Hope for Today

Greetings in Jesus’ precious name; we are glad to be here with you again today. Thank you for joining us on Hope for Today. This program that is produced by Heralds of Hope. We are an organization dedicated to using media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the great commission in our lifetime. We focus on Bible teaching and Bible distribution. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages.

And why so much focus on the Bible you might ask? It’s like this: when you want to know how to fix a broken machine, you try to talk with the people who made it. They are the ones who know everything about it. So, if it’s broken, the maker will know how to fix it. In the same way, God is the one who made us. He knows what we need and what is best for us. If something is broken or not working right, go to Him and see what He recommends. We focus on the Bible because this is God’s recommendation for us, and living His way is the best way. 

Today we will be continuing our study from the Gospel of John. We are looking at chapter 16, and the title is How to Cure Worry. Wait, how to cure worry? A cure is “a complete or permanent solution,” and we know what it means to be cured of cancer or another disease. But how can we be cured of worry? I mean, think about the last two years. Just look at what has happened in our world, and who knows what will happen next? Things seem to be getting worse and worse. How can anyone expect to cure worry?

Great question. Thankfully God as our Maker knows us very well, and His Word has the answers. God doesn’t want us to be consumed with worry; why would He? It is not good for us. Prov 4:21-22 says His Word is “life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”  I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want to be healthy. Actually, many people who are obsessed with their health and go to extreme measures to improve. So, if God’s ways bring health and worry is not good for us, how can we look at our circumstances and not have worry?

That’s another good question. Stay right here, and we will listen to Pastor J Mark as he answers that question from John 16 with 3 “secrets” for how to cure worry. Before He comes, let’s ask God to guide our time together. Lord, thank you so much for your Word, and I pray that you’d give J Mark wisdom and clarity as he explains your Word to us. I ask that your Spirit guide us and show us how we can be more like Christ today. I especially ask that you help us surrender our fears and worries to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

All of us are alike. We wonder what is going to happen tomorrow. We make our plans, but we cannot always carry out our plans. They do not always work. And then, because they do not work, we tend to worry. That is, we get distressed; we are unsure what the end will be. Sometimes in our worry, we really get quite upset, don’t we?

I will show you HOW TO CURE WORRY from Jesus’ teaching to the disciples in John 16:16—27.

16. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

17. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, what is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

18. They said therefore, what is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

19. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

21. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

22. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

25. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

26. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

27. For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

In this text, Jesus tells us the real SECRETS of how to cure worry. Would you like to know what those secrets are? These secrets do not need to be whispered.

I tell you boldly about the first one: Trust the Promise.

Jesus said, “I am going to the Father.” That was very important. But the disciples got worried. They could not understand what Jesus meant. Because they could not understand what He meant, it gave them much trouble in their hearts. They did not yet know His purpose and work.

Some people are like those disciples. When they can’t understand something, they let it trouble them, creating great moments of distress, unrest, and worry. They do not trust the promise of Jesus. Jesus made a promise, but they did not believe that promise because they couldn’t understand it.

Our failure to understand is no call for worry. Perhaps our worry should rather be when we fail to believe or trust the promise. That should give us cause to worry. So, the first secret to cure worry is to trust the promise.

The second secret is a blessed continuation of the first: Enjoy the Presence.

Each experience in life must be kept in its place. God desires good for us. He doesn’t want us to go through distressing moments. He wants us to have joy, real joy. Jesus used the illustration of a woman giving birth to a child: when the time comes, she has much sorrow because of the pain of delivery; but once the child is born, she forgets about the pain, and she rejoices that her son is born. Oh yes, if you are a mother, you know what Jesus was talking about.

Jesus is surely right; after the moment of sorrow, joy comes. So, He told the disciples that sorrow is only passing, only passing because of the situation at the moment. He said, now you are sorrowful, but you will rejoice. When you see me again, your heart will rejoice. I recommend this secret of enjoying the presence of Jesus.

