TABLETALK - September 2018

I continue in my daily studies to be guided by Tabletalk magazine. 2018 was a study on the Gospel of John and its straightforward presentation of the person and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other doctrines. 

• January 2018 (July 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023) John 1:1-2:22 - The preexistence of Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist and the person of Christ. 
• February 2018 (July 24, 2023 - August 10, 2023) John 2:23 - 3:36 - Regeneration and our need to believe in Christ for Salvation
• March 2018 (August 13, 2023 - September 30, 2023) John 4:1 - 5:29 - Christ is the incarnate Son of God
• April 2018 (October 1, 2023 - November 6, 2023) John 5:30 - John 7:36 - Jesus is as necessary to our souls as food is to our body; Jesus teaches in the temple during the Feast of Booths
• May 2018 (November 7, 2023 - December 22, 2023) John 7:37 - John 9:41 - Jesus experiences opposition and there is a sin-motivated resistance people have toward being enslaved to sin.
• June 2018 (December 23, 2023 - January 21, 2024) John 10:1 - 11:57 - Jesus as our shepherd will lay down His life for His sheep, but some won't hear Him. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in order to impact the faith of the disciples. 
• July 2018 (January 22, 2024 - March 14, 2024) John 12:1 - 13:20 - Jesus as Savior and Judge; salvation comes to Jesus' disciples and the judgment comes to all who reject Him. 
• August 2018 (March 15, 2024 - April 12, 2024) John 13:21 - John 14:31 - Warnings Jesus gave on the night of the Last Supper and the blessed promise of the Holy Spirit. 
• September 2018 (April 13, 2024 - May 9, 2024) John 15:1 - John 16:24 - Continuing Christ's Farewell Discourse and the meaning of abiding in Christ, the analogy of the vine and conviction/guidance of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 15

Vine and Branches (John 15:1-5) - Jesus confirms that He is the true vine of Israel to bear the fruit of salvation now to all. Our response is to trust in Him (abide). 

Burning Branches (John 15:6) - In abiding, we need to be people that our lives look like our faith. In trusting in Christ, abiding in Him is a life of living, asking God to prune, so that our lives are marked by fruit. 

How We Bear Fruit (John 15:7) - As the Father was abiding in Jesus and Jesus did good works, the same thing occurs for us as we abide in Jesus and He in us and good works will done as we ask for them to be done. 

Proving Our Discipleship for God's Glory (John 15:8) - Our purpose on earth is to be called Jesus' disciples, bearing fruit, and all for one purpose - the Glory of God. 

Abiding in the Love of Christ (John 15:9-11) - We love Jesus, we keep His commandments and we abide in His love, just like he showed in His relationship with God the Father. 

Christian Love Defined (John 15:12-13) - Christ-like love is passed on from Him to us to us to others and as He would lay down His life for all of us, I can practice the same sort of sacrifice though in different ways toward others. 

Friends of the Savior (John 15:14-17) - We are Jesus' friend, no longer slaves. He chose us to bear fruit, and we can ask Him in His name and He will give it. We are to love one another. 

The World's Hatred (John 15;18-21) - Like Jesus, the disciples will be persecuted and hated by the world, but this hate is first directed at Jesus. 

Inexcusable Sin (John 15:22-25) - Jesus remarks that no one has a reason to curse Him by hatred or persecution because He has presented Himself as the Son of Man who is equal to the Father. 

The Witness of God's Spirit and People (John 15:26-27) - Jesus sends the helper to testify of Jesus and His followers, the disciples, testify of Jesus as well, having been with him since beginning of His ministry. 

Chapter 16

The Persecution to Come (John 16:1-4a) - Persecution is coming, within the church and outside of it; Jesus encourages us to not stumble and remember the words of comfort He continues to speak. 

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:4b-11) - Jesus confirms it is better for him to leave to the Father, as the Holy Spirit will be with us and convict the world of sin, Christ's innocence and Christ the victor over Satan. 

The Spirit's Guidance (John 16:12-15) - Jesus confirms that the Holy Spirit will speak of the truth of Jesus, glorifying Him, giving us more insight as days go by into the future, and the Holy Spirit is also from the Father.

The Disciple's Confusion (John 16:16-19) - Jesus is telling the disciples He is departing to a place they cannot see Him, but they will see Him again another time, another place. And we can trust Jesus without knowing all the details.

Sorrow, Joy, and Answered Prayer (John 16:20-24) - Jesus states that the best thing for us is Him leaving. While grief hits, the heart will rejoice and no one can take this joy. We will ask according to God's will and also receive a full joy. 

Various Scriptures - What it Means to Grow in Holiness - We are to be intense in our desire to follow God, valuing righteous living and to resist the schemes of the flesh, Satan and the world. 

