COMFORT FROM A SAVIOR

Gloria Phifer

John 14:6 “I Am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; no one comes to the Father but by Me.

            The Jewish day begins at 6pm and goes until the following 6pm. For example, our Friday night at 6PM begins their Sabbath until the following (our Saturday) 6PM and then Sabbath is over.

Passover began at 6pm and continued until the following day at 6PM. All that will happen to Jesus is within these hours. He will die on Passover at 3pm and He will be put into the tomb before 6pm when the Sabbath begins.

            The Passover meal is over. Judas has gone out into the night to betray Jesus Christ…The Son of God. Peter has just been told, by Jesus, that he will deny Jesus three times before the cock crows. (The cock will crow in early morning.)  The hour is getting late. Jesus knows what lies ahead for Him. His next stop will be Gethsemane… (The Olive Press) where He will be pressured without measure. This is the darkest night in the history of mankind. Our salvation depends on what Jesus is about to go through (allow Himself to go through). 

            Jesus takes this time to comfort and give them Truth. John 14.

            His first words are “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Why are their hearts troubled at this time?  At this time of darkness, how can He say this to them?  When our hearts are troubled, how does it help to believe in Jesus and The Father?

            Much will be happening but He is telling them, ahead of time, to believe.

Vs. 2 In His Father’s house are many mansions…He goes to prepare a place for them (for us).  

How interesting that in His Father’s house are many mansions…house in Greek means…”An inhabited edifice…a dwelling. Mansions in Greek “mone” “A staying, residence, abode, dwelling, mansion. To make one’s abode. Metaphore: Of the God, The Holy Spirit indwelling believers. To stay, remain, abide, thine own, to wait for, await one.” How does this speak to you?

            To be able to remain forever with our God The Father. The fact that He is waiting for us to come to Him…to live with Him. I love the “foreverness” of it. Ps 23:5-6. He is preparing a table for us. We will dwell (abide) in the House of The Lord forever!!! 

            (In those days there was a law of hospitality. If you were running from an enemy, you could enter the tent of someone and you came under their cover (authority, protection). The enemy could not touch you. He could only watch as your host anointed your head in greeting, and fed and poured your cup until it ran over.)  We are under the protection of God our Father.

He has anointed us and taken care of us, right in front of our enemy
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             Jesus, Himself, is going to prepare a place for us. And He will come again to take us to be with Him. Prepare in Greek means “To make ready, provide, to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready. Drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings, on their journeys, persons to level the roads and make them passable.” Thoughts?

 1 Corinthians 2:9. Isaiah 64:4. We spoke last week about the marriage customs. After paying a price for his bride…and offering her wine, the groom would go to his Father’s house to prepare a place for her. When all things were ready…The groom would come for His bride and take her to His Father’s house for a wedding celebration that would last 7 days. She would live in His Father’s house.

This really touched my heart. We are so special to Him. He is preparing for us. And His preparing for us begins with Christ’s suffering and the cross.

John 14:4-6.  Thomas does not know where Jesus is going…he doesn’t know the way.

Here we see one of Jesus’s “I AM’S” I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.” What are your thoughts when Jesus says He is The Only Way to The Father?

Vs. 7-12. What is Jesus answer when Philip wants to see the Father?  Wow!!! He that has seen Me has seen The Father!!!  Thoughts?  John 17:11. Jesus is in The Father and The Father is in Him…they are One!!! Jesus is God!!! Hebrews 1:8. God the Father calls The Son…God! Let’s look at Isaiah 9:9…The Everlasting Father!!!.

John 14:13-15 He is saying that we can ask in His Name. We can use The authority of The Name of Jesus in our prayers.  Your reaction to this wonderful privilege? What will we do if we love Jesus? What is His commandment? John 13:34-35
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            John 14:16-21. Vs. 16 what will Jesus pray to The Father? Another Comforter will come. 

The Comforter…The Spirit of Truth…The Holy Spirit. He will abide with us “FOREVER!!!”  I love this don’t you? The Holy Spirit will be with us forever. The Spirit of Truth…The Comforter we will know Him and He dwells with us and shall be in us!!! The Dunimas of God…the most powerful force in this universe lives within us when we believe in Jesus Christ.  


 What are your thoughts on this incredible truth? Romans 8:9-17. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us. Vs. 9 blows me away…”you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. He is The Spirit of Christ.”

Comforter in Greek is “Parakletos” “ An intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter, summoned, called to one’s side, called to one’s aid, a Helper, Succorer, Aider, Assistant. Of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after Christ’s ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the Divine Kingdom.”

John 14:21 what will happen to the one who keeps Jesus commandments?  Manifest in Greek means “To exhibit or disclose, appear, declare plainly, inform, manifest, show, signify.

John 14:22—24. What are your thoughts that Jesus and His Father will make their abode with the one who loves Jesus and keeps His words?  Whose words are they? The Fathers.

 John 14:25-26. Jesus spoke these words to them while He was with them. What will The Comforter do? Notice, The Holy Spirit is sent in Jesus Name. He will teach us…and bring all things to our remembrance.   Have you been in a situation and The Holy Spirit has brought a scripture to your mind, or you understand something that clearly only The Holy Spirit could have shown you?

14:27. Jesus gives the “Gift of Peace…His peace. What are His instructions? Col. 3:15. “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you called to live in peace. And always be thankful. “let” is always the word that gets me. 

Vs. 28-31.Where is Jesus going? Why did He tell them before it came to pass?

Who is the prince of this world? Why do you think Jesus will not talk much to them now because satan is coming? Notice, the enemy has nothing in Him. Thoughts?

Vs. 31 Thoughts on this verse? 

 . I thank The Lord for His Word. What a privilege that we can read Jesus last words to His disciples before He faces the cross. We will continue to read His words in  John Chapter 15 next week.

 

           

           

ONLY ONE DOORWAY

by Gloria Phifer

THE OPEN DOOR

 Have you ever hesitated to go through a Door?  I have. As a 

 young teenager, The Lord began knocking at the door of my heart. I

knew that He was wanting a different life for me.  But, the familiar

was ...yes..familiar.

I had been praying. There were many things happening in

our family and I was afraid. 


I was 15 when The Lord gave me two scriptures ( and I was not a 

church going girl) "It is a straight and narrow way." And,you

must be born again. " I thought this over and basically dismissed

the thought. Because, I didn't know what it all meant. But, one 

thing I did know...it was a life changer and I didn't trust that

life change. In fact, I really didn't know how to be "born again."

The Door was before me, but I was afraid to enter and not really

sure how to enter and what it would mean in my life.

I really didn't "trust." The authority figures in my life had hurt me

and  they cared only about their own life. My struggles were 

consequences of their decisions. But I was only collateral damage.

A youngster who was in a war zone. I felt no one cared. 

When I was 22, I was desperate...I had been through so much;

I knew I couldn't make it on my own. I tried reading the Bible

but I ended up with judgment and things I did not understand.

I was told to begin reading The Book of John. "I Understood It!!!"

I began talking to God. There was a Wide Door Of Salvation

that was open for me....His Name is Jesus Christ. 

I surrendered my life...I put my trust (which I know was a gift from

God) into this Wonderful Savior.

I found the most incredible Door. I found Someone Who cared.

I found Someone Who cared how I felt. Understood my hurts. 

Knew more about me then I knew myself. 

I had a lost childhood. And now I had Someone Who was 

A Mother and a Father to me.  I will never forget when

The Lord showed me that He had planned me from the beginning

of my life. (As a child I had been told I wasn't wanted and basically

 a burden when I was born.) NOW The Lord tells me He

planned me and wanted me. That He loved me so much He

suffered and died so I could belong to Him. That He loves me 

and thinks I am special. That 1st and foremost "I Am His Child!!!"

I live inside that Door now.  The Bible says in Colossians 3:3

"For you are dead , and your life is hid with Christ in God."

My old life has been replaced with the "Born again life".

I was not a mistake.  The Lord planned me and wanted me. 

I thank God for "The Door" Jesus Christ. He is the Door to 

abundant life....a life worth living for. Glory to His Name...

JESUS CHRIST MY LORD. 

Maybe you wonder, what is life all about?  Perhaps no one has really loved and valued you.  I understand the pain and loneliness of that. Thinking your are not valuable.   You know, all of that

is  a lie.  The truth is "You are made in God's image."  He knows your name and can tell you how much hair is on your head.  He made
your DNA... Read Psalm 139 and you will see He was with you

in your womb.   Did you know he collects your tears.  His thoughts toward you are more than the sands of the sea.  He knows you and He calls

you by name.   The Door...is open  enter in by Jesus Christ...The One Who is the door and has opened the Door to salvation...a new life  In Christ. "Who ever calls on The Name of The Lord (Jesus)

will be saved.Acts 2:21. The Door is open...enter!!!