Now quite certainly, you and I do not experience the presence of Jesus like those early disciples did. He is not here with us in bodily form. But by faith, we can experience the presence of Jesus. That is an effective secret to cure worry. I wish I could explain it better for you. But I’ll tell you what you can do. You can experience it if you follow on the way with Jesus.

When the first and second secret are brought together, worry is cured as you Learn to Pray.

Sometimes I get a request from a listener to send him or her a prayer book. From this counsel of Jesus, it should be clear to us that we don’t need a prayer book. What we need is to make our prayers to God the Father in the Name of Jesus.

And my dear friend, you can talk to God, our Father, just like you talk to your neighbor. He can be just as real as that to you. So, learn to pray. Jesus said, “You ask in my Name, and the Father knows exactly what your needs are.” Be very simple, be straightforward. Tell God, the Father, what your needs are, and ask in the Name of Jesus. That is what He said we should do. He said, “I do not say that I am going to pray to the Father, because the Father loves you because you love me.” For that reason, He will answer you, and joy will come when answers come.

So, learn to pray. That is a wonderful way to cure worry. Prayer is simply talking to our heavenly Father. Jesus said, when we ask, we make our requests in Jesus’ Name: “Whatever ye shall ask the Father in my name He will give it to you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name…At that day, you shall ask in my name.”

God desires that we have joy. Jesus used the illustration of a woman to illustrate how joy can come to us. He has made us that way, to have joy. You can cure worry by using these secrets that Jesus gave us: trust the promise, enjoy the presence, and learn to pray.

Thank you, J Mark, for this teaching from God’s word. What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share with us your thoughts from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again just let us know. Here are several ways you can contact us.

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title or by the passage. We would be happy to give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference.

When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or, if you forget this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet, again, our website is heraldsofhope.org. 

We thank you again for joining us for today’s program. I encourage you to join us again next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from the Gospel of John. We look forward to being with you then and will leave you with these verses from Jude, “now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Hello and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other languages. We are honored the be here with you today. Thank you for joining us. We will continue our study from the book of John in just a bit; before we do that, I’d like to share a few things with you.

Here are a few testimonies from other listeners. The first one is from Edwin in Kenya; he writes, “Thank you for keeping us in the word of God through radio and for helping us to keep on looking to the Lord in all things.”  Amoah from Ghana shares, “I started listening to Hope for Today in my youthful day, over 20 years ago, and I am still listening due to the Spiritual contents.”

We appreciate hearing from you, and if you’d like to share how this program has impacted you, we would love to hear about it. Just keep listening; I’ll give you our contact info at the end of J Mark’s teaching. Today he will be teaching from John 16 verses 7-11; the title is The Comforter.

In these verses, Jesus tells us He is leaving, but the Comforter is coming, and Jesus tells us what the Spirit will do when He comes. As he describes what the Spirit will do, it is obvious these are things only God is capable of. We believe God has shown himself to exist as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is not an easy concept for us to understand. However, if our God is infinite and we are finite, we should not be surprised that we can’t understand Him or figure Him all out. I am actually thankful God is beyond comprehension and we will never be able to completely understand Him.

Here are 2 verses which point to the doctrine of the trinity. John 10:30 Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus calls Himself one with the Father, the Jews at the time understood him to be saying He was equal with God. So, they immediately took up stones to stone Him because of His blasphemy, and this statement is blasphemous for anyone except Jesus. He alone is able to claim equality with God because He is God.

Second, consider Genesis 1:26, “God said, let us make man in our image” Notice God refers to Himself using plural pronouns; we use these words to refer to more than one. What happened? Did God get the wrong word? Absolutely not; God knew exactly what he was doing, and when we are confused by God’s word choice, there is a good chance there is a great lesson there for us. This verse points to the plurality of God’s nature. We will never completely understand this or be able to explain it, but we believe and trust Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now let’s give our attention to J Mark for more teaching on the Holy Spirit.