The Already and the Not Yet - We live now and wait between what our Lord has declared is already true and what has not yet been revealed. I long to be in a place (heaven) I have never been. "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man" (Revelation 21:3). While we live as pilgrims, aliens, strangers here, Christ is the light of this world and we are to shine His light. We are His ambassadors looking to gather up more for the future home. 

God's People in Exile - This is an interesting article. It reminds me of the words, "What is God doing for Heaven's Sake" or the Tom Nelson series on the "Decree of God." This is a great summary of the Bible. Life right now is a mix of exile and restoration. Once we left the garden, we live in a place of exile, not where we were originally intended. The Garden of Eden - The garden was set up with everything that we needed, and we were tasked to multiply people, and expand the borders of the garden to the end of the earth. But we disobeyed God's one and we were exiled. The Curse of Exile - Out of the garden, we fell into God’s curse, which resulted in hard work all of our days, pain in childbearing, and opposition to subdue the Earth. God promised a Redeemer to reverse the curse. The Flood - Man, however, became exceedingly wicked, including yielding to false worship, until finally God wiped out everyone except a remnant, Noah; we can return to God's favor, back to Eden, that it is different. Abraham's Sojourn - God chose Abraham. God lead Abraham to Canaan, but there was a famine that caused him to go to Egypt where He encountered challenges. He made a covenant with Abraham to give him Canaan along with numerous descendants and His kingdom to the entire world. Abraham though never saw it and lived as a foreigner. The Exodus - The promise of Canaan being a great nation was fulfilled, though after centuries of Israelites enslaved to Egyptians. This prolonged suffering not only for personal sin, but all sin of others. Israel was unfaithful during the exodus. He allowed them to leave Egypt, but still they wandered until all left Egypt. The First Kingdom - God made a covenant with David, promising Solomon to rule Israel forever. Israel rose to power and its people too numerous to count. Solomon built the temple - the place where God dwelled and met with His people, yet not walking them yet as He did in Eden. But unfaithfulness set in again, under Solomon's son Rehoboam the kingdom divided to Judah (south) and Israel (north). Both in exile, removed from his throne in Jerusalem.  The Last Kingdom - God did what His people could not, sending His son to lead His people out of exile and build the kingdom throughout the world. We remain in exile physically, struggle with our flesh and sin, but spiritually citizen's of God's kingdom, having the Holy Spirit and seated with Christ in heavenly places. The promise of Jesus returning and renewing heaven and earth, a fullness of God's kingdom resulting. Until then we suffer - but we live and walk by faith. 

Eternity in Our Hearts - The title of this article is taken from Ecclesiastes 3 as the Preacher gives words of God’s providence stating "God has made everything appropriate in it’s time placing eternity in our hearts." This article helps us to remember that we are living now for a future glory of being with Christ in glory. We can begin to love him now us the church, His bride, with a focus on the bride groom (Jesus). We must be careful not to simply stare at the dress only, and think that this dress is the ultimate point of the wedding. As we encounter difficulties living on this earth, it should remind us that this is not our home. Everything we are doing is preparing us for that future day, the bad reminds us of our future hope and the good gives us pause to thank God. Work while in the garden, before sin, had dignity, but after the fall it was toilsome and so in doing it is dissatisfaction which focuses us on a better day. God uses joys and sorrows for our good benefit, to work together for good. We don't understand everything, but we still can see a purpose in things - work is a gift, all is beautiful in its own time, we have eternity in our being, and that evil will be dealt with. There is purpose in history even if we don't understand it completely. Sin corrupts these longings as we focus instead on personal greatness, time is squandered and eternal life mocked. We should be moved to faith. 

Living as Dual Citizens - In the NT we have a contrast, living in the world, according to its ways and the government and yet not of the world and its ideals. We do need to respect government while looking forward to our eternal home. God rules the institution of the world and its governing powers and the church in different ways. Respect our leaders. Governance is God’s plan. 

Living in These Last Days - The last days started 2,000 years ago. God's promises are being fulfilled today. It affects our view of sanctification, family life, church, politics, and much more. 

Separationism - Christians are discouraged by what they see in the world and so some think a monastic life is in order. We are to be a separate people which is hard. But we are not to avoid sinners in the world. We need to be careful about being associated with anyone not our brother and live in a way that contradicts our faith. The church needs to unite and not argue so much within. We need to consider more our witness to the world. 

Living in the World to Come - Sabbath rest and worship offer an oasis for the weary and heavy-laden people of God. It shows us God is on high forever. 

How Providence Nurtures Death - Like a father to his children, God's providence is the Father's care for his children. Despite the hard events in life and trials which are promised to us, God's providence is still present as He nurtures faith in us and all things work together for good. As humans, we focus on the short-term and what is going on now, sometimes seeing that our obedience does not have good results of joy and happiness and freedom from harm. We get hurt by others and so we also learn a need to forgive. We can be generous with what He has given us. This might require adjustments to be made. But, regardless of what we are facing today, remember the Father cares for us. 

