THE BELIEVER’S PRESENT PRIVILEGES.
John 14.
These words of our Lord, spoken at His last Passover, contains a revelation of the precious privileges conferred on His believing people. There is-
I. A Cure for Trouble. "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me" (Joh_14:1). It is possible to believe in the existence of God, and yet know nothing of His power to heal heart-trouble. Jesus says, "believe also in Me. I died to put away your sins. I rose again to give you peace." "Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." "Fear not, for I am with you."
II. A Blessed Hope. "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto Myself" (Joh_14:3). These words were spoken to the Church that then existed, and are applicable to the Church that now is; and will be perfectly fulfilled as recorded in 1Th_4:17. Jesus prayed for this. "Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me be with Me where I am: that they may behold My glory" (Joh_17:24). What an outlook this is for hearts that may at times be troubled because of the way.
III. A Vision of the Father. "Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father and it sufficeth us." Jesus answered: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (Joh_14:9). The invisible Father of all has revealed Himself in and through Jesus Christ the Son. The more we know of Christ, the more we know of the Eternal Father. "God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, who is the express image of His Person" (Heb_1:3). In Him the pure in heart see God. Believe and thou shalt see.
IV. A Great Opportunity. "Whatsoever ye ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (Joh_14:13). What a wide and effectual door this is for believing prayer. "My Name" and the "Glory of the Father." What a powerful plea! "I have chosen you and ordained you… that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you" (Joh_15:16). How shall we escape poverty of soul and shameful defeat if we neglect so great an opportunity?
V. A Personal Comforter. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever" (Joh_14:16). This Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, He shall teach you all things" (Joh_14:26). He is the "Spirit of Truth" (Joh_14:17). He helpeth our infirmities (Rom_8:26). He sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts (Rom_5:5). He makes us to abound in hope (Rom_15:13). He anoints with power (Joh_2:20). Through us He testifies of Christ (Joh_15:26). He is the Source of all God-honouring fruit (Gal_5:22). He seals the believing soul until the final redemption (Eph_1:13).
VI. A Double Assurance. "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" (Joh_14:21). In the keeping of His word, the love of God is perfected in the heart (1Jn_2:5). What comforting assurance this is. Loved by the Father, loved by the Son, who has promised to give us a growing manifestation of Himself. Love delights to give. Christ gives us His best when He vouchsafes to us a fuller revelation of Himself. This is eternal life to know Him.
VII. An Abiding Bequest. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you." "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (Joh_14:27). What a neglected heritage this is. "In the world ye shall have tribulation," but ye need not have this tribulation in "your heart, for in Me ye might have peace" (Joh_16:33). Then "let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called" (Col_3:15). Called to a life of peace, as well as of faith. And what a peace this is. "My peace." "The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds, through Jesus Christ" (Php_4:7). "Peace, be still."
Autor: James Smith