Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

John 16, The Message

¹⁶ “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

Joy Like a River Overflowing

^17-18 That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

^19-20 Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.

^21-23 “When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.

^23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

^25-28 “I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”

^29-30 His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”

^31-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is unstoppable in the ways of Love.  God, our Father, is relentless and powerful as He demonstrates His Love and care for us.  When we ask for help in Jesus Name for living life on God’s terms, God responds.  When we pray in Jesus Name, with hearts fully committed to Him, asking for wisdom in understanding God at work in our lives, He responds!  God is always work. God is always with us. God always hears us and responds to us.

This gift of a responding God is made possible by Jesus, His Son.  Jesus provided The Way for each one of us to go the Father humbly and boldly, in Jesus Name, and talk with Him—about everything!  There is no longer a priest or middleman between God Almighty and His beloved children.  Jesus became sin, who knew no sin, for us.  He died in our place of punishment for our sin.  This act of God’s Love for us by the sacrifice of His One and Only Son torn down all the barriers between God and mankind.

They say this mountain can’t be moved
They say these chains will never break
But they don’t know You like we do
There is power in Your name

We’ve heard that there is no way through
We’ve heard the tide will never change
They haven’t seen what You can do
There is power in Your name
So much power in Your name

Move the immovable
Break the unbreakable
God we believe
God we believe for it

(“Believe For It”, Writer(s): Cece Winans, Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, Mitch Wong)

Do I really believe what John says about Jesus and the relationship I can have with God to be really real? 

Pause to pray.  Be still and know that He is God.  Be still and know God. Be still. Be.

Believe and be saved from all sins for eternity. 

Be blessed, unshakable and assured as we live Life to the full in Jesus Name! Peace follows assurance.

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”—Jesus

Lord,

Thank you for Your Word that not only convicts us but assures us to confidently come before you with all that is on our minds.  Thank you for listening to our cries for help along with our praises to You for always being there. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Make us holy by daily cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, refreshing our souls with new mercies, and restoring the joy of your salvation at work within us.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  I believe!