John 14:21-24 - The Indwelling of the Father and the Son

John 14:21-24

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me, and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him. 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world? 23 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 abode 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. 

Message: The Indwelling of the Father and the Son

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: Ever since John 13:31 I have seen Jesus talking about (1) Believe, (2) Pray, (3) Love or Obey, (4) He (Holy Spirit) will help. Now I don't believe obey is necessary for salvation as I think consistently I see Jesus speaking about believing in Him and through that trust in Him alone a person will have eternal life. The idea of Him being living water is He lives in us and works through us. I believe the Bible teaches salvation by grace throughout the entire book. Others talk about ages and that God saves in different ways at different periods of time, but I think our scripture is consistent that only God saves. God definitely wants people that are obedient to Him but this is not a condition for our salvation ever but always a confirmation. And let's face it, life is better for us when we are obedient. 

In Verse 21, Jesus remarks our need to keep the commandments. Again, keeping commandments like He says, "he it is who loves Me." We love him and so we keep His commandments. But verse 21 at first is a interesting progressing -- "Keep commandments - Show your love for Jesus - if loved by Jesus you are loved by the Father - and Jesus will love you - and will disclose Himself to you." So here is this idea keeping commandments has a result of Jesus loving us. 

Now we have another disciple asking Jesus questions. Interesting - Peter, Thomas, Philip, and now Judas. I find it interesting that John is providing all of these different disciples with their questions. Judas wonders in verse 23 about the words that Jesus mentioned of disclosing Himself. I must admit, if I were there, I would probably be asking the same thing. "Disclosing seems like an interesting word." 

Jesus responds by repeating somewhat the words of verse 21 but adding a word, "Abode." The idea seems to be love Him and do His commandments and Father/Jesus will set up an abode with that person. Conversely, if you don't love Him you don't keep His words. 

It seems the onus on these words is our love for the Father. That seems to be the focus here - that we need to focus on our love for God rather than thinking it is a tit for tat: I do this, he does that. 

But when we do the commands - God's love is guaranteed and this love is both from the Father and the Son. Obedience does not result only in God's acceptance, but God and His Son's acceptance. Again, as Jesus has stated many other times, the Son and the Father are together in their mission. Prior to being obedient to the commands is the giving of the Spirit of God, so that in our obedience we have the Spirit in us. The Spirit is working in us and through us and this is our obedience as we surrender to Him. 

The disclosing of Jesus to us perhaps is an allusion to the relationship between our obedience and His operation in us. Our obedience intensifies our relationship with Him. We will know Him more as we obey Him more. 

Summary: Disciples are to love Jesus and in the process, Jesus will disclose Himself to us, the Father and the Son, growing in closeness to God. 

Promise: If we are not seeking to grow in conformity to Christ, we should not expect to grow in the deeper things of God.

Prayer: Lord God, you are great and wonderful and thank you for the privilege of knowing You better as we grow in Your word and You. How awesome that you reveal yourself to us. 

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

My Utmost for His Highest - April 8th - His Resurrection Destiny

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” - Luke 24:26 

Our Lord's Cross is the gateway into His life: His resurrection means that He has power now to convey His life to me. When I am born again from above, I receive from the Risen Lord His very life. 

Our Lord's Resurrection destiny is to bring "many sons unto glory. (Hebrews 2:10)" The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We are never in the relationship to God that the Son of God is in; but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship,. When Our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life, to a life He did not live before He was incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before; and His resurrection means for us that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we shall have a body like unto His glorious body, but we can know now the efficacy of His resurrection and "walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)." "I would know Him in the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10)" 

"As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. (John 17:12)" "Holy Spirit" is the experimental name for Eternal Life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the Deity in proceeding power Who applies the Atonement to our experience. Thank God it is gloriously and majestically true that the Holy Ghost can work in us the very nature of Jesus if we will obey Him.

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

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.  

My Utmost for His Highest - April 1st - Heartiness v. Heartlessness Towards Others

who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. - Romans 8:34

and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:27

Do we need any more argument than this to become intercessors--that Christ "ever liveth to make intercession;" that the Holy Spirit "maketh intercessioin for the saints"? Are we living in such a vital relationship to our fellow men that we do the work of intercession as the Spirit-taught children of God? Begin with the circumstances we are in --our homes, our business, our country, the present crisis as it touches us and others--are these things crushing us? Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time for worship? Then let us call a halt, and get into such living relationship with God that our relationship to others may be maintained on the line of intercession whereby God works His marvels.

Beware of outstripping God by your very longing to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede. If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in the worshipping attitude, it will produce not only hardness toward God but despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people for who we have no affinity, and unless we are worshipping God, the most natural thing to do is to treat them heartlessly, to give them a text like the jab of a spear, or leave them with a rapped-out counsel of God and go. A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord. 

Are we in the direct line of the intercession of our Lord and of the Holy Spirit?

 Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

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

John 14:26 - Divine Begottenness and Procession

John 14:26
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: Divine Begottenness and Procession

Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

Today's Tabletalk devotional starts with a discussion about the notion that each person has a human nature that includes a mind, a body, and a will, but each person's nature is different from one another. While we each have a human nature, our individual attributes are distinct. However, in regards to the three persons of the Godhead, the three persons do not have three different minds, but have one identical mind. And this is the same for every other divine attribute.

The question then is what makes each person of the Trinity different. The Bible teaches that (1) the Father is unbegotten, (2) the Son is begotten, and (3) the Holy Spirit is procession.

Regarding the Son, John 1:18 says, No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. In John 3:16 Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  Begotten and derivatives of the Greek word are used multiple times in Scripture to talk about a special relationship between a Father or Mother and a son or daughter. John is the only Gospel writer to connect the relationship between Jesus and the Father. It talks of one being the only child of another. Yet both the Son and the Father have always existed. Even though He is begotten of the Father, his existence is the same as the Father.

Regarding the Holy Spirit, John 14:26 says the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. Begottenness is the unique quality of the Son, procession is the unique property of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. There was a distinctive relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Father and the Son before time began. This passage talks about the special purpose of the Spirit - as a teacher and a reminder of all that Jesus has said. But the Spirit is also said to be sent by Jesus in John 15:26, though this verse speaks still primarily it would seem as coming from the Father. When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me. Thus there is debate as to whether the Spirit proceeds from the Son.

The difficult in these explanations is that we use human words or human explanations to explain eternal beings that are infinite, immutable and incomprehensible. Man is a created being and his words are created in order to communicate and they have limitations. I think of the word Love and all that it encompasses. Love can mean so many different things and sometimes the word Love does not convey the entire story. Scripture attempts to describe the relationship between these 3 persons of the Godhead and based upon all of the Words we have there is a natural conclusion to show that they are all divine and all of the same mind and attributes. Yet, as we work on describing this we fall into difficulties of explanation.

Purpose: It is important to study about God and His nature to help give us a further glimpse at who God is. Knowing this moves us to worship Him for His greatness and thus fulfill the purpose for which we were made.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for wisdom from the ages and how people have studied your words and come to conclusions that help me to better understand You. Lord, you have ministered specifically to me and spoken specifically to Me in a way that I struggle defining at times in my life. I don't understand it fully but I knot it to be true in me. I do thank you for these words from various individuals and thank you for breathing life into these words that I read. I continue to trust You and while there are questions that come up in my mind at times I continue to have peace that you are God, that Jesus you are God, that Spirit you are God and my mission on this earth is to glorify and testify of You. You have made me to be a person of relationship. You are eternal and creator and yet there is a closeness with You. Continue to help me to be clear in that understanding and communicating this to others.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

The BIble and Homosexuality

New American Standard Bible 

Genesis 19:4-9

⁴ Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; ⁵ and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” ⁶ But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, ⁷ and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. ⁸ Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.” ⁹ But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door.

Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. 

Leviticus 20:13
If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

I Timothy 1:9-10
⁹ realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers ¹⁰ and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
  
Jude 7 
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. 

Romans 1:24-27
²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. ²⁵ For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
²⁶ For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, ²⁷ and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

I Corinthians 6:9-11
⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Mark 7:21-22
²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.

James 1:14-15
¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. ¹⁵ Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Titus 2:11-14
¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹² instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
 


 

Proverbs 16:7 - Granting Us Peace

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Message: Granting us peace

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

According to the TableTalk reading on this passage for today, the fall of Adam and Eve introduced several wars into creation.

1. War with God - every thought of the fallen heart is only evil continually, and people seek to overthrow the Lord's rightful place as ruler over their lives. In Genesis 8:21, the Lord said that the intention of man's heart is evil, since his youth. In Romans 3:1-20 speaks of how the unrighteousness of man upholds the righteousness of God. Man does not want to do good; there is none righteous, not even one; no one understands, no one seeks for God; all have turned aside. Man's tongue, mouth, feet are swift to inflict evil. 
2. War with Himself - Romans 2 says the Law is written on our hearts; right and wrong is written on our heart and accuses us all of our days. This is a plain and simple reality, yet one that causes us tension all of our days. The pain is no matter how hard we try, we will never be fully good and proper. 
3. War with Other People - The moment after Adam and Eve sinned, Adam immediately laid the blame on Eve. Human society has been characterized by strife, disagreement, and hatred between people. 

The third point is the focus of today's passage from Proverbs with the result of this promise that man's enemies will be at peace with us when our ways please the Lord. And it is interesting because in this passage the way we have peace with our fellow man is not by being a better person towards them or having more sensitivity; this may be the result, but our focus is to be on pleasing the Lord. 

This makes sense, if I follow the Lord's commands to not lie, steal, commit adultery, murder, then it naturally will result in people not being harmed or feeling harmed. But, I cannot guarantee that all people all the time will be kind with me, no matter how I act. And yet Jesus pronounces a blessing upon those who are hated in Matthew 5 reminding us to look toward heaven and the hope we have with him there. And yet we do know that things will work out for good. Matthew Henry comment:

"God can turn foes into friends when he pleases. He that has all hearts in his hand has access to men's spirits and power over them, working insensibly, but irresistibly upon them, can make a man's enemies to be at peace with him, can change their minds, or force them into a feigned submission. He can slay all enemies, and bring those together that were at the greatest distance from each other." 