Jesus the First and the Last - 

The Pastor's Prayer Life - 

Old Tears - 

Humble Speech - 

Renewing Your Mind - The story of Dr Sproul's show celebrating its 24th anniversary. 

Favoritism in the Church - God shows no favoritism or partiality in the covenant of grace so why do we size up people? 

Working unto the Glory of God - One way we can glorify God in our work is to do our very best. 

The Moment of Truth

John 15:9-11 - Abiding in the Love of Christ

John 15:9-11

9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full. 

Message: Abiding in the Love of Christ

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 9 is a command by Jesus to "abide in My love." This reminds of the traditional wedding vows people will take - "I [Name] take you [Name] to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow." A no-matter-what promise is made. 

Jesus shows a relationship between 'keeping commandments' and 'abiding in His love. 'If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love' --  This is a natural part of the Christian's life, to follow in the commands, whatever they may be. In abiding, there is fruit (v.4), there is asking Him to do anything and He will do it (v. 7).  He continues to clarify that abiding in Him results in keeping commandments. It is all linked together. 

Yesterday, I focused on the Father being glorified. As I have seen in John He continues to mirror Christ with God the Father showing that all that Jesus has done is because of the Father. They are united in their mission, but the mission also seems to come from the Father. Here Jesus shows how he has kept His father's commandments and in turn will abide in His Father's love -- just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905) stated, "Because the Son loved the Father, therefore He kept His commandments, and in this love He abode in the Father’s love. Because we love God we necessarily keep His commandments, and in this love is the receptive power which constitutes abiding in the divine love." We love, we keep commands, we abide. Love produces a desire to keep commandments and this is turn shows us abiding in Him. And this was no different for Jesus toward the Father. 

Jesus concludes these verses - I think possibly all going back to verse 1 of chapter 15 or maybe even verse 23 of chapter 14 - confirming that the words He has spoken and given are for our comfort - more specifically that His Joy, Jesus' joy, may be in us -- and that this joy will be full - "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be made full." I think Jesus is continuing to give His disciples comfort upon telling them that He is leaving to be glorified (13:31). 

Summary: We love Jesus, we keep His commandments and we abide in His love, just like he showed in His relationship with God the Father. 

Promise: Abide in Love and our joy will be made full. 

Prayer: O God, you are great in mercy and You bestow on me the ability to love. And I do love your and what you have done for me in saving me. I live now my life to glorify You, living by being obedient to Your commands and thank you for abiding in me as I abide in You. Keep me anchored in You in this way always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 15:7 - How We Bear Fruit

John 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 

Message: How We Bear Fruit

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: As I look in my Bible, verses 1-11 in my Open Bible outline this section as "The Relationship of Believers to Christ." Verse 4 seems to be a key verse -- "Abide in Me, and I in you." Jesus states He is the true vine. Looking at other verses like Hosea 10:1 gave the idea that Israel is a vine. But maybe not this vine context? Not sure. But, it does seem like Jesus is fulfilling something now in the vine that Israel did not - being salvation to all. 

But moving from that is the "branches" that come forth from the vine and the need for them to bear fruit. In Chapter 14 I saw Jesus leaving and the disciples concerned over this, but Jesus giving them the promise that he would always be with his people and would send His Spirit to help. The key idea was believing in Jesus. Words of abiding did show up. Jesus speaks because of the Father abiding in Him (v. 10). In Jesus works result (v. 11) and by believing the Christian also does works (v. 12). We pray (v. 13) and we are obedient to God's commands (v. 15) and the Helper is with you and Jesus says is abiding with us (v. 17). Jesus abides with us (v. 25). 

Interesting verses as they speak of the special and abiding relationship the Father has with Jesus and Jesus has with us: his followers that believe in Him. 

Much of the Gospel John I believe has centered on gaining eternal life. But Jesus is now mentioning fruit as well and receiving what we ask. Jesus seems to be repeating ideas using slightly different language. By abiding with Jesus our prayers for God to work in fruitful ways naturally results. The Father was abiding with Jesus and good works resulted so it seems reasonable to see the same thing in our lives. It seems these are simply overarching commands with significant results. 

I am not yet describing those results though. At the moment, I am staring at the theory of it all. And the promise. 

Summary: As the Father was abiding in Jesus and Jesus did good works, the same thing occurs for us as we abide in Jesus and He in us and good works will done as we ask for them to be done. 

Promise: We pray according to His will. 

