Tag: Fellowship

Homes, Future & Present

Posted on by scott

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? – John 14:2

23 Jesus answered 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 home with him.” – John 14:23

Future Home

When Jesus wanted to comfort His disciples in the midst of their present distress, He promised them future bliss. Although He may be going away, some day they would be reunited with Him in His Father’s house. Until then, Jesus assured them, He would personally be preparing a place for them. A home beyond human comprehension.

As we looked at in our last study (http://helpmewithmyunbelief.com/2019/09/06/my-fathers-house/), our homes are where we feel safe and secure. It is where we are loved. Because we are not perfect, neither will our earthly homes be. But if Godly, they can and should whet our appetites for our Heavenly homes.

Who doesn’t yearn for perfect rest (Hebrews 4:1)? Who doesn’t desire complete safety (Matthew 6:20) )? Certainly, we all want to experience unspeakable joy (John 16:22)! In Heaven, the table will always be full of guests (Matthew 8:11), but sin and death and the tears that accompany them will be banished. Accordingly, the love will be perfect and the fellowship will be endless.

We will never have to leave our Father’s heavenly home.

Itinerant Teacher

The Bible is silent on the home life of Jesus as He was growing up, but we do know that during His three years of ministry He traveled from place to place as He taught. In fact, when a scribe once approached Jesus about following Him, Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Was the wealthy scribe really willing to become “homeless” to follow Jesus?

The creatures Jesus created could boast of what Jesus could not; a place to lay their heads. Whenever they chose, the foxes could return to their dens and the birds to their nests, but Jesus was dependent upon those He ministered to for a place to stay (Luke 10:6-8).

My guess is that the scribe, much like the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-22), decided that the cost of following Jesus was too steep. But Jesus wanted him to wisely count the cost. No one knows what this means better than Jesus.

Leaving All

Before He became a babe in Bethlehem’s manger, Jesus voluntarily left Heaven’s throne. When He did so, He allowed His glory to be veiled by human flesh and blood. For the sake of lost humanity, God the Son left home.

When He called His disciples, Jesus gave a brief but difficult invitation. “Follow me.” And unlike the rich young man, Peter and the other disciples accepted the invitation. In so doing, they left everything behind (Matthew 19:27).

Were Peter and the other disciples rash in their decision to follow this itinerant teacher? What would cause them to leave their families and livelihoods to follow this homeless man? Were they running from their problems, or following a hope?

Whatever their motivation, they must have considered the potential reward to be greater than the perceived risk.

Risks & Rewards

It is ironic to think about. Jesus left His heavenly home to come to earth. He was raised by a carpenter, and yet the King of the universe was functionally homeless. By choice.

Although reared to construct with His hands, Jesus left Heaven to work with hearts. His followers and His enemies alike, often failed to recognize the plane on which He worked. While they were watching the physical, He was at work in the spiritual.

To have given up “everything” to follow a homeless teacher may have seemed like a bit of a risk, but could the disciples ever have imagined what was in store for them? For three years they fellowshipped with God in the flesh. For three years God was transforming their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

Heaven on Earth

When we are at the graveside of our loved ones, it is common to hear the words from John chapter fourteen read as a source of comfort for those of us left behind. What a blessed promise to be reminded that our deceased loved ones have now entered into their eternal homes. Like the disciples when they first heard the words from the lips of Jesus, our hearts can rest in the Truth that a home in Heaven awaits us.

But as comforting as the truth of our heavenly homes is, John chapter fourteen, using the exact same word, makes the promise of a present home. A home that the blessed Trinity is occupying today. For those that love Jesus, He promises that He and the Father will come to make their home with them (John 14:23). Today!!

Just as it is impossible to comprehend the condescension of Jesus leaving His heavenly throne to come to earth (Philippians 2:6-8), so is it impossible to comprehend the condescension of the Trinity to take up residence in the human “heart”. But that is exactly what Jesus promises those that love Him!

