Comfort and Promises
John 14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
"Come now; let us leave.
OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Peter’s Question: “Where Are You Going” (14:1-4)
a. Jesus promises Heavenly Home,
b. Heavenly Hope and
c. Heavenly Homecoming
3. Thomas’ Question : “How Can We Know the Way?” (14:5-7)
a. How can we be saved? He is the Way!
b. How can we be sure? He is the Truth!
c. How can we be satisfied? He is the Life!*
4. Philip’s Request: “Show Us the Father and It Is Enough” (14:8-21)
a. His Word is from the Father
b. Evidence of Miracles -Jesus promises disciples
i. Honor them with “greater things”
ii. Hear them and
iii. Help them
c. Indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in Believers
5. Question of Judas: “Why Will You Reveal Yourself to Us and Not to the World?” (14:22-24)
6. Jesus’ Final Words (14:25-31)
7. Conclusion - Themes for Reflection and Application
COMFORT & PROMISES
Introduction
I’ve been a practicising lawyer for about 24years and have seen my practice behave like a yo-yo. I start small, expand to a whole floor , contract to a small room, expand again, start a branch with 40 staff, shrink drastically again and expand again . Life is difficult,” observes Dr. Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Traveled. I’ve recently attended an introductory seminar that offers mentors to coach SME owners to overcome the difficulties. A coach who has been there and done that would be a great comfort . In a sense, the text today contains an intensive coaching by our Lord Jesus on how the disciples can addressed their fear for life’s difficulties. Before we do that, let’s go to God in prayer.
Prayer: Father, we thank you for you are out God. You will strengthen us, you will help us. Help us and uphold us with you righteous right hand. As we listen to your word, we pray that you will instruct us , comfort us and teach us in the way we should go. Amen
John chapters 13-17 contain what is commonly referred to as “Upper Room Discourse”. In the preceding chapter, chapter 13:3 , the disciples are confused, perplexed, and greatly troubled by what Jesus has just told them: "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.” (13:33). Jesus had given them some shocking news. One of the 12 would betray Him, and besides this He informs them that He is leaving to go somewhere else, without them. Peter questions Jesus further and asks where Jesus was going. In the first 4 verses of chapter 14, Jesus goes back to answer more fully Peter’s earlier question : “Where are you going?”
Peter’s Question in v 13: 36 : “Where Are You Going” (14:1-4)
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus addresses first the underlying agitation, fear and unrest. Jesus promises that they can trust him. He was saying that they should have faith” Trust” – which is the antidote of fear. Do not be troubled, Trust in God, Trust also in me. Basically the verb Trust in the sentence “Trust in God” can be read in 2 ways. Firstly as a command or 2ndly , as a statement of fact. If it is a command, then the disciples are challenged to Trust in both God and Jesus . If the sentence “trust in God “ is read as statement of fact, then the sentence would read something like this” You trust in God, don’t you? ( statement of fact) In the same way that you trust in God whom you cannot see , I challenge you to trust also in Me when I am not physically around.
Jesus then answered Peter’s question, which is where are you going?
Jesus said that he is going to his Father’s house to prepare a place. The word “going”(poreuomai) is a euphemism for death. The normal meaning is going on a journey. We know that shortly thereafter, Jesus is going to his death by crucifixion. The other term “go” (hupago) conveys the idea of returning. Our Lord’s going was to death, but it resulted in His return ‘home’ to the Father.
Instead of focusing on his crucifixion, Jesus comforts the disciples with promises of a heavenly home, hope and homecoming in vs 2 to 3.
A Heavenly Home - Jesus tells us His father’s house has many rooms. In the King James Version, it was translated as mansions. This gives the idea of luxury and opulence. However, the text actually conveys the meaning of permanent abode rather than opulence and wealth. Jesus was talking about a prepared place for a prepared people and not about wealth. In the prepared place, God’s people are being prepared for living in the Father's presence, free from sin, sorrow, suffering, separation, Rev. 21:4; 27.
At the moment, the only way to get to Heaven is through the avenue of death. Jesus speak of Heaven as Father’s house. Often people are frightened by the prospect of dying. Yet, for the Christian, death is not the end, it is simply a time to go home! Paul in Phil. 1:23 said that heaven is , I quote “better by far”
23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far
One night while conducting an evangelistic meeting in the Salvation Army Citadel in Chicago, General Booth Tucker preached on the comfort and promises of Jesus. After his message a man approached him and said, "If your wife had just died, like mine has, and your babies were crying for their mother, who would never come back, you wouldn't be saying what you're saying. Tragically, a few days later, Tucker's wife was killed in a train wreck. Her body was brought to Chicago and carried to the same Citadel for the funeral. After the service the bereaved preacher looked down into the silent face of his wife and then turned to those attending. "The other day a man told me I wouldn't speak of the comfort and promises of Jesus if my wife had just died. If that man is here, I want to tell him that Christ promise is sufficient. My heart is broken, but it has a song put there by Jesus. I want that man to know that Jesus Christ speaks comfort to me today." Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, the promise of Jesus brings great comfort.
