). If you want power over sin and victory in your life you have to come closer to the Lord (1 John 3:6). That can be convicting, challenging, even painful. It definitely will be humbling. But it is the only way to experience true revival.

Where is the awareness of God’s holiness today? Do we see it in the church? Do we see it in the Christian? Is it in the chaos of the flesh and worldliness we see in counterfeit revivals today? Look at what is masquerading as revival. Ask yourself, Is this the holiness of God? Does this humble me? Does this bring me to my knees in repentance? Does it lead to real and lasting life changes? Does it lead to holy living? We have settled for bells and whistles when we should be seeking the humbling presence of God. We need to return to our own Kirjath Jearim and discover the holy presence of God. We need to get back on course; the course of the true gospel of God that is based on the sound doctrine of His Word.

When genuine revivals occur future generations may misinterpret them. Those who look back at revivals of the past sometimes draw wrong conclusions about what caused the revival. That is what happened with David. He looked back at the revival of holiness at Kirjath Jearim and associated it more with the ark of God than the impact of the holiness of God on His people. This led to some serious problems for the nation.

About fifty years after the revival at Kirjath Jearim (1 Samuel 7) the great psalmist David became king of Israel. Sometime after King David ascended to the throne he was moved to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David (2 Sam. 6:1-11; 1 Chron. 13:1-4). He was chosen by God because he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:13-14). But David was going to learn a terrible lesson. How God’s work is done is just as important to God as the end result. You can’t compromise in the way you do something just to get it done. For God the ends do not necessarily justify the means. To God the means are just as important as the end itself. David had it in his heart to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem. The ark represented the holy presence of God among His people (Exod. 25:21-22). David wanted to be close to God. He wanted the symbol of that close presence of God with him. This was right and good. This idea came from the outflow of the close relationship between God and David. But David went about this in the wrong way; a worldly way.

The account of David’s unsuccessful attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the city is given in 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13. Both accounts mention a “new cart”: “So they set the ark of God on a new cart” (2 Sam. 6:3) and “so they carried the ark of God on a new cart” (1 Chron. 13:7). David used the “new cart” way of the pagan Philistines to transport God’s Holy Ark. What’s the big deal about that? Why is that significant at all? In Deuteronomy 17:18-20 God gave the requirements for the king of Israel. He was to write his own copy of God’s law. He was to keep it with him. He was to read it all the days of his life so that he would honor and obey God. David, therefore, was without excuse. He had either overlooked, forgotten, or disregarded the clearly prescribed instructions God had given about how His holy ark was to be transported. The ark was not merely a piece of common furniture to be carried about in any old or “new” way. No, God’s instructions were precise. The ark should be handled with reverence (Num. 4:1-15). But David shortsightedly settled for the “new” secular, worldly way of the Philistines.

Like David we are without excuse when we overlook, forget, or disregard the clearly prescribed instructions available to us in God’s inspired Word. Today God’s Word is available to us in unprecedented ways. God’s written Word is printed and available to more people than ever before in history. Through technology we can hear it on radio, IPhones and IPads, memory sticks and CDs, we can watch it on TV and DVD, we can hear and watch it on the Internet, we can  search and study it on computer in incredible ways. We have the ability to get the Word from almost any place on the planet by way of satellite. We’ve sent God’s Word into outer space. We can put the entire Bible on the head of a pin! God has increased human knowledge in these last days (Daniel 12:4). He has increased the capabilities of humanity in exponential ways. Humanity doesn’t always choose to use that increased knowledge in a righteous way; but the potential is there. God has spoken and He wants us to hear Him. God has made His Word available to just about everyone on planet earth. Yet too often the inspired revelation of God’s Word is set aside and even willfully excluded from our lives. The results have been spiritually catastrophic.

It was the Philistines who introduced the “new cart” pulled by oxen as a means of transporting the ark (1 Sam. 6:7-8). The Philistines were pagan worldlings. Worldly ways are not appropriate for those seeking to live worshipfully before God. Worldliness puts us out of sync with God. David tried to create a time of holy worship with abundant music around the “new cart.” The oxen stumbled. The cart tilted. And a man named Uzza reached out and touched the ark in an attempt to steady it and keep it from falling. The consequence was death.  The Bible says, “The anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God” (1 Chron. 13:10). The LORD is holy. There is none like Him. We need to approach Him in accordance with who He is, not in haphazard common ways.