Heart Work

The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9). As Jeremiah goes on to say, our plight is so dire and our ignorance is so great that we don’t understand just how desperate we truly our. Like a strong man, Satan has our hearts bound which chains we could never break.

To use the parable of Jesus as recorded in Luke chapter eleven, Satan is not only a strong man, but he is also fully armed. In his estimation, our hearts are safely in his possession. But the enemy of our souls underestimated the Savior of our souls. Jesus may have left Heaven’s throne, but He brought Heaven’s power to earth with Him. As God in the flesh He overpowers Satan and plunders his armor, liberating His children from Satan’s grip. But He isn’t done.

After telling the parable of the strong man and the stronger man, Jesus tells the parable of the evil spirit who leaves home in search of another. Unable to find another home, the evil spirit returns and finds his former home swept and put in order. But unoccupied. Hence the evil spirit gathers seven other spirits more wicked than himself and together they take up residence in the house.

Thankfully, Jesus is in the business of transformation, not reformation. When HE as the stronger man casts Satan out, He takes up residency so Satan can never return.

Loving Jesus

Undoubtedly, the promise that our hearts can become Heaven on earth is a precious promise, but it is not guaranteed. If you look at Jesus’ words you will see that His promise is conditional. Before the Trinity will make a home in your “heart”, you must first love Jesus.

Unfortunately, our society has perverted concepts of what love looks like. However, if we look at the teaching of Jesus subsequent to His promise, it appears that the love Jesus has in mind embodies embracing Him and abiding in Him.

Like the original disciples, are we willing to follow Jesus regardless of the risks, real or perceived? Are we willing to humble ourselves confessing that our hearts are desperately sick and therefore embracing Christ as Lord in our contrition? If we will allow Him to guide us on a daily basis through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will indeed find that the rewards are greater than the risks.

Temples

Some day, we will reside in our Heavenly homes that Jesus is preparing for us personally. This Truth is certainly staggering. But by the grace of God we don’t have to wait until we cross the river of death to enjoy the fellowship of the Trinity. As John recorded, the Triune God has made our hearts their home until we take possession of our future home.

Forgiven Saint, never take for granted the blessings of God. Your formerly desperate heart, bound by the prince of darkness, has been redeemed by your Savior who took on the nature of a servant. He has washed you white as snow and turned stone to flesh. The perfect material for building a worthy temple.

With the Spirit indwelling you, you are now “sacred”. As the Temple of God, the Trinity can be worshiped and honored in your body every second of every day BEFORE you enter your home in Heaven (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The curtain is gone. Communion with God isn’t just a future hope, it is a present reality.

Oh what blessed promises are ours because God loves us, and we choose to reciprocate the love. It is truly beyond comprehension.

Another Helper

Posted on by scott

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:15-17

Going Home

The disciples were stunned.  Just three short years ago Jesus gave them the simple command, “follow me“.  And they did.  Many dropped their nets.  Matthew abandoned his tax booth.  All of them left their homes to follow Jesus, as Peter would remind Him (Luke 18:28).  When they left their homes they left their wives, children, parents, and siblings for the sake of the kingdom of God (Luke 18:29).  And now the same lips that uttered “follow me“, announce; “I am going away” (John 14:28).

Jesus was a radical.  His teachings were controversial.  The religious leaders were threatened by His presence.  They were jealous of Him.  To be associated with Him was dangerous.  But the disciples loved Him.  For three years they listened to His teachings.  For three years they were privy to His miracles.  For three years they sacrificed life’s comforts.  In exchange, they were rewarded intimacy with God.  Only a fool would be unwilling to make such an exchange.

I am not sure what the disciples understood of the kingdom of God at this juncture, but the thought of Jesus leaving them was a thunderbolt to them.  Hence Jesus’ words, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).  Jesus may be going home, but He isn’t completely leaving!