Prayer: Lord God, you want to do great things through me and I am saying thank you. Keep me close to You, trusting in You throughout my days, abiding with you, obeying You. Teach me all that this means, not only with the words I say, but the words I think. Be at the center of my life. Help me to have joy and be happy. I want to be more like You, doing things the right way. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 15:6 - Burning Branches

John 15:6

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

Message: Burning Branches

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: That lesson yesterday was interesting and the idea that I looked at later that Jesus is the true vine of Israel and the branches are now us, His followers. He starts to shift His focus to abiding in Him and the importance of this. Verse 3 I looked at yesterday, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you" is an interesting verse I didn't comment on. Looking at the commentators, I saw this from theologian Matthew Poole (1624-1679):

Now that the traitor is gone out from you, ye are all clean; not by any works which you do, much less upon the account of any legal and ceremonial rites and purifyings; but through my word, your believing and obeying, Ephesians 5:26 1 Peter 1:22. Our cleansing is in holy writ attributed sometimes to the blood of Christ, sometimes to the Spirit, sometimes to the word. By the blood of Christ we are made clean as to justification, washed; but yet we had need wash our feet, contracting soil every day in a sinful world, from which we are cleansed by the purifying virtue of the Holy Spirit, working by and together with the word, which purgeth us of our dross, and maketh us obedient to the will of God.

What an interesting take on this, The words spoken to the disciples and speaking to their state of being clean, purified. They are clean because of the Word spoken by Jesus. The blood justifies us, but still in our daily life we are cleansed by the Holy Spirit working with the Word of God to make us obedient to the will of God. It is only the blood that justifies us and makes us clean. 

But now here in verse 6 seems to be a further explanation possibly of verse 2, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away." That verse spoke of bearing fruit and in verse 6 Jesus mentions, "not abiding in Me." Abiding to me is simply the conclusion now of every believer once justified by faith. Abiding starts with faith and then continues with praying, obedience with the Holy Spirit as our purifying agent in the world to make us obedient to the will of God. To me, the Christian without works is a dead faith. I don't think this means though works justify us, but the works are a result of our salvation and the true Christian does work. 

As I was speaking to my wife we were thinking of a friend recently that has cut herself off from any interaction with her parents because of years of being offended by them, of feeling oppressed and in response she has purged these people from her life. But those people are believers in Christ. She has simply decided that their presence in her life is against her nature. It seems odd. I mean it is one thing for the Christian to want to not embrace the cares of the World, but to take this position toward people of faith. The question arose of whether she is a Christian and if she ever was if she can take this continual position of not having love for her neighbor, her provider, her father/mother. It has created now an animosity and a tit-for-tat by her sister and family. Now, I don't believe that is right either. I think the parent and sister must continue to display themselves as wanting the relationship and opening their arms back up to her the moment she comes back. It is simply sad to see this stubbornness that is present. 

I mention this in wonder of this idea of abiding and what it looks like in the life of a Christian and how it needs to look and display itself. As people of faith, we need to have a desire to be purified completely by God's word, not simply in part. And yet the way this friend is displaying herself is similar to the dogmatic view that many of faith hold in regards to their own understanding of scripture and fettering out all others that do not hold to the same conviction. 

My point is the point that I think is addressed in this scripture and it is one whereby the Christian is always and constantly seeking for ways to better conform themselves to the way of Christ. We want to be people that bear fruit and so we need to constantly make sure our lives our working in this direction. 

As learned previously, sometimes people are simply wanting to be acknowledged as a member of the visible church, the church that they believe they should be rather than surrendering themselves completely to God and His word and be a member of God's invisible church. We are not simply to be counted as accepting by a person, but counted as being accepted by God. 

I have a person that has been asking me a question recently of whether him committing suicide will result in God banishing him to hell. He is looking for my opinion and I want him to look to God for His opinion, not mine. Let God define this in His life, not me. 

Summary: In abiding, we need to be people that our lives look like our faith. In trusting in Christ, abiding in Him is a life of living, asking God to prune, so that our lives are marked by fruit. 

Promise: Professing Christians who are not bearing fruit, even meager fruit, have no warrant to believe they are actually saved. 

Prayer: O God, you are good. You are glory and you are perfect and you are my ideal. You have chosen Me for some reason I do not know, but I do know as I surrender to You and yield my life to You, good things happen and You do indeed bear fruit in my life. It is not because of me, but because of You in me. I am marveled by this. It is easy for me to think that I am the one that is doing the great work, but let me keep the glory on You. And I pray that I continually have this desire to bear fruit. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 15:1-5 - Vine and Branches

John 15:1-5

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Message: Vine and Branches

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Now to start chapter 15, I immediately notice that Jesus continually mentions the Father as He also mentions Himself. He speaks to a Jewish audience and he seems purposely in His statements to link Himself with the Father. 

