THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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(Copy of a REAL 911 call.)
Dispatcher: "9-1-1, fire or emergency?"
Caller: "Fire, I guess."
Dispatcher: "How can I help you sir?"
Caller: "I was wondering...does the Fire Dept. put snow chains on their trucks?"
Dispatcher: "Yes sir, do you have an emergency?"
Caller: "Well, I've spent the last 4 hours trying to put these chains on my tires and...well...do you think the Fire Dept. could come over and help me?"
Dispatcher: "Help you what?"
Caller: "Help me get these chains on my car!"
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John 14:21-23
21 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.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 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.
KJV
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Yes. There are times when our Lord gives special revelations of Himself to His people. Many great saints of old have testified to this fact in their lives. These occasions are rare, and certainly not every day happenstance. And these special occasions are not the topic of discussion in this passage of Scripture.
Here Jesus explains the saints demonstration of love for Him (vs 21). When a converted sinner studies the Word and lives in obedience, then He will KNOW God's presence in his life. When we live in obedience to God's Word, then we are expressing our LOVE for Him. It is then that Jesus makes known His "abode" (or living presence) with the saint (vs 23).
It is indeed a miracle that God would make His presence "manifest" to ANY of us. But here God explains how He makes Himself "manifest" to ALL of His saints!
One result of God's presence in our lives is confidence that He will help us in our everyday life. We can meet every circumstance knowing that we will not be without His presence. "For I am persuaded, that neither death , nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)
Another result is constancy of service in ministry for our Lord. If we are assured of His presence, we will not be without the evidence of His WORKS! "For we are his workmanship , created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10)
Yet another result is completion of our journey in this world, and conveyance of our souls into glory with Him and His presence eternally. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phil 1:6)
Praise God for the manifestation of Himself through study of and obedience to His Word!
Love ya,
Bruce