God made us so we can think. He made us with minds, and we can, in a large measure, think like He thinks. But even though we can think, and in some measure think like God thinks, we will never know everything. Especially not just by thinking.

Because we cannot know everything, it is necessary for us to have somebody to help us, somebody to guide us. Now the Lord knew that; yes, God knew our need. So in His plan, He sent a helper whom He called THE COMFORTER; somebody who could guide and help us. Jesus told His disciples about that part of God’s plan in John 16:7-11.

7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The Comforter: that is what Jesus called Him in the first verse of this text. Jesus gives us two CLARIFICATIONS regarding this Comforter.

He wanted the disciples to clearly understand The Promise of His Coming.

Comforter will work. He will reprove the world of sin; Jesus is speaking to the disciples in one of those last discourses before His leaving them. Jesus said, “For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you.” It was, therefore, necessary for Jesus to go back to the One who sent Him, even as He earlier had told them, in order for the Comforter to come. He said if He did go back, then He would send the Comforter unto them.

The Comforter is the name of the One who was to come to follow Jesus, to be with the disciples, and to do the work that Jesus had begun.

When Jesus went back to the Father, the Father sent the Comforter just like He promised Jesus He would do. Jesus spoke of the close connection between the Comforter and Him. While we may not understand all that Jesus intended by this statement, we can understand that He said, “The Comforter will come when I go away.” That surely is a clarification regarding the Comforter.

In close relation to the promise of the coming of the Comforter, Jesus wanted His disciples to understand The Purpose of His Coming.

We want to think about this and try to follow exactly what Jesus said, “When he (that is the Comforter) has come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Let us examine first this word reprove. It means He will convict; He will accuse; He will stand in judgment over the world because of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Make a careful note of the relation; Jesus is referring to the Comforter’s relationship to the world. Jesus always made a difference between the world and the disciples, you see. So, He was saying to the disciples that when the Comforter has come, then He will have a work to do with respect to the world.

What is the purpose of His coming? To convict, accuse the world. There are three particular areas in which Jesus said. Now notice in verse 9 why He will do that. He will reprove the world of sin because they do not believe on Jesus. That is very important. A lack of faith in Jesus will bring the accusing of the Comforter to the world and His reproving in the world.

People make up the world, and the Comforter will convict and accuse them because they do not believe on Jesus.

One time Jesus said to those around Him, “You will not come to me that you might have life.” They did not come because they did not believe on Jesus. The Comforter is going to reprove and bring an accusation against those people who do not believe in Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus? What do you believe about Him?

Then He will also accuse the world because of righteousness. “Of righteousness,” Jesus said, “because I go to my Father, and you see me no more.” What righteousness do you suppose Jesus had reference to? Well, certainly not our righteousness, because the Prophet Isaiah 700 years before said that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. So it must be that the Comforter is going to accuse the world of the righteousness of Jesus. That seems to be exactly what He meant, because He said, “Because I go to my Father and you see me no more.

Believe me, my friend, every record we can find about the life of Jesus tells us that He lived without sinning. He did not have any sin. He was absolutely righteous. That is the reason why He could go to the Father without anybody ushering Him into His presence. That is not true of us; that is not true of anybody else except Jesus. So, the Comforter is going to accuse the world of righteousness to show how we need help.

Then the third area where He is going to work is to accuse the world of judgment.

The reason is the prince of this world is judged. Who is the prince of the world? The devil, Satan, is the prince of this world. Yes, Jesus said so, and so did the Apostle Paul. Jesus said that the Comforter is going to accuse the people of the world that are not disciples of Jesus. He is going to accuse them of judgment because the prince of this world already stands under the judgment of God. It is not a question of having a trial. The trial has already been held, and Satan is under the judgment of God. That would mean, of course, that anyone who follows Satan would also be under the judgment of God; the decision, the sentence has already been passed.

Now, you see how important an understanding of the Comforter is for us. Jesus was gracious to give us these two clarifications about the Comforter: the promise that He will come and the purpose of His coming. He came to convict and accuse the world: of sin, because they believe not on Jesus; of righteousness, because Jesus is the only righteous one and He has gone to the Father; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

There you have the truth from Jesus about the Comforter. He has come, my friend. Yes, and He is working. He is doing exactly what Jesus said He would do. Has He spoken to you in any way about your sin, about the righteousness of Jesus, about the judgment of the prince of this world?

Thank you, J. Mark, for this teaching about the Holy Spirit, and thank you for sharing with us from God’s word. What do you think? Was today’s teaching helpful? Feel free to share with us your thoughts from today’s program. Or if you’d like to hear it again, just let us know. Here are several ways you can contact us.

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. Or you could write to us our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. If you would like today’s teaching, just ask for it by title; today’s title was The Comforter. We can give you a printed copy or a digital copy; just tell us your preference, and we’d be happy to help.

When you contact us, feel free to request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and has questions from today’s teaching so we can better apply it to our lives. All you have to do is ask for a copy of Hope Herald.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or if you forget any of this, just go to our website, heraldsofhope.org. There you will find all our information, and our Bible teaching programs are available. Of course, you can access the website whenever and wherever you have internet; again, our website is heraldsofhope.org 

Now, I encourage you to join us next week as Pastor J. Mark continues teaching from John’s Gospel. We look forward to being with you again next week. Until then, keep walking with Jesus, He’s our hope for today.

Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. We are so glad you joined us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible has the answers. It is the amazing Word of God.

Thank you for joining us today. The topic of today’s teaching is a question most of us have wrestled with. It’s a hard question but an important one. The question is, why do I suffer. Before we hear the teaching from Pastor J Mark, let’s think about this question.

This question is common because if you are human, you have most likely suffered. We ask, Why me? What have I done to deserve this? If God is so strong and so good, why doesn’t He do something? These questions are huge and very important. Personally, I believe the answers found in Christianity are the best answers to these hard questions.

However, I don’t plan to answer these questions, but I want to point out a deeper question buried in each question. Smuggled in with every question about suffering, there is the bigger question of purpose. Why am I here? Is this what I am supposed to experience? You see God created us, and He made us for much more than life on a sin-cursed earth. When sufferings hit us, something deep within us stirs. We know there must be more; surely, this is not all that we were made for.

Romans 8 says, “the whole creation has been groaning,” and you and I also groan, waiting, longing for the redemption Christ will bring. Till he comes, we will have to deal with disease, death, and suffering; however, we know this is not what we were made for. We long for the day when Jesus will make all things new, the curse will be reversed. Even death will be defeated. Imagine, nothing will die or be dead, Death will be no more.

What an exciting time that will be. So, when the suffering comes, when it feels like life is too much. When big questions are going through your mind day and night, remember God is still on the throne; His plan and purposes WILL happen. Sin and its consequences affect us now, but a time is coming when there will be no effects of sin. This truth helps us through our suffering and keeps us going when life is hard.

Thank you once again for joining us. Before we hear more from our Bible teacher, let’s ask God to guide our moments together. Lord, thanks so much for the truth in your word. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and we look to you for wisdom as we discuss the topic of your children suffering; speak to us by your Holy Spirit and guide us. Thank you so much for the hope we have in Jesus Christ, hope for our current situation, and hope after this life. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark Horst as he teaches us more about the question of why Christians suffer.

Do you have any hardships that really bother you? Are they puzzling to you? Are there days when you don’t know why things happen as they do? Let me help you. I bring you hope based on God’s word, the Bible. I believe the Bible is the only real foundation for hope. In it we can find the answers to our most puzzling questions. One of those questions is, why do good people suffer? Or WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER?

The problem of suffering is common to mankind. Even people who do not believe in God have sufferings. We all face hardships, difficulties in life. I’m sure it has affected you. Sometimes Christians suffer greatly. I know there are places where that is happening. The con­ditions are far from favorable, and we sometimes wonder what can we do? We raise the question, why? And sometimes, we may be inclined to put the blame on God.

