I have a note in my Bible that says … Belief is the key to a troubled heart. Along the same line I once read what Jesus said referred to as the “real estate of your heart;” it’s yours, you own it and it’s not for sale. There are no more questions to be asked.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. NKJV
I started thinking about that as I read a note I had written down by this verse. We need to place our confidence in God, and in Jesus as the mediator between us and God. In thinking about that I jotted down five reasons for that confidence that Jesus gave us so that our heart will not be troubled.
Heaven
John 14:2-4 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” NKJV
Jesus is referring to the Temple in heaven [the house of God] in which there are a great number of chambers.
1 Kings 6:5 Against the wall of the temple he built chambers all around, against the walls of the temple, all around the sanctuary and the inner sanctuary. Thus he made side chambers all around it. NKJV
Now that Jesus is in heaven, He has not only prepared a place for us, He has opened the kingdom to us for all eternity; the house of God. It is His solemn promise that He has prepared heaven for all of us to “dwell” and none who have made Him Lord will be excluded. And He underlines that promise for us … I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
We Know the Father
John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” NKJV
Jesus told them in no uncertain terms that I and my Father are one (John 10:30). But the disciples still retained some of the Jewish notions that believed in a temporary Messiah. They did not “know” [understand completely] yet and grasp the fact that Jesus is The Messiah and He was going to die and be raised from the dead; one final perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. The Father has given us His Word and His Word lived with us. He revealed Himself in Jesus that we might “know” the One who has given us such great and precious promises.
Matt 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” NKJV
Prayer
John 14:13-14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. NKJV
Jesus promised His disciples that whatever you ask in regards to enabling you to spread the gospel He will do. He made that promise to us and all we have to do is ask in His name; on His account. It’s like being authorized to go to the bank and use His name to withdraw from an unlimited account. And the reason He has made us this promise is that in spreading the gospel the Father will be glorified.
1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV
Matt 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. NKJV
The Holy Spirit
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever NKJV
What a promise. Jesus has given us “another” comforter. Jesus was the first comforter but He was only able to be in one place at a time. But now that He is with the Father, the Holy Spirit will comfort all who are His bride; He is omnipresent. But we sometimes miss the impact of just who the Holy Spirit is and the role He fulfills in our life, our spiritual growth. He is not only a comforter [eases our pain/distress), He is a counselor [guides us], a patron [guardian, protector], mediator [represents us to the Father], and an advocate on our behalf [speaks on our behalf]; He is the Spirit of Jesus.
Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV
Peace
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV
Jesus left us peace, His peace. The word in Greek is eirene and it means “quietness;” harmonious relations between men. This peace came from One who has the power to make peace and the only One who can confer it to all. Our peace is not that of the world, which is of man and is temporary, full of wishes and never lasting. Jesus’ peace meets our every need, our every challenge, our every fear. It is the peace that is there when the circumstances around us are shouting fear and worry. It is the peace that the world cannot understand because it does not know the giver of peace.
Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJV
Five pretty good reasons for not being troubled during our journey down here, our journey from the cross to spiritual maturity: We have heaven to look forward to; We know Jesus and therefore we know our Father, our Creator; We have been given the Holy Spirt, the comforter who replaces the comforter who is now in heaven, interceding on our behalf; and we have the Peace of Christ, the Peace of God, the peace in our spirit that never leaves us, the peace that passes all understanding.
The next time worry and fear come knocking at your door – don’t open it, just stand on these 5 awesome promises!