A Heavenly Hope - In verse 3 , Jesus promises us that there will come a day when He will return for His people. There will be a 2nd Coming of Christ.
Question: God created the world in 6 days. Why is Jesus taking so long to prepare the rooms before he returns? Is Jesus taking up carpentry again, in heaven, and busily building rooms for His followers for the past 2,000 years?”
In a sense, Jesus has taken up carpentry again. The bible says that Jesus is building a spiritual house made of living stones . Christians are the living stones.
In 1 Peter 2, Apostle Peter said that “ we are living stones built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood…through Jesus Christ”.
4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight, 5 you yourselves as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it says in Scripture, “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” 7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:4-10 )
If the “place” our Lord is preparing is this spiritual house made up of living stones (saints), then this “house” will not be completed until the last of His elect is brought to faith.
Romans 9 says that God endured with much patience from demonstrating his wrath for the sake of the Jews and Gentiles who are objects of his mercy.
22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? ( Romans 9:22-24 )
This is what Jesus is presently preparing—a spiritual house, many rooms in heaven, made of living stones, a holy temple, a congregation of believers in whom, and among whom, He will dwell for all eternity.
A Heavenly Homecoming – “ You also may be where I am”. Jesus promises his disciples that where He is going, they can come also. We can take comfort in the promise of a Heavenly homecoming when our journey on earth ends. This answer leads to …
Thomas’ Question in verse 5 : “How Can We Know the Way?” (14:5-7)
4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Jesus has just told His disciples that He is going to “His Father’s house” so that they can be with Him there. He then tells them that “they know the way where He is going” (verse 4). Thomas chooses to differ with Jesus. He says, in effect, “ Lord, we don’t know your destination, so how can we possibly know the way to get there?”
Last December, I went on a self drive holiday in Perth, Australia. I rented a car from the internet. I pick up the car at the airport. An internet website at “whereis.com” can plot for me on the computer my route from the airport to my rental apartment as well as satellite images of my destination. There are two pieces of information which I must input before the web-site program can map out a route: (1) the start point and (2) the end point. Once the program knows the starting point and the destination, it can easily lay out a travel route between these two points. Thomas did know Jesus’ starting point (Jerusalem), but he thought he do not know Jesus’ destination
But Thomas was wrong. He did know where Jesus was going. He had simply put it out of his mind. Over and over again Jesus had told the disciples that He had come from the Father in heaven, and that He was going to return there: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (6:38).
Jesus’ reply to Thomas’s questions can be found in verses 6 & 7.
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
What an awesome claim! Notice he does not say, "I show the way. I teach the truth. I give life." He is not merely a "way-shower." Other religious leaders fit into those categories All of them offer to lead one to life, but none of them can make a claim like this, "I am the way. When you come to me you are meeting God; you have found ultimate reality and truth. When you come to me you then and there possess life."
He is the only way. He is the destination. He is the end point. He is the one and only way that God has provided for men to obtain the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life. Jesus says , in the plainest of words: “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” To know Jesus is to know the way to the Father, for He is the way. If you call my office number, 6 3334222, you must dial the exact number and in the exact sequence. You cannot get me if you call EMAS number 63334111
Jesus is also the truth. An American reported in Christianity Today reveals that 66% of American adults do not believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth. They feel that different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct. ( Christianity Today, October 26, 1992, p. 30 )
Jesus is truth personified. He is the absolute truth. Jesus does not deal with urban legends and suppositions. Each of us has to made a life changing decision with eternal consequences whether to accept that Jesus is the absolute truth. Josh McDowell, the apologist says that Jesus is either a mad man, a liar or he is the absolute truth. For our purposes this morning, the truth that would be relevant is whether you have made a decision to follow Jesus as the only way. If Jesus determines that you are his sheep, a living stone from which to build his spiritual house, the elect, his object of mercy, then this is the only truth that matters.
Finally, Jesus is the life. We know that He has raised the dead to life. Eg Lazarus was raised from the dead after he had been in the tomb four days! Jesus gives life after death, but this is because He is the source of life. He is the One who called heaven and earth (and the church) into existence. To reject Him is to reject life and to choose death (see John 5:21-40 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.). Because He is the life, His life cannot be taken away from Him. He lays it down, just as He has authority to take it up again (John 10:17-18). Jesus, as the source of life gives life after death.