My friend, I want to share with you from John 15:18-Z7 where Jesus takes up this problem: why Christians suffer.

18. If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake because they know not him that sent me.

22. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their in.

23. He that hated me hated my Father also

24. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both my Father and me.

25. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause.

26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the be­ginning.

        In this text, Jesus gives us answers to the question of suffering by several decisive INSIGHTS.

He begins by comparing our suffering with His: Suffering Compared.

Suffering is not new. He suffered before us. He said, “Don’t be surprised if you have problems because I have had problems before you have.” It is not unusual, He said, to get this kind of response from the world. It is not really avoidable; you cannot avoid it. “What they did to me, they will do to you.”

So, my friend, this matter of suffering is of long standing. Jesus said it should not be surprising to us if His followers suffer like He suffered. That is what people do not understand; they can’t really follow; they don’t know why, in some cases, that the sufferings come from others. But they do. So, in some ways, as He suf­fered, we suffer. He said, “I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you.”

You see, as Christians we are different from people who do not believe and follow Jesus. It is that way, my dear friend. It is important for us to remember that.

Then Jesus proceeds to further define: Suffering Laid Bare.

He said, in a very straightforward statement, the reason why people inflict suffering on the good is they do not know God. It’s a very straightforward statement, but that’s what He said, “They do not know Him who sent me.” That’s why they act like they do. His words had revealed their sin. Instead of changing them, they lashed out against Him.

Now let’s put it back there in the setting where Jesus was talking. He came and told people what their problems were, and He told them how to solve those problems by coming to God and really following His words. Jesus’ words left them with no covering. He said, “I did a work among them that nobody else ever did. And because I did this work among them, they now have no covering for their sin.” Because they had no covering for their sin, they lashed out against Him.

From this statement of Jesus, I must conclude that it still works the same way. I say this very guardedly, my friend, but I believe Jesus is teaching us that per­secutors of good are ignorant of God.

Jesus went on to assure the twelve of His provision Suffering Shared.

He says innocence is vindicated. He quotes from the Old Testament and says, “They hated me without a cause.” I am sure it is very difficult for people today to accept: to be hated, to suffer without a reason is very oppressive. It hits us, without a cause.

But I want to comfort you because Jesus said, “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, He shall testify of me, and you also shall bear witness.” I like this word from Jesus because the word Comforter is such a blessed truth. When the Spirit of truth has come, He will be right there alongside of us. Church history is full of examples of great suffering by Christians who remained faithful in suffering for the Holy Spirit held them up and enabled them.

I want to comfort you with these words from Jesus, “The Comforter will come, and He will be right there beside you to sustain you and witness to you so you will be able to witness as well.”

These insights do not remove suffering, but they tell us why. Unbelievers do not know God. That is why they inflict suffering. If they knew God, they would not inflict suffering. If you are undergoing suffering, be encouraged. Jesus knows your need, and He wants to help you in that need.

Remember, He suffered before we suffer. And I shall add, He suffers when we suffer. Praise the Lord for this great truth!

My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. That email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!

John 14:16-26

Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. We are so glad you joined us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible has the answers. It is the amazing Word of God.

The Bible is like a key. If a door is locked or if a gate is closed, usually you will not be able to enter, unless you have a key. If you have the right key, you can go almost anywhere. It is amazing how such a small piece of metal made just right gives you the ability to go almost anywhere.

In the same way, the Bible is the key for us. We turn to the Bible, and it unlocks the answers to our questions. And we ask big hard questions like, where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? And where am I going? For these big questions, the Bible has the best answers.

We also have many smaller questions. Again, the Bible is key. This is where we go to for help with our daily struggles. The principles taught in this Book are what we need. It is the key to living life like God intended, and He knows because He made us. As usual, if you want to know about a product, talk to the person who made, that person will know all about it. In the same way, God knows all about us. And he tells us what we need to know in His Word. You might say His Word is the key to our success.