While Jesus mentions Himself as the Vine, he states that the Father is the vinedresser or the one who prunes, tends, or cultivates grapevines. He remarks that the branch that does not bear fruit gets taken away. But the branch that bears fruit gets pruned in order to bear more fruit. Hmm. Seem harsh. No fruit, no branch. But the pruning seems reasonable. Fruit is good, but more fruit if better. 

Verse 3 states that you are clean because of the Word. Interesting verse. And so Jesus gives the command in verse 4 to "Abide in Me, and I in you." Branches can only bear fruit when they are with the vine. But not simply with the vine, but abiding with the Vine (verse 4). The conclusion comes in verse 5 - "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

I should focus on what I know in these verses and that is the command to "Abide in Jesus." And I am given that promise when I do that Jesus is in Me. In my previous lesson from the end of chapter 13 through chapter 14 I saw these ideas still of Believe, Pray, Obey, Help. And so beyond the Comfort of chapter 14 of the assurance that we have help, that God is providing us Help with the Holy Spirit is now my understanding that I follow through in staying close to Jesus, abiding in Him and as this process continues, good things will result. 

Going back now to the vine, the significance of Jesus as the vine is that He is the instrument now through which all people will be saved. Originally, it was Israel that was the vine. 

Psalms 80:8, "You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it." 

Jeremiah 2:21, "Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?" 

Hosea 10:1-2, "1 Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. 2 Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and destroy their pillars."

With Jesus calling Himself the vine, He is now carrying out the work Israel was supposed to do in sharing the message of salvation with all. But, I don't think Israel failed, it is simply that Jesus has always been the complete fulfillment of all that God will accomplish for people. The goal remains to bear fruit and for God to see His people be with him. God loves people. God wants people to be with Him for all eternity. He loves us and wants us. But there are also rules and standards. There is a mission and a process and we must adhere to His plan. And not ignore Him or run off and invent our own plan. Jesus says He is it. So we must remain with Him, abiding in Him. 

Verse 2 - He took away Israel's way and Jesus is the true Israel. Jesus is it now. Jesus has always been it, but really Jesus is clearly God's means for people to bear fruit and live lives of fruit. 

Abiding in trusting and being close to Jesus. Fruit is really more salvation than obedience, but simply our need to be with Jesus -trusting in Jesus. Jesus continues to give comfort and direction to the disciples, reminding them that He is the answer now and forever more.  

Summary: Jesus confirms that He is the true vine of Israel to bear the fruit of salvation now to all. Our response is to trust in Him (abide). 

Promise: Jesus is the true vine, but this vine has branches, and we who love and serve Christ are those branches.

Prayer: Thank you God for the great gift of Your Word and sealing Yourself with me and being the answer. You love people God and want to be with people always and you will always do whatever is necessary to yield the fruit of followers and people to be with You. I trust in You God. I abide in You. Thank you for the full life I have in You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 14:25-26 - Our Teacher the Holy Spirit

John 14:25-26 

25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 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 that I said to you.

Message: Our Teacher the Holy Spirit

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: In looking at these texts a little at a time, it is an interesting progression of thought. In today's verses Jesus returns to the idea of the Holy Spirit, who He mentioned to people in verse 16 when He mentioned asking the Father to send us a Helper. At that time, what we were told primarily about the Holy Spirt or the Spirit of Truth is that He would be with us always - abiding with us and being in us. And then Jesus seems to be responding to the concerns raised by the disciples - a concern that Jesus is leaving them, the disciples, though Jesus has mentioned He will return again (v. 18). 

As I have mentioned and concluded these verses to me have a summary idea of (1) Believe, (2) Ask/Pray, (3) Obey, (4) You have help, a helper or Holy Spirit. I like this idea that seems to be mentioned repeatedly by Jesus that we need to Believe in Him. And believe that God has sent Jesus. But we also need to ask Him and He will do whatever we ask in Jesus name (v. 14) and our lives should be marked by obedience (v. 21, 23), and through it all we have a Helper providing us help (v. 17, and now v. 26). 

I call attention to this because I see that the world focuses on beliefs they have about life and all that there is and even therefore have because of that an obedience or desire to live and love based upon that belief, but they are missing asking or praying to God and they are missing have a Helper or help through all of life's circumstances. And most notably their belief in life is not focused on the unchanging God but rather a changing or evolving worldview in this World. 

God defines our lives. And everything in our life is because of Him. The pastor yesterday in His sermon on lying mentioned Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Our focus in life is always to be on God and what is acceptable to Him. This is what defines our life. 