To summarize, Jesus promises us salvation. He is the way, the truth and the life.
1. How can we be saved? He is the Way! *
2. How can we be sure? He is the Truth!*
3. How can we be satisfied? He is the Life!*
I now move on to Philip’s question found in verses 8
Philip’s Request (v8) : “Show Us the Father and It Is Enough” (14:8-21)
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Jesus answered Philip’s question with a rebuke. After having spent so long with the disciples, Philip still asked for signs and miracles. The unbelieving Jews sought signs from the Savior (cf. Matthew 12:38). The popular view of the coming of the Messiah that the Jews had at that time was that the Messiah would make a spectacular majestic entrance in glory and take control. God does disclose Himself to His children, but normally not in a spectacular way. Request for spectacular confirmation of the presence of God is normally prompted by a lack of faith in what had been revealed in God’s Word.
V10 and v 11
After the rebuke, Jesus provided Philip and the disciples with 3 additional evidence of His divine sonship/ revelations from the Father. The first 2 evidence can be found in verses 10,11 and the third evidence from v 15.
First Evidence of sonship/ Revelation from Father- Jesus calls upon the men to believe in the truthfulness of His Word because —“The words that I say to you are not just my own” (v. 10). God reveals himself through the words of Jesus. Thus, Jesus exhorts the disciples to “believe” His claim to be the unique Son of God- “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (v. 11). These are, confessedly, words of mystery. They reveal what theologians called the "Doctrine of the Trinity"; that three distinct Persons can still exist as only one God. It is beyond our human comprehension. We have nothing to compare it with, thus we struggle to grasp it. Isaiah 9: 6 says that a child will be born… he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. Jesus promises that he is God the Father incarnate.
Second Evidence of sonship/ Revelation from Father, Jesus appealed to “the evidence of the miracles themselves” as proof of His deity. Christ’s miraculous works would provide the clear and unmistakable proof that it is the Father Himself “who is doing his work” through Jesus.
v12,13,14
12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
These miraculous works which God has accomplished in Jesus are not the greatest works that men will see. “Anyone” who “has faith in me” (Jesus) will do even greater things. This is a most comforting promise of Jesus. The basis for these greater things is Jesus’ presence and ministry in heaven.
Jesus promises to help the disciples as follows:
a. Will do greater things v 12 – in numbers, in outworkings and vessels used.
b. Answer their prayer when they ask in His name v 13
c. Help them v 13
Question: Just what would “ anyone who has faith in me” (v12) do that was greater?
First, The miracles which the apostles performed would be greater in number than those done by our Lord, in the three short years He ministered to men on this earth.
Second, the miracles were greater in their results (outworking). Jesus performed many healings eg the paralytic in John 5, but like many others He healed, this man was not saved as a result. The atonement had not yet been perfected. The miracles performed by the apostles led to salvation and exponential growth of the early church till today.
Third, the miracles were greater because of those whom God used to achieve them. We are not surprised that Jesus as son of God could heal the sick or raise the dead. What is amazing is that God uses “vessels of clay”, “ objects of mercy” people who are insignificant – fishermen etc to heal the sick and even to raise the dead.
In the book of Acts these words were literally fulfilled: On the day of Pentecost, 40 days after our Lord uttered these words, Peter, filled with the power of the Spirit, preached with such effect that 3,000 people were converted in one day. That never happened during Jesus' ministry.
- Peter and John healed a man who was lame from birth:
- Peter raised Dorcas from the dead;
- Paul delivered people from demonic oppression and healed the sick.
- Even the very shadow of Peter walking through the streets healed people.
When Billy Graham preached on the parable of the prodigal son in Wembley Stadium during his first crusade in London in 1955, 3,000 people became Christians. According to the record there was no account of any conversions when Jesus told that story. That was a "greater work."
In his ministry in Palestine Jesus probably never spoke to crowds larger than 10,000 people, but Luis Palau spoke to a great crowd of 700,000 people in one vast meeting in Guatemala City. Billy Graham preached to over a million people gathered in a great public square in Seoul, Korea. That is far more than Jesus ever accomplished. Thus it is true that, through the course of history, "Greater works than these" are taking place.