It is our privilege to share this teaching with you and with many others just like you. Thanks again for joining us. We share not only through radio but also with literature and Bibles. We receive many testimonies of lives that have been changed by the power of the Gospel. And We love hearing these testimonies. If this program touches your heart and life, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned, and I’ll give you our contact information at the end of the program.

Now, let’s listen to Pastor J. Mark with today’s teaching.

Do you have questions about God? Have you been searching for answers, and for some reason you are not able to find those answers? I know many people struggle with unanswered questions about God until they begin to doubt the truth. Doubt is a tool of the devil. He used it successfully in his deception in the Garden of Eden. It has tormented men in every age. It is the exact opposite of trust and faith. Doubt is destroying not only to our inner peace, but also to our thought patterns and physical welfare.

To struggle with unanswered questions is not wrong if they are honest questions. It is no sign of great intelligence to ask unanswerable questions. It is a sign of greater intelligence to find answers. Unanswered questions need not nurture doubt, and when they do, it does not mean that you cannot be delivered.

John 14:16-26 provides help for DELIVERANCE FROM DOUBT.

1. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
2. 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.
3. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
4.  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
5.  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
6.  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.
7.  Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thy-self unto us, and not unto the world?
8.  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.
9.  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.
10. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
11.  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.

In our text, Jesus tells us by what MEANS we can be delivered from doubt. Praise the Lord! You do not need to be whipped or tormented by doubt, because Jesus gives us the means by which we can be delivered from doubt.

First, By the Abiding Presence of the Spirit.

 Observe that the Spirit comes from the Father and that He is going to be present with us forever! He is the Spirit of truth. How we search without finding! But when the Spirit of truth comes and abides with us, then we no longer need to search for truth because He ministers the truth to us. He is the Spirit of truth because He comes from the Father.

Now, I want you to notice that Jesus says He is going to send another Comforter. The Father is going to give us another Comforter. The word comforter has a great meaning in it. It means one who is called alongside, like an attorney or advocate. In one Scripture text, Jesus is called our Comforter or Advocate. We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. So Jesus is our Advocate with the Father, and the Spirit of truth is our Advocate from the Father.

This, of course, is only true for believers. This is a fact that only believers can claim. The Spirit comes alongside of those who believe in Jesus, to be that divine abiding presence. Yes, He comes to abide. He comes to live. He lives with us and in us: very real but not visible. This need not trouble us because we work daily with elements that we cannot see. Here is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, whom we can experience even though we cannot touch or feel Him with our normal sense of touch.

I point out to you the first sure means by which you can be delivered from doubt: through the abiding presence of the Spirit.

The second means is By the Assuring Promise of Jesus.

Oh, this blesses my heart, my friend, because Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” Here before His crucifixion, He was anticipating the resurrection. He knew that the grave would not be able to hold Him, so He assured the disciples and us with this precious promise that because He lives, we also will live. This should surely help you overcome any doubt.

Then I noticed also the very beautiful union that Jesus talked about, a union with us, and not only with us but with the Father. He said, “I am in the Father and you are in me and I am in you.” I will very frankly tell you, don’t understand all this. But I’m going to accept what Jesus said, and I’m going to believe that He knew what He was talking about. I am going to claim the promise that Jesus made that He is in the Father, and I am in Him, and He is in me. You can claim that promise too, by faith.

In addition, He is going to manifest Himself to us, not to the world, but to us. Judas asked that question, “Why not to the world?” Jesus answered, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and then my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our dwelling place with him.” The world does not love and so cannot receive.

So, we now have the Father, the Son, and the Spirit living with us. Jesus said the Spirit would dwell with us. Then when we walk in His commandments and do those things that He has asked us to do, He and the Father will come also and live with us. They will be at home with us.

Here then is the second certain means by which you can be delivered from doubt. You can be delivered from your doubt by the assuring promise of Jesus.

And the third means is By the Exciting Possibility of Learning.

Jesus said, “My words are not mine, but they are the Father’s, who sent me.” This is very clear: the authority of Jesus goes back to God the Father.

