We are still experiencing technical difficulties at Our Daily Bread Designs Forum and so I'll be posting the Gospel of John Bible Study here until further notice. We are in chapter 14 and I've been writing this study for over 2 years now. If you are new to this blog just a little info about me and this study. I was on the Christian Paper Crafts Design team and part of my service to the Christian Paper Crafts site was teaching the Bible Study and it was open for everyone to see but the site was sold to Kelley Holland who owns ODBD Stamps and my services on the DT were no longer needed since they already had two DT's already in place but Kelley was kind enough to allow me to continue to teach the Bible Study and post it there. I'm still posting it on that site, but it is not open to the public at this time.
( I'm going to post it just as it is written at ODBD Forum and please feel free to comment! I did do a little editing but nothing significant from the original)
We are continuing the Gospel of John Bible Study today and hopefully you are ready to be challenged to grow in faith. So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Please take a moment to pray and prepare your heart and may there be a willingness to be instructed by the Holy Spirit as you study this weeks lesson! God’s blessing to you.
The Father Revealed
John 14:7-11
"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”The Lord seems to be rebuking the disciples for their lack of understanding here in this first verse (verse 7) We have already read in John chapter 8 that Jesus had taught that God was His Father and it created quite an uproar with the Pharisees. Fortunately, Jesus was working on God’s timetable and was not arrested, (remember, His time had not yet come – I encourage you to reread John 8). For these Jewish disciples this teaching is still very new and without the Holy Spirit to reveal these truths to them, I can only imagine the confusion they may have been experiencing.
Remember what John 14:6 says “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me”.
In those next verses, Jesus asks the disciples “Do you not believe….”
#1 …He is in the Father
#2 The words that He speaks are the Father’s
#3 The works that He does are the Father’s.
Then He says “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me,”
And then He says, “Or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”
Jesus wants the disciples to get this! We cannot separate the words or the works of Jesus because both come from the Father and reveal the Father to us. He is our Creator, our Father, no wonder we have no need to have troubled hearts!! We can have reassured hearts that we are His children and are in His hands.
Have you ever read the Bible and you just don’t quite grasp what is being stated? Sometimes it is so easy to understand and then other times it just goes over your head? When this happens, then we must continue to pray and read the Word, do not give up. If you keep studying and proving Scripture with Scripture, the understanding will come, the Lord knows what we have need of and will reveal His Word to us. I believe the Holy Spirit plays a huge part in our learning, especially when we put forth the effort and have a desire to learn and a willing heart to listen to Him. He wants to reveal the Word to us. The Holy Spirit was given to us so that we can know Jesus better! (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
I believe that our attitudes play a big part in learning, too. Here are three keys to successful studying. Add prayer to each one and have a journal and pen in hand and watch yourself grow in the Lord! It should be each of our goals to be more like Jesus, in our words and actions. We must apply what we are learning to be fruitful for the Kingdom. Trust me when I say it can be quite an adventure!
(Have the heart of the Psalmist! Read Psalm 119)
#1. Desire to learn
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalms 119:18
2. A willing heart to listen: we are instructed throughout Scripture to “hear”
I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8
If you have time this week do a word study on “listen or hear” it can be a real eye opener!!
3. Put forth the effort.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
In the days which we are living it is so important to know the Father. Not just facts although that certainly is part of it. But to know Him in an intimate relational way. It is having a deeper communion with our Heavenly Father, it is not a religious duty, it is a delight! Paul said it well in Philippians 3:8-17 ( …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,… verse 10)
The burning desire of every believer should be to know God better. That is why we do Bible studies, read devotionals, pray, and worship the Lord… That I may know Him.
May this year be a new beginning of growth for you in your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please do not let the cares of this world stumble you. God is faithful and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) That is a promise with wonderful strings attached!! :-) To God be the glory!
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
I would love to hear your comments and remember something you share may be just the thing someone needs to read today to encourage them in the faith! Thank you for your continued prayer support! I truly covet your prayers.
With affection,
Natalie
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