Hosanna Restoration Church

If you picked up a letter, and it started like the scripture above, you would more than likely start looking for the previous page. You would want to know what things whoever wrote the letter was talking about. In this case, it is a letter from God, which should make us even more interested in what He was talking about. In fact, in verse 4, He says again that He has told us so that we would remember. If this were merely a personal letter in the natural, by this point we would really be wondering what was on the first page. Well, this is a personal letter that is supernatural and holds the key to life, so we have to see what He was referring to.

Jesus had just finished telling them that He was the vine and they were the branches. We of course know that all of this is written to us as well. In John 15:5, Jesus very simply said, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” It is always wise to remember that. It is extra important considering the times that we are in. He also tells us of the importance of abiding in Him. Then He tells us that if we abide in Him and in His Word, that we will ask what we desire and it will done for us. He desires that we produce fruit, that we abide in His love. The purpose of telling us all this–that we might have His joy, so that our joy will be full.

Then He tells us to love one another and that we are His friends. He points out that He chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit. He encourages us that whatever we ask the Father in His name, He will give us. He warns us that not everyone will love us, and lots will hate us–but that’s okay, they hated Him too!! Then He promises to send us the Holy Spirit, Who will be our Helper.

I encourage you to read these words and ask God to reveal what they mean for you personally. Jesus gave us these words, because they are words of life. Words that we should live by all the time, because they are words that will keep us close to Him. They are especially important for the times that we are in, and will be in, in the near future.

With rumors of economic melt down and the Y2K computer crash, the world needs people who know how to trust the Lord. Sadly, it seems that there is more public panic on the part of Christians than anyone else. There is nothing wrong with being prepared, but let’s get prepared by seeking God and doing what He tells us we need to do. Obviously the preparations will be different for each person and each area of the world. So let’s do it with assurance and confidence. When storms come let’s handle them as Jesus did…with “Peace be still.”

No matter where we are, we must keep in mind that we can do nothing without God. If we have that kind trust, we know He will take care of us. We will need to love and share, not store and become militant in it. We will need to trust and to lead others in trusting. We must not stumble over the cares of this world. Remember what He has told us.