He commented again about the Comforter coming. The Father is going to send Him. We will be receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now watch very carefully what this means to us. I discovered that the word spirit in the first part of our Bible, called the Old Testament, is the Hebrew word, “ruach.” It is first used in Genesis 1:3 when the “Ruach Elohim,” the Spirit of God, brooded upon the face of the deep in the creation of the world.

The New Testament word is “pneuma.” Both of these words are, in essence, non-material; that means we cannot feel and touch them. But the gift of the Spirit of God is our exciting possibility. He has a teaching position. Jesus said, “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you.” What an exciting possibility of learning! The Holy Spirit is going to teach us the things we ought to know.

I want you to notice, however, that Jesus said, “Whatever I have said unto you.” Some people, I’m sorry, claim to have such a special relationship with the Holy Spirit that they don’t need to give attention to the Bible. That is wrong. When Jesus said, “The things I have said unto you,” He meant the Spirit would teach us by the Word.

So here then is the third means by which you can be delivered from doubt, by the exciting possibility of learning. The Holy Spirit shall be the teacher.

By these means, we can be delivered from doubt: by the abiding presence of the Spirit, the assuring promise of Jesus, and the exciting possibility of learning.

I urge you to use these means which Jesus gave and meet your need to be delivered from doubt.

My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. That email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!

John 14:13-15

Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.

But radio ministry is just one part of what we do at Heralds of Hope. We also distribute Bibles and literature. And our newest publication is called Hope Herald. It’s a study guide designed to complement the teaching you’ll hear on this broadcast. We would be happy to send a copy of this study guide to you if you just write and ask for it. I will give you the contact information at the end of the program.

During today’s lesson, we will take a closer look at prayer from John 14. In this discussion, he tells us our goal in prayer is God’s glory. In other words, we want to glorify God through our prayers. This can be one of the phrases we hear so often; we don’t hear it anymore. It becomes cliché and casual. This is not good. God’s glory is very motivating and gives us great purpose.

When God’s people are motivated and doing what they do to bring Him glory, good things happen. This is the highest motivation we can have. Good things will happen when this is our motive is to see God glorified.

In Scripture, we see many people motivated by God’s glory. For example, David, as a young man, would not allow Goliath to insult the armies of the living God. He declared he would defeat Goliath so that the whole world will know there is a God in Israel. The Philistines were not giving God the glory He deserved, this motivated David, and he was filled with courage.

Another example is Solomon’s prayer during the dedication of the new temple. Solomon prayed for God to hear from heaven and act, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you.” Solomon understood the glory of all people belongs to God. He deserves it! Are we motivated by God’s glory?

Here is another example of how being motivated by God’s glory can affect us. It is the story of Hezekiah. King Sennacherib and the Assyrians were destroying many people and many lands. They were coming for Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. Hezekiah begged God to deliver them so all the earth would know that He alone is God. Our God is not wood, or stone made by us; He is the living God.

God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and responded in a mighty way. In one night, 185,000 Assyrians were destroyed by the angel of God. God cares about His glory and is working to bring more glory to himself. He alone is worthy.

There are many more examples from the Bible of men and women doing great things because they were motivated by God’s glory. Jesus himself prayed, “Glorify thy Son, that your Son may glorify you.” His life was centered on bringing God glory.

In the same way, you and I also must live our lives for God’s glory. When He is not glorified, we should be a little irritated, like David, and fight for His glory. Wherever we are, we attempt to maximize our resources so more people can come to Him and bring Him the glory He deserves.

Being motivated by God’s glory is all through Scripture, and we also want to be people who increase that glory. In our prayer life is one of the ways we can make this happen. Here is Pastor J Mark Horst to tell us more about the Personal Possibilities in Prayer.

Have you wished you could contact God? Have you ever felt deserted by all your friends? Have you ever wished for help, and there seemed to be no one who could or would help you?