Preparing a Place

What must have gone through the minds of the disciples upon hearing the words of Jesus’ departure?  Besides the questions of how and why He might depart, there must have been many questions about their own futures.  Three years away from their work.  Three years away from their homes.  They gave up so much, but they gained so much more.  And now perhaps it would all be gone.

What would life look like without Jesus in the picture?  For the past three years, everything revolved around Him.  When the food was running out, He could multiply the crumbs.  When taxes were due, He could raise the money from the mouth of a fish.  When the sea threatened their lives, He calmed the sea.  Most importantly, when they were lost, He showed them the Way.  But apart from His death, it could never be opened.

So now it is time for Jesus to go home to the Father.  If Jesus is going home, it was only logical that His disciples did the same.  Was it not?

But before they had a chance to imagine their homecomings Jesus makes another promise.  Not only is He going home to the Father, He is also preparing a place for them!  And by extension, if He is going to prepare a place for them, He is going to come back and personally take them to their places He is preparing for them.  The sad news of Jesus’ departure was made more bearable by the promise of His return.

As difficult as their separation would be, it would not be permanent.  Christian “separation” never is.

Paraclete

Jesus not only comforts His disciples with the promise of His return, but He makes another astonishing promise.  When Jesus returns to the Father, He will ask the Father to send His disciples another Helper.  A paraclete (comforter, advocate).

Jesus’ return to the Father would “unleash” the Holy Spirit to indwell God’s children.  Contrary to their concerns of being “abandoned”, Jesus assures His disciples that they will not be orphaned.  On the contrary, the Holy Spirit will be with them forever (John 14:16).

Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them and bring to remembrance the things that He Himself had taught them.  Part of the Holy Spirit’s role as Paraclete is to help God’s children discern and walk in the Truth.  Without the Truth, there is no foundation for fellowship with the Trinity.

Making Our Home

As staggering as the promise of the Holy Spirit may be, Jesus makes another profound statement.  The Holy Spirit is promised to those who love God and keep His commandments (John 14:15-16).  Jesus then goes on to say that if anyone loves Him and keeps His words, Jesus and the Father will come and make Their home in them.

If you look closely at these parallel statements, Jesus is not only equating Himself with the Father but is also saying that to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit is equivalent to being filled with all three members of the Trinity.  Those that love the Father, and Jesus, and keep their commandments/words will be filled with The Holy Spirit, The Father, and The Son.

While Jesus is preparing a place in Heaven for His disciples, the Trinity is making a home IN them (John 14:23).  The fellowship that the disciples had with Jesus was not going to be broken, it was simply going to be redefined.  Instead of having the physical Jesus in their presence, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was now going to live inside of them.

Until Finally Home

The disciples experienced the fellowship of Jesus for three years and it totally transformed them.  The fellowship was so real and so sweet to them and it “defined” them.  They gave up everything, including their lives for their Faith.  They “tasted” eternal life (John 17:3), and there was no turning back.  Things could never be the same, nor did they want them to be.  They “knew” Jesus, and He was now everything to them.  Can the same be said of us?

Do you love the Father?  Do you keep His commandments?  Do you love Jesus?  Do you keep His words?  If you are a child of God, do you understand what it means to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit?  Is this indwelling something we take for granted?  Are we even in touch with the Spirit or do we grieve Him?

Someday, like Jesus, we will finally be going home to the Father.  Until then, we will experience our share of earthly trials.  We will experience the pain of separation like the original disciples.  We will face our share of storms.  We will too often receive unwelcome news that will trouble us.  In the midst of these trying times, we hear Jesus say, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

Never Alone

As Christians, we will never be alone.  Because Jesus sent “another helper” we can have unbroken fellowship with our Creator, Savior and Paraclete.

I don’t know what the world will throw at you today.  I don’t know what news will reach your ears.  Whether the skies are clear or if there is a storm on the horizon, we can be sure of one thing: we are indwelt with the Spirit of Truth, and He will be with us forever.

Enjoy the fellowship.  As sweet as it is it is only a foretaste!!