And so today in these verses is the focus on the Holy Spirit, though Jesus first mentions the idea that He abides with us. He confirms the words He previously said in verse 23 of Father/Jesus having their "abode" in the life of a believer. There is an expression here that our obedience, our following of Jesus, creates this special union with Jesus/Father. And Jesus confirms this with the words, "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you." Abiding in Jesus will come up in the next chapter in verse 7 but the focus will be on people abiding in Jesus. Here in these verses Jesus makes mention that He will be abiding with us. Perhaps what Jesus is doing is making mention to the disciples the idea that though He is living physically, there is a spiritual presence that will never be in separation from the believer in Christ. Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) says, "He contrasts the outward and transitory presence which was now nearing its end, with the inward and continuous presence, which its end was to inaugurate." Jesus commits that He and the Father will always be with us.

And further still He makes mention of the Holy Spirit who He has already said is in us (v. 17) but now says, "He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." Besides saying He is with us, He says that He is our teacher of all things. He is the one that brings remembrance to us of everything Jesus has said to us. Again, God is with us. And God is with us always. 

Jesus in these words and throughout the concerns placed by the disciples and the fear that Jesus is leaving them is the counter-assurance by Jesus with words of comfort that Jesus will remain with them, the Father as well, and the Helper, the Holy Spirit. We have here the three-fold assurance that God is with us. 

Summary: Jesus reminds His disciples He abides with them and the Holy Spirit will be out teacher, reminding us always of Jesus' promises to us. 

Promise: I love these words from Tabletalk for this day, "Sacred Scripture does not consist of merely human writings. Instead, the Scripture is inspired by our triune God and deserves our full attention and submission. When we are reading Scripture, we are reading not merely a humanly written book but also a divinely written book. Let us treat Scripture as such and seek, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to conform to its teaching."

Prayer: O God, thank you for giving me these words of Comfort. Just as the disciples possibly did not remember them upon experiencing your crucifixion and the masses of people yelling to crucify You, I know I forget them as well - the promise that you are abiding with me and even beyond that the Father is in Me and the Holy Spirit as well, teaching me all things, bringing remembrance to Me of all things. You are my comfort and Joy. You are what I need each moment of each day. You are with me. You can be my strength and I need to remain committed to You, always. Thank you God the Father. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 8:33-40 - Children of Abraham

John 8:33-40

33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offering, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is that You say, "You shall become free?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain remain in the house forever, the son does remain forever. 36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." 39 They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do." 

Message: Children of Abraham

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: The Lord delivered thoughts yesterday that we have come to view as the mark of a true discipleship and that was the idea that we need to abide in His word and in the process of doing this we will be made free by this truth. The first response often would be someone saying, "I did not realize I was lost." As my friend and I would often share with people at the mall it was with the premise that people did not know they were entangled by sin. In order to hear the Good news of Jesus, there needs to be some sort of realization that a person has a need for this. Today, very often in our population, people are not looking to God for help or guidance or even seeing God as someone they need. Perhaps, this was the mood of some listening to Him at this time. Especially Jewish officials who believed they already had what they needed. 

And so in this passage Jesus is helping the hearer see that the problem they have is that "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." That is a key message. What makes us need to be set free is that we are sinners and we need to get freed from being a slave of sin. And we are slaves simply because we sin. Jesus states in verse 35 and 36 that because someone is a slave to sin they do not dwell with Jesus in his forever house. But the Son can make you free. Believing in Him with a belief that will then abide in His Word - this will then be a person that is free indeed. Thus, the salvation message is one of freedom. 

Jesus often responds to their claim that they do not have a problem of being entangled or being a slave because they are of the offspring of Abraham. The Jew makes this common claim that because of their tradition and because of being grafted into the line of Abraham as a Jew that because of this they are not lost. The traditional idea among the rabbis was that the descendants of Abraham were in a higher position spiritually from others. Jews did not seem themselves as being in bondage to wickedness like the Gentiles. 

Most plainly Jesus responds that if they are truly of the offspring of Abraham then why are they seeking to kill him because like Abraham who did the deeds of God, Jesus is the same. Jesus is doing the deeds of God. These deeds are in response to what the Father has told Him to do. He has heard directly from God, something Abraham does not have. Jesus is from the father and He speaks to an audience that is to believe in Him, abide in His word and in doing this they will be set free. We are only set free by the Free One - Jesus Christ. 

Summary: Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. To be free like Abraham is to be a servant of Christ. 

Promise: When we move from being enslaved by sin to being a slave of Christ, then are empowered to serve Him, abiding by His word, being set free through the deeds of God. 

Prayer: O God, you are good and you have freed me from sin. I have freedom in you Jesus. Thank you for giving me that recognition that I am a sinner and can only be freed by You. Bring people to salvation, on the street in which I live, at the place in which I work, throughout this land. Help people to see that they cannot hold onto an allegiance simply and that there life needs to be changed from the inside/out. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 8:31-32 - The Mark of True Discipleship

John 8:31-32

31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

Message: The Mark of True Discipleship

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: In these verses Jesus follows up with the Jews or those that have believed Him, stating that by abiding in His words, they will be true disciples. And then He marks a 2 step process with a conclusion that (1) abiding in My word will bring about (2) knowing the truth and this will then (3) make you free. 