Promise: This is a good reminder. We are programmed to solve problems through time management, leadership development, becoming a better communicator, conflict resolutions -- but I must remember that the real focus of my heart should be doing things that please the Lord. 

Proverbs 17:9-10 - Discerning Rebuke

Proverbs 17:9-10
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.  A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Message: Being wise with our words

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

He who conceals a transgression seeks love
He who conceals a sin or hides a sin or covers a sin or does not bring that sin to light -- in his brother or sister takes the course which leads to gain. We live in a world that loves to find wrong in others. It is presidential election time and the goal often is to find something in the life of a candidate to discredit him. It is to find something that will make him look bad. Right now, we have a candidate that is speaking matter of fact, but I find that what people love the most is he assaults people and he brings to light the things that they have done wrong. It is kindness and forbearance that we forgive one another and not just forgive one another, but ignore sins. Verse 9 speaks of friends and so this phrase is even more talking about our attitude towards each other. 

He who repeats a matter separate intimate friends
How often have I in my life brought up a sin from my own kids that they have done in the past and held it against them once again? Too many times. I am embarrassed at how often I have done this. I am not to catalog sins so as to add more fuel to the fire and make people feel worse. My goal should be to encourage and mention things that can build others up. I am to be kind in my speech. I am to be encouraging. O God, how poor I have been at this. How wretched I am. Help me to learn to praise more and thank people more and forgive more. Forgiveness needs to be the mark of my life. But, I should not think this covers all sins. The point here is the minor sins and minor infractions that really do not need to be brought up again and again.

A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
If a rebuke is needed, then it goes deeper, or will have more of an affect on one who has understanding.  A word is enough for the wise. If I am a person that has understanding, then rebukes or a harsh word will be more palpable. This seems like a personal characteristic at times. As I consider my children and how they respond to criticism; some seem to handle it better than others. And I think of employees that I have as well. Some accept the criticism better than others.

than a hundred blows into a fool
But a fool can't take even a hundred blows and come out unchanged. Lord, there are others that do not accept any sort of criticism. For the cypress tree, the more it is watered, the more it is withered. And even more of an issue is the person that has become so callous to correction. The horse has to have a bit and bridle in its mouth in order to be moved to change. Great lengths are necessary for some people to even hope that you can get a change out of them. 


Promise: The Bible over and over talks about our speech and its importance. I am to speak the truth in love, not seeking to crush sensitive souls but to build them up in Christ.

Jesus Calling: October 24

Lie down in green pastures of Peace. Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in the Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps My children "wired" much of the time, too tense to find Me in the midst of their moments. I built into your very being the need for rest. How twisted the world has become when people feel guilty about meeting this basic need! How much time and energy they waste by being always on the go, rather than taking time to seek My direction for their lives.
     I have called you to walk with Me down paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence. I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths.

Psalm 23:1-3
English Standard Version

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

Genesis 2:2-3
English Standard Version
 
² And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. ³ So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Luke 1:79

English Standard Version

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.

My Prayer
Lord, forgive me for being distracted by technology and always filling my time with this website or this application or that game or that piece of media. Lord, instead of focusing on your call for my life, I spend too much time just being entertained. But Lord, you remind me that peace isn't found through a screen but through a relationship with You. Keep me on the right course. With you as my shepherd, I shall not want. Show me that rest is not simply staring at screens, but resting with you, reading your Word, meditating on it and serving your people. I want to live in the way of peace so change my habits so that I always glorify You. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: September 18

Seek to please Me above all else. Let that goal be your focal point as you go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect you from scattering your energy to the winds. The free will I bestowed on you comes with awesome responsibility. Each day presents you with choice after choice. Many of these decisions you ignore and thus make by default. Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose your way. That's why it is so important to stay in communication with Me, living in thankful awareness of My Presence.
     You inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep you from coming unraveled too. 

Matthew 6:33
English Standard Version

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Verse Thoughts
This verse concludes a paragraph that began with the command to not worry about my life. How often do I let the events of my life distract, distrust, and disquiet me? Too often. But instead, seek first (through prayer) the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 
 
John 8:29
English Standard Version 

And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.
 
Verse Thoughts
These are words of Jesus, speaking of his relationship to the Father. The Father is with Jesus, is with me, at every step, at every turn, and so I do always things pleasing to Him. 

Colossians 3:23-24 
English Standard Version 

²³ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Verse Thoughts
As I serve, I am not to do it grudgingly, with a feeling of necessity, or murmuring, but rather delighting the work with a cheery attitude, as my service is unto the Lord and my payment, even if it is small from people, is primarily focused as coming from the Lord, in his time, in his way. 

My Prayer
Lord, I need an attitude overhaul. Bring an attitude of delight to my service each day. Thank you for being near, with me, every day. I want to stay focused on your kingdom and your righteousness and let you bless me in your time, in your way. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.