Jesus made another promise in verse 13. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”
Question: Can Verses 12-14 mean that anything they ask will be granted, if the mantra “ in Jesus’ name “ is uttered? Some insist that miracles like those accomplished by Jesus (and even greater ones) should be expected today. I must point out that the purposes for the miracles is to bring glory to God ( v 13) God will not grant miracles albeit made in Jesus name for self-glorification and from wrong motives. See James 4:1-3 1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Little Barry ended his evening prayer with these words: "And please, dear God, make Paris the capital of England! In Jesus name, Amen." "Barry!" said his mother, "Why did you say such a thing?" Barry explained: "Because that's what I wrote on my EXAM paper today!"
Jesus is not encouraging His disciples to become “ name it , claim it” miracle-workers here. In fact, He is doing the opposite. He is urging His disciples to believe His words, because they are the Father’s words. If they must have added verification, let them take note of His miraculous works as the Father’s accreditation and approval of His teaching. The “high road” is to simply believe in God’s word – in what Jesus has said. The “lower road” for those doubting Thomas’s who require additional proof is to believe because of the miracles . Remember Jesus rebuked Philip for asking Jesus to perform a miracle to reveal God the Father ? Also in John 2: 23-25, Jesus treated sign faith with suspicion .
23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.[a] 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
3rd revelation of the Father - V15 Indwelling of Holy Spirit in believers
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:15-16).
In answer to Philip’s question, Jesus made a promise that God the Holy Spirit will make God known to those who love Jesus. Just as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father, Jesus said in verse 20 “ On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”. This is a new concept to the disciples. They had just been confronted with the trinity and now with the promise of God the Holy Spirit indwelling in them. Jesus was able to fellowship with the Disciples for 3 years only. However, the Holy Spirit, being of the same kind, can live “with you and will be in you”. Now, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, The promise of God in Deut 31; 6 that he will never leave them nor forsake them can be fulfilled. (Heb. 13:5) which illustrates that the Holy Spirit’s residence is permanent.
Question of Judas: “Why Will You Reveal Yourself to Us and Not to the World?” (14:22-24)
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
This questioner is not Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord, but another Judas (verse 22). He understands Jesus to say that henceforth He will reveal Himself to His disciples, but not to the world.
Did Jesus answer Judas’ question? Can you find it ? No, for there really isn’t one. Some commentators said that Judas phrased the questions wrongly. They argued that Judas’ question is wrong because God reveals himself through nature, through conscience and through God’s word and that God’s revelation is not limited to the disciples . Questions like why God reveals himself only to the elect, to his disciples , to his sheep is not answered in our text. Why are some people the objects of mercy, his living stones from which he builds a spiritual house in heaven? In the text, Jesus emphasized that the primary duty of the disciples would be obedience (verses 23-24).
In fact, four times our text this morning stresses obedience to Jesus for his disciples.
1.verse 15, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
2.verse 21, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."
3.verse 23, "Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
4.verse 24, "He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."
I believe there are some questions that would best be set aside on the back burner. If Jesus did not answer Judas’ question, I am not going to speculate. Jesus demanded our obedience. We act and obey on what is clearly revealed. Faith does not press God for answers which He chose not to give.
Jesus’ Final Words on the Subject of the Disciples’ Fear for the Future (14:25-31)
The final verses of this chapter (27-31) return to the opening theme of “Do not let your hearts be troubled” Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you
Jesus now says to His disciples, “Get up, let us go from here.” Jesus does not wish to stay too long in any one place. Perhaps Judas Iscariot is leading the Jewish authorities to this Upper Room at this very moment. Perhaps Jesus is directing His disciples to leave that place, so that they can continue their conversation elsewhere until it is His “time.” Jesus is in full control of the situation. He will not be arrested or put to death until it is “His time.”
Conclusion - Themes for Reflection and Application
One: The sure cure for a troubled heart—Christians are not immune from inner turmoil, perplexing questions, and even doubt regarding salvation and the things of God. There is an effective cure available for every child of God. It is faith in the Comfort and Promises of God’s word.
Two: A final homecoming awaits us . Christ promises that there are many rooms in the Father’s house. Christ is building a spiritual house made of living stones. Let us take comfort that Jesus is preparing a place for us.
Three: Christ promises the indwelling of the holy spirit in believers. We can take comfort that the indwelling spirit will guide us on our spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us.
Four: Christ promise that when we pray in his name, he will hear, help and answer our prayer. We can take comfort that our prayers will be answered.
Summary.
7 promises Jesus has left for every believer:
1. You can trust Me
2. I have a prepared place for you
3. I am coming back
4. I am your Savior
5. I am the Father (incarnate)
6. You will do greater works
7. I will answer your prayers
8. The holy spirit will be with you forever.
9. I will give you a peace that is not of this world.
Verses that Jesus is the Father incarnate
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 1:1-3,14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory
