Month: March 2021

Let not your heart be troubled

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:1

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

  • Let not your heart be troubled:

Jesus has made it possible that we can keep our heart from being troubled. Chapter 14 of John tells us how to keep our heart from being troubled.

  • ye believe in God,

Believing in God keeps our heart from being troubled

  • believe also in me

Believing in Jesus keeps our heart from being troubled

  • In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you

Knowing that God has a mansion for us keeps our heart from being troubled

  • I go to prepare a place for you

Knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for us keeps our heart from being troubled

  • And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

Knowing that Jesus will return keeps our heart from being troubled

  • and receive you unto myself

Knowing that Jesus will receive us unto Himself keeps our heart from being troubled

  • that where I am, there ye may be also

Knowing that where Jesus is, we will be also keeps our heart from being troubled

  • And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Knowing where Jesus is, at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Lk 22:69), and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6) keeps our heart from being troubled.

  • Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,

Knowing that Jesus is the way, and that we are no longer lost and gone astray keeps our heart from being troubled

  • the truth,

Knowing that Jesus is the truth in a world full of lies keeps our heart from being troubled

  • and the life:

Knowing that Jesus is the life, and we have eternal life as we abide in Him keeps our heart from being troubled

  • no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Knowing that Jesus is the way to the Father and we are no longer separated from God keeps our heart from being troubled

  • If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jesus has show us God’s heart, His character and nature and that He loves us as a parent loves a child. Understanding God loves us keeps our heart from being troubled.

  • 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. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

  • If ye love me, keep my commandments.

  • And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

  • Even the Spirit of truth;

  • whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;

  • for he dwelleth with you,

  • and shall be in you.

  • I will not leave you comfortless:

  • I will come to you.

  • Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:

  • because I live

  • ye shall live also.

  • At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

  • 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. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto 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 which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

  • 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.

  • Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

He keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds stayed on Him (Isa 26:3). Jesus is our peace. Lasting peace cannot be found in the world and earthly riches.

  • Let not your heart be troubled,

We control what trouble we let into our heart. We can keep our heart from being troubled.

  • neither let it be afraid.

  • Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

  • And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

  • Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

  • But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

  • Arise, let us go hence.

The witness of Jesus and the word of God

Were I to lose my life or be imprisoned, let it be for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years

Revelation 20:4

Got Wisdom?

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Luke 2:52

We see in the bible that Jesus had much wisdom, stature (maturity) and favour with God. Here in Luke 2:52 we see that however much He had, He continued to increase in it.

Wisdom leads to increase in stature, and in favour with God and man.

Age is not an indication of maturity. Wisdom is the mark of maturity.

Throughout the bible, wisdom is contrasted with foolishness. Whereas wisdom is something we need to grow in and is the mark of maturity, foolishness is the mark of immaturity and every child is born with it.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 22:15

The immature child has foolishness bound in their heart. We see many adults still with foolishness bound in their hearts that was never driven out. Foolishness must be driven with the rod of correction and reproof.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

Proverbs 26:13

In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Proverbs 10:13

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Proverbs 29:15

Children do not have to be taught foolishness. A child cannot be left to themselves. If they are not corrected, they are destined for hell.

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 23:13-14

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 13:24

Parents that do no correct their children are self centered and love themselves more than their children, not caring that they are bound in foolishness. Parents that love their children will correct them and train them in the way they should go (See Prov 22:6).

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

I Corinthians 4:21

It is up to us how we are to be corrected. If we respond to God’s words and loving correction, then we can avoid the school of hard knocks and consequences of foolishness. If we do not listen to God’s words presented to us in love and the spirit of meekness, then all that is left is the rod. Will you receive reproof and correction of God’s words?

We drive out foolishness with the rod of God’s words and replace it with His wisdom.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom starts with the “getting of wisdom”. So it is the first and most important thing to do is to GET Godly wisdom (as opposed to man’s wisdom). Also, be sure to pair up wisdom with understanding. (Wisdom is application of knowledge in the right way [skill in applying knowledge], understanding is application of wisdom in the right way [skill in dealing with difficult situations and people]).

So… how can we recognize Godly wisdom?

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

James 3:13

You can recognized a wise man endued with knowledge by his meek and wise conduct.

To understand wisdom, examine the opposite of wisdom: foolishness. The characteristics of foolishness that must be driven out are described in James 3.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:14-16

Bitterness, envying, strife, lying against the truth (to yourself and others), earthliness (fleshly and not spiritual), and sensuality (led by emotionality, out of control) keeps a foolishness bound up in the heart of a person and builds a nest for devils and a makes the fool a slave to every evil work.

Bitterness is not wisdom. It is not wise to be bitter. If you want to know how to get wisdom, get rid of the bitterness. Bitterness keeps you bound up in foolishness and causes you to act foolish. Bitterness is used by the fool as an excuse for bad behavior.

Envying, selfishness, coveting something that is not rightly yours, is not wisdom. It is not wise to be selfish. If you want to get wisdom, get rid of selfishness. Selfishness must be driven out with the rod of correction. Selfishness keeps you bound up in foolishness and causes you to act foolish.

Wisdom is not prideful, arrogant, self promoting, self seeking at the expense of others, or hateful. Wisdom prefers others in love, treats others with kindness and gentleness, ideally a “win-win”, seeks and follows peace, lets others praise them (Prov 27:2).

Wisdom does not lie against the truth (lie in defiance of the truth). Fools fall for lies and love darkness. Fools behave foolishly when they live a lie. The wise love truth and love the light. Wisdom seeks the truth and exposes lies.

Wisdom does not cause disorder, unrest, rebellion, mixture, inconsistency, and confusion. Wisdom seeks peace, decency, and order.

Wisdom does not participate in or strengthen the hand of evil and morally degrading practices. Wisdom seeks righteousness.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:17-18