Jesus has said a lot up to this point about belief or believing in Him, primarily centering on a faith in who Jesus is - born again, living water, bread of life, light of the world. Here we acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We start fresh and see that Jesus will be the one that provides us with a living water that will yield eternal life, that Jesus and all He embodies will be our bread of life. And He is the light in the darkness. And in all of this is the full meaning of being born again. 

Along the way we have seen that even in this belief, people do not always follow. In essence there isn't always 'abiding in His word.' People have an intellectual belief, but even in this, Jesus makes mention that there isn't a complete faith. John 2:23-24 mentions "Many believed in His name...but Jesus, was not entrusting Himself to them." And in John 6:65-66 there is mention that "no one can come to Me (Jesus) unless it has been granted him from the Father." And following this statement, "As a result many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore." There is more to this belief than meets the eye. The Father must draw people to Himself. So it would seem that mere belief without the Father drawing someone is not true belief. And this could be what happened back in John 2:23-24. 

Jesus further clarifies that meaning here now in these verses and the idea is basically that "actions speak louder than words." What needs to occur in the life of the one who has believed is a desire to abide in My (His) word. And what I see is a complete abiding. How can we say there is abiding if we are picking and choosing what we are willing to follow. We must be willing to surrender our entire lives. We must give Jesus every part of our house - I've always enjoyed this treatise - "My Heart Christ's Home." I first was given it in high school from one who was mentoring/discipling me. This was a process I think of surrendering my life to the Lord, giving Him everything in my life. 

The reading takes a person through areas of his life - what he reads, watches, has hanging on his wall of his house and then moves to what quenches his thirst and consumes him - money, academic degrees, stocks, articles on fame and fortune. And then to the living room where he spends time with the Lord, first starting out rich and meaningful and then under the burden of responsibility the time with the Lord shrinks and shrinks to the point that we are rushing by and simply sampling His words. The workroom was where he did what he could do to follow the Lord, but it wasn't until he surrendered himself and let the Lord work through Him that he had success building things. And then to the rec room where he admitted the Lord would probably not enjoy the places he went, but once he had the Lord define his recreation He brought in plenty of joy and laughter. And then to the hall closet where he hid his things that he did not want anyone to see. But he becomes free when he gives the Lord control of the closet. What we need to do is not be the owner of our house, but rather let him be the owner and master.

I feel like I do okay with this in my life, giving him control of things. I feel like I am just struggling with my time and how I spend it and whether I am working on things that matter most. 

Sometimes I feel my focus is more on verse 31. And it becomes hard for me to understand what it means to the "truth making you free." At age 56, what am I free from now? For the Jews at the time, there was in Him a desire to be free from Roman rule. But beyond that, there was a need in Jesus' time to be free from the snare of Legion or Satan and his angels/demons, like in Mark 5:9 and Luke 8:30 where there is the need to be free from unclean spirits. Today, do we think about these things? Either being free from the stronghold of government or that there are demons inhabiting us? I don't think so. At least in my life, I don't have this in my words, but maybe I should. In Africa, I see people talking about getting the spirit of idolatry out of a person. 

Overall in this passage I see a conclusion that to be His disciples, following belief is abiding in His word (what he says as recorded in this Bible of mine). And in these words is truth and in this truth I will be free. Now to discover what freedom means to me. 

Summary: Being a disciple is abiding in Jesus' words, to know the truth so that I will be free.  

Promise: It is not belief or profession that saves me, but it is possessing faith - changing me - seeing it make a difference in my life. 

Prayer: Lord, I want You to change my life. I want you to change my desires and change who I am. Every day I want this. Help me to define this in my life, to define you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 6:52-59 - Eating and Belief

John 6:52-59

52 The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in  yourselves. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me he also shall live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate, and died, he who eats this bread shall live forever." 59 These things He said in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Message: Eating and Belief

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As a reminder, this discourse that Jesus is giving is in the midst of multitudes in the synagogue which includes Jews. He has been clear in his words, but he is also using language that is a little shocking stating "I am the living bread....if anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever." Our passage this morning begins with the Jews asking this question - "how are we to eat flesh?"

With our knowledge now of Luke 22:19 - And when he had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me." And so we know now that Jesus' discourse here of eating the body and drinking the blood would be a parallel for His atoning death. But at the time, what would His audience have thought? Jesus does not seem to here be talking about the sacrament. 

