The passage I read was John 14:8-17
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:8-17&version=NIV
My summary of the passage is this:
Know your God/Pray in Jesus' name/Keep His commands/have Holy Spirit for help.
Philip asks Jesus to show him the Father kinda as proof. Jesus basically gently rebukes him saying how can you ask me that after all I’ve shown you. If you see me then you’ve seen the Father because He is in and I am in Him. Jesus tells him that the evidence is in the works Jesus does. He then says, “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Jesus then goes on to explain that after He is gone we will have the Holy Spirit as our advocate and we may ask of anything in Jesus name.
As I reflect:
I think of Philip and all the time he spent with Jesus only to come to this point where he really proves how little he knows Him. I know that I have come to know Jesus through time in a relationship with Him, time spent studying and applying His word to my life, time with His Holy Spirit, time with other believers and followers after Him. How can Philip have this wonderful opportunity to walk physically with the Son of God and still not know Him? It’s a bit beyond me. Listen up everyone. If you are reading this right now, then I’m talking to you. Know your God. It’s that simple. Know Him. Be discontent until you know your God. It’s not religion; it’s a relationship. It’s not about you; it’s about Him (greater is Him that is in you).
We also read in this passage one of the key reasons why you hear Christians pray “in Jesus name”. Though it certainly doesn’t need to be said all the time if you yourself are praying alone and know whose name you are praying through that our advocate deliver up our prayer. There is a completely different and much more in depth study that can be started from this passage discussing the asking in Jesus name and receiving whatever you ask. To shorten that up a bit, suffice it to say that it is implied throughout the Word that when asking it must be done of right motivation and faith. Jesus is not implying in any way here that we can simply go praying to be rich and have a huge mansion and then *poof* like magic from a genie in a lamp have those things. As a matter of fact, if this is a priority or motivating factor in your life then you may want to closely examine your heart and walk with Christ. These prayers in Jesus Name that He is speaking of are to also be in accordance with the motive and character of the name of Jesus. It is His person allowing us to come to God and not our person.
In verse 15 it says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Recently this came up from a good friend of mine as they reminded me how ridiculous it is to even begin to add up your “I didn’t do this sin or that sin today” list. We are told that if we love Him, we will keep His commands. Wow! How impossible is that for any person?! This shows us that we can’t do it. We are in need of Our Savior. We need His Holy Spirit to live through us every day and empower us in all that we do. It’s also (I think) a clear separation from giving simple lip service. You can’t say “I love Jesus” and then not do anything about it. If you love Him truly, then your life will be affected. And you will need a great deal of help through the changes that will occur as a result of the trials and tribulations to come. The Holy Spirit is that great helper here to guide us through our becoming a new creation. Jesus wraps up this passage saying, “ The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
How encouraging to know that despite the overwhelming supernatural weight of our calling in following after Jesus, we have the unending all knowing power of the Holy Spirit of God with us and in us. What task can stop us with this knowledge applied to us daily?
My response to the Lord:
Father, I am encouraged by the message I received from you today. I am encouraged that I don’t have to question whether or not I know the One True God. I know that I know you. I am encouraged that I don’t have to feel like a failure because of my inadequacies because you have provided a way to make me new and empower me. And I am honored to be able to come to you in the name of your Son and pray for your will to be done through your Holy Spirit here with me. Speak to me your will as I daily read your word and spend time in fellowship and prayer. Work through me to do as you wish. Take out anything that is left of my old heart Father & I pray you provide me more of you as there is less of me. In the most holy name of your Son Jesus Christ, I patiently make my request known to you.
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