David had lost sight of the holiness of God. How did he respond to what happened to Uzza? He reacted with anger and then fear; twin killers of spirituality. His proud heart was angry because his way of doing things was disrupted. But then he felt fear because he recognized his way was not acceptable to God. David felt distant from the LORD as evidenced by his saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?” (1 Chron. 13:12). Instead, he put the ark aside, in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

It is unacceptable to the LORD to live or minister in ways not prescribed by Him. David had gotten off the course ordained by God. David’s actions showed spiritual shallowness. He didn’t care to seek guidance in God’s Word. His flesh, his sinful nature, was exposed when his parade was brought to a sudden halt. It was exposed by his angry reaction. The fear David felt was not reverential fear. He was “afraid of God” (1 Chron. 13:12). He was afraid of further consequences from God. This fear built up a wall between David and God. Failing to serve the LORD in ways the LORD had instructed led to a distancing of David from God. This is illustrated in the distance he kept the ark from his city. When you attempt to do things for God in worldly ways the result is a host of spiritually deadening effects.

Do you see any parallels between this account and what is going on in the church and many Christian lives today? The church is using all kinds of worldly methods in an attempt to do the work of God. The church is off the course ordained by God in His Word. We have become so seeker friendly that unsaved “seekers” are ruling the church! The answer to what plagues the church is not more demographic studies, marketing research, surveys, etc.; it is, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). How many church leaders and Christians will read that verse and pooh-pooh it away as the ranting of a “narrow-minded” writer? Well, before they make light of that verse, they should remember that those words are inspired by God. They were delivered to us through one of the greatest men of all times, the apostle Paul. And those words still apply today. The Holy Bible is still holy. There is no other book like it. The Bible is not out of date or out of touch. The Bible is God’s Word for today. That is true every day in history as long as God permits us time to share it. The answer to our ills is God’s true gospel, not the “gospel” “according to man” (Gal. 1:11).

Christian, shut off Dr. Phil and Oprah. Turn off Judge Hatchet and Judge Judy. Lay down the newest self-help book. Cast aside the latest cotton-candy fluff book from those who shy away from anything that might offend anyone. Our standard should be the whole truth of God and nothing but the whole truth of God. Unhook your Philistine cart and stop wandering aimlessly. Go directly to God’s Word; do not stop. Follow His road map to life for life. God’s Word brings us to Jesus. It is only there at His feet that you will find what you are looking for. You need the true gospel based on the sound doctrine of God’s Word. We need God ordained experiences with Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Today we are pulling a host of Philistine carts. Whenever we compromise and adopt worldly ways into our lives and ministries we are pulling a Philistine cart. The deadly results will be same for us as they were with David. As we seek to fit in with the world and do things like the world, using worldly ways, human ways, we distance ourselves from God. Holiness is defined as separate, distinct, and unique. Holiness is to be separated to God, or unto God, in order to be used by Him. The power of God will never be released in and through us until we set aside the ways of the world. We must turn to Him and His Word. It was the worldly Philistines who lived by chance and relegated themselves to die. It was the Philistines who thought up the “new cart” way to transport the ark of God. It was easier, and safer to put the ark on a cart and send it off pulled by cattle. But these “new” ways were no good as far as God was concerned. They were unholy and common. They had not been ordained by Him.

The point here is not to equate anything new with worldliness. Technology is new, but it is not necessarily worldly.  The Philistine cart was not a bad idea because it was a piece of modern technology in that day. There is nothing biblically wrong with using technology to spread the Word of God. In fact, modern technology can be a great asset to ministry. (You’re reading this computer generated teaching online!) Then what was the sin of David?  

David’s sin began when he failed to respect God by not consulting His Word. It was irreverence. In this particular case God’s Word had very specific instructions on how the ark was to be transported. David did not obey. He neglected God’s Word. He disregarded it. God’s holy Word should have been the first place he looked for instruction. In 1 Chronicles 13:1, “David consulted with . . . every leader” before he moved the ark. It seems the entire nation was ignorant concerning this issue or at least did not speak out. In planning the “parade,” David and his leaders apparently were more concerned with the music than God’s Word. Isn’t that like the church today? Music is important in worshipping God but it should never take priority over the Word of God.