Thus, as we study, we see parallels - verse 40 - "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I myself will raise him up on the last day." Jesus mentions repeatedly believing in Him. And then as we look at verse 54, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Thus, there doesn't seem to be extra work or an extra sacrament that is required for eternal life, but rather the eating and drinking are not carnal acts, but rather speak to the trust we place in Him for salvation. He also says in verse 56 that doing this "abides in Him." Abiding is a giving of oneself completely. It is to include ourselves in all of what God provides to us - studying His word, prayer, fellowship, living our life in faith. As such the eating and drinking refer to more than belief, but taking Jesus in and taking Him in completely to our lives. 

Summary: As Jesus is the bread of life, to eat his flesh and drink His blood is to abide in Him and to trust in Him completely for salvation practicing all that He has provided for us to grow in Christ. 

Promise: Later on, with the Lord's supper, we see a tangible picture of taking Jesus in and entering unto Him, to show that tangible practice we are to mirror in our life of growing in Christ daily. 

Prayer: Lord, as Petra stated in their song, we are daily to move Beyond Belief. I am to practice the presence of God daily in reading and studying and listening to good speakers, in fellowship with my wife and any others in the faith and encouraging myself and others continually to go beyond faith and belief to practice and doing the will of God. In believing I am sealed for eternal life, but in my belief I work for it shows that I am with you God. Keep training me daily in this sort of living. Keep me focused on You and leaning on You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

My Utmost for His Highest - June 14th - Get a Move On

In the Matter of Determination. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

    The Spirit of Jesus is put into me by the Atonement, then I have to construct with patience the way of thinking that is exactly in accordance with my Lord. God will not make me think like Jesus, I have to do it myself; I have to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. “Abide in Me” — in intellectual matters, in money matters, in every one of the matters that make human life what it is. It is not a bandbox* life.

    Am I preventing God from doing things in my circumstances because I say it will hinder my communion with Him? That is an impertinence. It does not matter what my circumstances are, I can be as sure of abiding in Jesus in them as in a prayer meeting. I have not to change and arrange my circumstances myself. With Our Lord the inner abiding was unsullied; He was at home with God wherever His body was placed. He never chose His own circumstances, but was meek towards His Father’s dispensations for Him. Think of the amazing leisure of Our Lord’s life! We keep God at excitement point, there is none of the serenity of the life hid with Christ in God about us.

    Think of the things that take you out of abiding in Christ — “Yes, Lord, just a minute, I have got this to do; Yes, I will abide when once this is finished; when this week is over, it will be all right, I will abide then.” Get a move on; begin to abide now. In the initial stages it is a continual effort until it becomes so much the law of life that you abide in Him unconsciously. Determine to abide in Jesus wherever you are placed.

Notes:

*bandbox: in Chambers’ day, a small, round box made to hold neckbands or collars for shirts; metaphorically, something small, narrow, cloistered, self-contained.

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - June 12th - Getting There

Where the self-interest sleeps and the real interest awakens. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. - John 1:38-39

    “They…abode with Him that day.” That is about all some of us ever do, then we wake up to actualities, self-interest arises and the abiding is passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.

    “Thou art Simon…: thou shalt be called Cephas. (John 1:42)” God writes the new name on those places only in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self-interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, like spiritual measles. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mood on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don’t look at us when we are not in that mood. The disciple is one who has the new name written all over him; self-interest and pride and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

    Pride is the deification of self, and this to-day in some of us is not of the order of the Pharisee, but of the publican (see Luke 18:9-14). To say “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It literally means that you defy God to make you a saint. “I am much too weak and hopeless, I am outside the reach of the Atonement.” Humility before men may be unconscious blasphemy before God. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you one. It would be all right, you say, if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is just what He will do! “We will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)” Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for ever.

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - March 22nd - The Burning Heart

They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” - Luke 24:32

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, the fires are kindled, we have wonderful visions, then we have to learn to keep the secret of the burning heart that will go through anything. It is the dull, bald, dreary, commonplace day, with commonplace duties and people, that kills the burning heart unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.

Much of our distress as Christians comes not because of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test as to whether we ought to allow an emotion to have its way is to see what the outcome of the emotion will be. Push it to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something God would condemn, allow it no more way. but if it be an emotion kindled by the Spirit of God and you do not let that emotion have its right issue in your life, it will react on a lower level. That is the way sentimentalists are made. The higher the emotion is, the deeper the degradation will be, if it is not worked out on its proper level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, made as many things inevitable as possible, let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay on the mount of transfiguration, but we must obey the light we received there; we must act it out. When God gives a vision, transact business on that line, no matter what it costs.

            "We cannot kindle when we will

                The fire which in the heart resides,
            The spirit bloweth and is still, 
            In mystery our soul abides;
                But tasks in hours of insight will'd
                Can be through hours of gloom fulfill'd."  -- Matthew Arnold

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition