"GOT MEMORY?"

Remember Everything I Have Told you!

That sounds impossible doesn't it? Of course it does! We have seen advertisements since I can remember selling us products and systems that will build our ability to remember. There are times in our lives when we just can't seem to remember where we have put anything. That is usually when our lives have become so busy with activity that we just don't have time to stop and get organized. It is in these times that we can find ourselves flustered and even loosing our cool when we are in a hurry. Have you ever found yourself so frustrated that you actually started blaming other people in your mind for taking something that you couldn't find? I'll be the first to admit that!

Well, we find in today's message that there is an answer to this mad cycle that we may get into at times. Not only is there an answer, we are even promised that we have been given a supernatural help in times when we feel overwhelmed and as though our memory has abandoned us. You see, we are promised a Comforter and not only that but this Comforter is also going to remind us of all that we have been taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let me show you where we are given this promise by our Lord, but first I need to show you how we are to aquire this help that is promised us!

John 14:23-25
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.
24 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.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Do you see what Jesus is saying here? There are a couple of conditions. Many times we hear people in the church today saying that God's love is totally unconditional. They say that you can do anything and God will still be there for you and waiting on you to call out to Him. Is that what Jesus just said in this passage when He was answering the question of how He would manifest himself to those who love Him. Jesus said that He and his Father would come to you who love Him and stay with you. Then the word of His Father is passed on through Jesus that any who do not believe and do not keep His sayings do not love Him. This means that the Lord does not dwell in anyone who does not keep the things that the Lord has told us in His word! Not only that, but that person doesn't even love the Lord if he or she doesn't keep the commandment of God. What is that commandment that God has given us? It is a new commandment that we find if we look back to chapter 13,

John 13:33,34
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Jesus wasn't literally talking to children here. He was speaking to His students who were grown men of God. The word children in the Greek is teknion, tek-nee-on, which literally mean "an infant". jesus was placing the apostles in their proper place just as we are all learning about the word as young children starting out in school. It wasn't until they had experienced the tests of life and their love for the Lord that they matured and gained wisdom. This word was also used to mean "converts" of the Lord, indicating the beginning of a new life; not meant as an insult to their intelligence or mental maturity levels as some people may have interpreted it.

Jesus was approaching His crucifixcion and He was explaining that He would soon be leaving then but that He wanted the believers to love one another asa He had loved them. We find examples all through the Bible of His love and many times we say things like, "Jesus love was so awesome and He cared so much for us" but are we following His example with others today? Many years have passed on earth since the writings of the Bible were recorded, but the truths are still alive today and there is no time table for God.

The last part of verse thirty-four says, "as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." How did Jesus love His followers and students? He loved them as His very own children as we found in chapter thirteen when he refers to His "converts" as children.

How does it make you feel when you see a child on the commercials who is hungry and homeless? Does it make a difference in your heart? Don't you long to do something to make a difference? If not, the love of God doesn't dwell in you, because we are told here that those who love others just as Jesus loved us will be loved by God the Father and that both Jesus and the Father would live in that person.

Have you kept the words of God? In verse twenty-three of chapter fourteen we find Jesus saying that we will keep His words if we love Him! If you find yourself unsure of whether you can answer "yes", I hope that you will take time and talk with God about this today. It is the most important decision you will ever make! Read this verse agian and search your heart right now.

John 14:23 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.

Once this is settled in our hearts, I have to ask myself, "how I can always remember to always do what the Lord teaches me to do?" and I find my answer to this question right here in chapter fourteen of John.

John 14:26,27
26 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.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, who God the Father will send in Jesus name will teach us all things and bring to our memory whatever the Lord has told us. That is absolutely amazing! The Holy Ghost, which we cannot see will supernatural work in our minds to bring to remembrance all that we will need to know. Not only that but Jesus said that we will also be taught by the Holy Spirit. I believe this means today that when we read His word we have been given the promise that the Holy Spirit will teach us as we study. So now we have no more memory issues to worry about, do we? The most powerful memory system available in the world has just been revealed!

Now that we know we will be taught all that we need to know by God and that we will remember it; how should we be feeling right now? Look at the last verse with me again,

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

"My Peace I give to You"

Not the peace that the world may promise! Not the peace that the president may promise! Not the peace that your spouse, best friend or parents may promise; but the peace that only our Lord and Savior Jesus Chrsit can give to us!

That quote used in songs and slogans "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" can take on a whole new meaning in the life of the believer who loves the Lord. Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled, which means literally not to be agitated or upset and then He tells us not to be afraid. The word "afraid" in the Greek is "deiliao", pronounced di-lee-ah-o, and this word literally mean to be timid: afraid. Why would Jesus feel it so important to say to the believers that they should not be upset or afraid? What was Jesus message in a nutshell here today?

I believe that there were believers who were experiencing doubts and fears and even lacking the boldness to stand up for what they believed. Would this desribe any of us today? Is there anyone you know that isn't doing all that you feel that they couold do with their life? What do you think is holding them back? Is it possible that one of the things that Jesus addressed in the passage we have studied today could be the very thing that they need help with?

What about you? Do you need God's Comforter to become your teacher? Is the Holy Ghost already teaching you as you read the Word of the Lord? How's your memory when it comes to the truth found in the Bible? Are you experiencing the amazing reminder of the words that Jesus spoke to us in His word? I know I have need of this every day of my life! That's what keeps my heart from becoming troubled and keeps my mind from the effects of fear that will take over and cause me to become timid in my actions towards others; even to the point of holding back expressions of love for others.

If you have not found this love and you realize that the Lord Jesus and God the Father have not been accepted to live in you; I ask you to accept the love of Jesus and choose to love Him right now. This is between you and God, but your life will surely be different from this moment forward!

Let's pray together,

Our Father in Heaven, I ask you to forgive me for not putting my trust in you and for trying to do it all myself, that has caused me to stumble and to fall into the temptations of the world over and over. Lord, I want the peace that you can give me today; not peace like the world promises. I do love you Lord Jesus and accept your love into my life today! From this day forward I want your Holy Spirit to teach me your truths and keep reminding me of all that I learn as I go through this journey we call life. Thank you Lord for being my salvation; my rescuer and my refuge! I receive this salvation that you offer to all who love you in Jesus name, Amen.

If you have accepted the love of God today into your life and have become, as Jesus said, a new "convert" and a child of God; I would love to hear from you so that I can pray for you in the days ahead and share some things that will you as you begin your new life. Let me help you with your journey! Email or call.