6-4-2017 Weekly Message

The Meditations of the Week: Psalm 133: 1-3

Text: John 14: 1-31

The title of the Word: The  Life That Pleases The Comforter, The Holy Ghost

      … God, the King of the Jews, the Savior of all the world, spoke through  the prophet Isaiah “comfort my people” before coming to Judea in the name of Jesus. God gave the Israelites the  law that they could not keep, and God eventually chastened  them,  and harshly punished them because of their breaking the law of God and serving their idols. God said that they were judged twice in his own hands (Isaiah 40: 1-2)

           God said seven hundred years before he would send his only begotten Son through the prophet Isaiah about sending His Comforters to forgive their sins. When God spoke of the Israelites whom He had chosen, He said that all their flesh is  dry grass and that all beings, like the flowers of the beauty, are weak. But he said only the word of God would be forever. In other words, Jesus, who will appear before them in the future, is the one who can give eternal life.

             God said that his only begotten Son is the only Comforter. As for the comfort they will receive as they come to their king, ” Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain::  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. “(Isaiah 40: 4-5)

           But they did not believe in Christ Jesus, who came as their Comforter, but rather to serve the king of the Roman Empire, the antichrist, and did not accept the true Christ, their Comforter and Messiah. As he traveled, he visited only a handful of people who believed that he was a Savior and a comforting Savior from their sins, manifesting himself, forgiving their sins, and comforting them. There were some who waited for this comfort before Jesus  was born in this world. Simeon and Anna were two representative persons. Luke testified:

” And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. “(Luke 2: 25-26).

           The scripture  given to us today is the Lord ‘s word to His disciples when they heard that their consolation, Jesus was leaving them. To those who lived a life of peace in the comfort of Jesus even  in the midst of the persecution , it was like a fatal famine. All of sudden, they would have been ahead of their worries about eating and living.

          The Lord comforted them saying, he was leaving to prepare their habitation, but they could not be comforted at once. The Lord said strange words to His disciples who knew nothing, “Ye know where I am going, and ye also know the way” (John 14: 4). When asked by the disciples to teach them the way, the Lord once again said something unknowable. ”   I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me..” (John 14: 6)

            The Lord awakened and continued to give  them promises. ”  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son., (John 14: 12-13). After he  said this, the Lord  spoke unto them a crucial word, ”  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.“(John 14:15).

           Finally, the Lord told His disciples to send another Comforter. He will also live with them forever. . He said that He would not only dwell with them, but He will be dwelling within them.

               And also of those who shall receive the  another Comforter, ”  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him…..  If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word ” (John 14:21, 23, 24).

             The Lord finally told them  who he is the Comforter to come ” But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.“ (John 14:26)

           As to what comfort they will receive, “  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

            The Lord has also spoken of the Antichrist to appear in false peace in the future.

” Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30)

             These words were said before the Lord went to Gethsemane to give a final prayer, and after this saying, “Let us leave here.” He said that he should leave Israel until his second coming. After walking away from Jerusalem, the Lord walked along with his disciples along the valley of Kidron, mounting up to Gethsemane, and gave them important words in the chapters 15 and 16 of the book of John.   These words are  very important message unto  us.

           He spoke of the blessings he gives to his disciples who bear many fruits through the vine parable. His disciples also were spoken of the persecution to come. He also said that the Spirit of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will come to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.   Especially when he speaks of judgment, that the ruling the prince  of the world that is the antichrist shall be judged.

            As the Lord told his disciples that after a while they would see the Lord, they who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost could boldly proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ in them in the peace Jesus gives even in the midst of severe  persecution.

           That is correct! He who receives the Holy Ghost by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ enjoys peace in the Holy Ghost, the comforting one, and is able to live in peace in the peace given by the Holy Ghost in the midst of persecution. But in order for us to enjoy the peace that the Holy Ghost has given to us, we must obey the commandment of God to  love God as well as our neighbors as his new commandment. Our Comforter, the Holy Ghost is not leaving us, but dwelling eternally with us, we must live a life that does not make him grieve but please him. The Lord spoke of the life that the Holy Ghost  is pleased with.

” But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26)

           Apostle Paul asked the saints of Ephesus not to grieve  the Holy Ghost who would not  leave  them until the day of Christ when they shall put off the mortal body.  

” And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4: 30-32).

Amen! Hallelujah!