King David knew what it was to need help. Once, he wrote these words, “The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the pains of Sheol got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul” Psalm 116:3,4. And David found help.

Do you know that help for you is as close as a prayer? We all have times of distress. We often need help. Where we go for help is very, very important. Jesus understood what our needs would be.

The disciples were expressing sorrow because Jesus had told them that He was going away. They were quite distressed because they were sure they would lose Him. Never again would they be able to contact Him. But they were wrong, for Jesus showed them a new way. It was the way of prayer. In this way, they could have immediate contact with Him. Listen to the words of Jesus from John 14:13-15.

13.  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

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

15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Here the Lord Jesus lays down certain necessary DIRECTIVES by which we may reach the highest possibilities in prayer. This holds great opportunities and challenges for you and me.

Jesus said we must Connect with God.

Notice the invitation in verse 13, “Whatever you ask.” This is a large invitation. Please notice that Jesus did not say, whatever you demand. He said, “Whatever you ask.” Asking assumes humility. This is very important if we are to reach the possibilities of prayer. The asking can be anytime, immediately, right now, without any delay. Whatever you ask. And we may add, whenever you wish to ask.

Notice the connection as Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name.” Our names do not really count very much in heaven. Our names are useless. We are sinners. We need first of all to come to the Savior, then we can ask in His name. No name but His name. Be very sure that you catch that in the words of Jesus. We don’t go any other route. We have no other name that we can use in prayer to get through to God. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name.” It makes no difference how holy anyone else may have been—nobody’s name can take the place of Jesus’ name in this directive He gave us.

There is an object or goal in contacting God: His glory. Jesus said that He would answer the prayer in His name that the Father may be glorified. The glory of God is the object of prayer. So, when you connect with God, be sure that you pray for His glory.

I learned once of a lovely home high in the mountains in Europe where needy people could find help. It was built specially to care for missionaries and Christian workers. Some were broken in spirit and some broken in body. The testimony reported many wonderful answers to prayer because they prayed for the glory of God. When they prayed for the healing of the broken spirit or the broken body, they would simply ask the Lord to do what would be for His highest glory. Many of them were wonderfully healed.

“Whatever you ask in my name, “Jesus said, “that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” So, connect with God, my friend, for your possibilities in prayer.

Then Jesus said we must Accept the Limit.

There is a restriction in verse 14, “If you ask anything in my name.” We found that phrase in verse 13, too, “in my name.” Let us think about that again. When Jesus prayed to God before He was crucified, He prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” I wonder whether this phrase, “in my name,” may not reflect something of that same attitude. When we ask according to our needs we must do so in the name of Jesus. That means that we will submit ourselves to whatever He knows is best.

I learned when I studied verse 14 that there is a condition attached to the asking, “If you shall ask anything.” Our dependence on the Lord is expressed that way. We do not order God around or issue commands. We make requests. We ask the Lord in His name. Then we get the answers to our prayers.

This directive means that in order to do business with God in the name of Jesus, our requests must be in harmony with His will. Be sure you understand this, my friend: accept the limit.

Jesus said also, we must Reflect His Love.

Again, there is a condition expressed, “If you love me.” The word love used in verse 15 is the word for divine love, called in Greek, “Agape.” It’s that love that does not really require response to be exercised. The expression of this kind of love simply pours itself out.

Jesus is here really saying, “If you keep on loving me,” as though the act was already in progress. The evidence of that love will be keeping His commandments. It will be love in action: the action of obedience. Listen, my friend, don’t pray what you don’t do. Obedience to the commandments of Jesus expresses our love, reflects His love, and relates to prayer.

These directives carefully followed will bring you great possibilities in prayer: first, connect with God; second, accept the limit; third, reflect Jesus’ love.

We all need the help of meaningful prayer. Here are great possibilities for you in your personal prayer life. What does prayer mean to you? I challenge you to operate on these directives so you will achieve real possibilities in personal prayer.

My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. That email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, heraldsofhope.org.

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus. He’ll give you hope for today!