David treated the ark of God in a common, secular way instead of a holy way.  He settled for the secular when he should have sought out the holy. At this point in time God’s Word was apparently not a priority in David’s life. That was sinful. That is exactly what Christians and much of the church is doing today. When we neglect to check God’s Word and proceed in our own wisdom, understanding, and worldly ways, we pull a Philistine cart.

Today it’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish Christians and the church from the world. Christians are in a frenzy to keep up with the fads and trends of the day. The church is carnal to its core. The fellowship of believers is so very fleshly. Churches package their messages in sharp-looking promotions based more on marketing than the holy manuscripts of God. We are so caught up in the package that we are forgetting the gift inside. Ministry has become more profane and common in its communication. We justify coarse language and methods that border on irreverence by saying we are just seeking to be relevant. But are we faithful to God and His Word? If we are living epistles what is the world reading in us and hearing from us? Do they see anything substantially different, distinct, and holy? Or do they simply see something that can’t be distinguished from the world? People in the world can smell a lukewarm Laodicean a mile away. When they look at you, are they seeing part of a parade line of Philistine carts?

The New Testament tells us that when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we are bought by God. We become “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). So let me ask you, what are you doing at the threshold of your temple? Are you following in the footsteps of Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas and committing spiritual adultery with the world at the door of your temple? When the world reads your life, is it cheap, common graffiti tattooed on the temple of the Holy Spirit? Or does the world see the Word of God lived out in your life? Have you given any thought or prayer to how the lost will read you? Have you gone to God’s Word for direction? Are you too weak to say or do anything? What about the Philistine carts in your life and in the lives of those around you? Have you superficially settled for the ways of this world? When was the last time you ministered with just a Bible in your hand? Are you casually pulling a Philistine cart? If so, death is working in you.

The account of the Philistine cart should cause us to consider our ways. Are you moving forward or backward in your relationship with the LORD?  Are you moving closer or farther away from the LORD? Are you on or off course with the LORD? How do you tell which way you are moving? If you are moving closer to the world you are moving away from the LORD. If you are more concerned with the things of the world than the things of God you are moving away from the LORD. If you settle for using the ways of the world without consulting the LORD and His Word you are moving away from the LORD. If you are moving away from the LORD you are backsliding. But if you are moving away from the world and care more about the way God has instructed us to do things, then you are moving forward. You are moving onward and upward. You are moving closer to the LORD. Which way are you going? Are you pulling a Philistine cart?

If you want to move in the right direction, you’ll have to take some decisive action. The remedy for Philistine carts in our lives is to bust them up, burn them up, and don’t build them up again (1 Sam. 6:14; 2 Sam. 6:3). The remedy is to get back on course and stay the course of God’s true gospel based on His Word. Go back and study the passages mentioned above. Study them prayerfully. Study them in context. Then ask the Spirit to search out any Philistine carts in your life. Ask God to apply His Word to your life.

David didn’t give up on bringing the ark of God to the City of David. He learned the hard lesson of trying to do the right thing for God but in the wrong way. David built up his city and “prepared a place for the ark of God” (1 Chron. 15:1). But this time He would stay on course. This time the Levites would carry the ark. David told the priests, “Sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it” (1 Chron. 15:12). Why this change in how the ark would be transported? David explains, “For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order” (1 Chron. 15:13). David went back to God’s Word, “and the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD” (1 Chron. 15:15). The key here is the phrase, “according to the word of the LORD.” Like David, we have to get back to God’s Word as our first and only guide for our lives and ministries.

Why is it that Christians and the church at large so casually think that living or doing ministry in worldly ways is acceptable to God? It is because they are pulling Philistine carts. And that is wrong. So what should you do? Get before the Lord and ask Him to search your heart and help you identify any Philistine carts in your life. Then ask Him to help you bust them up and burn them up and purpose to never build them up again. Get before the LORD and humbly ask Him to show you when and where you have gotten off course with Him and His Word. Then repent and make a personal commitment to stay the course and stick with the true gospel in the power of His Spirit. God help us in this task.