“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Today we continue considering what Jesus repeated twice the night of the Passover supper when Judas betrayed Jesus and handed Him over, Jesus told you that “these things” He had spoken to you were said by Him so that you could have His joy made full in you.
First, in His teaching on the Vine and the branches, He stated:
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:11.
And second in His prayer to Me that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you:
But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. . . I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” John 17:13-14;20.
So the question we are considering is what are “these things” to which He is referring. And I am showing you what they are by bringing before you the things recorded that He said that night leading up to those statements. And that would be chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16 of John’s Gospel, supplemented by the things you find in Matthew, Mark, and Luke spoken at that meal the same night. Yesterday we went through the New Commandment. So now we will go forward to the His next words that are for all the generations to the present day.
We will begin with one sentence that is packed with joy for you when you understand the depth and breadth and height and length of it because it pervades and uplifts every arena of your life and every challenge you will face in this window of time before you transition to the eternity you have chosen in this time of decision you are living in now.
It is simply these words: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1.
Here you see that you have a part to play in how you respond to the challenges of life as it is in this fallen and corrupted world that is hostile to My Word. You are not to permit your heart to be troubled. How do you do that? By faith in Me and the one whom I sent to undo the works of the devil, Jesus your Messiah, Savior, and Lord.
Jesus again repeated this same admonition of watching over your heart just a short time later that night, but added a precious gift to enable you to do this:
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27.
Jesus had peace and He had joy even in the midst of extremely adverse circumstances according to the flesh. Remember, He embraced your humanity, laying aside the power of the divinity while amongst you as one like you. And that night He gave you both as gifts, He gave you His peace, and He gave you My Words (“these things”) to put His joy in you so your joy could be complete.
And He gave you another confirmation of His help in all of this:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
Again you see it is “these things,” that is, the things He told you that night. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4.
Jesus was speaking of another paraclete (one by your side as advocate, helper, encourager, teacher, guide, witness, and leader), the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, whom He would send to you to be in you and with you forever. But we will save the words He spoke in His teachings of that night on the great Holy Spirit for another Life Lesson as it reaches far beyond what we are on today.
Today we are on your part in guarding your heart by keeping the peace and joy Jesus imparted to you in your heart. Jesus told the disciples that night that they could not understand yet all the truth, that is, all “these things,” that He was speaking to them that night because He had not died and been raised as yet, you were not new creations as yet, but He told you the Holy Spirit would teach you all these things and guide you to all truth. So let us look to the inspired writings of the entire book of My Words, the Bible, Old and New Testaments, and, particularly concerning the New Covenant, to the Gospels and the letters of My servant Paul to see what I revealed to Him by My Spirit on this subject.
How do you stop your heart from being troubled when things go contrary to My Word? When Satan tries to make you doubt and fear by thoughts and circumstances challenging your trust in Me? You must know how to respond. You must know how to say “No.” You must know what is yours in Christ Jesus, your Lord, and fight the good fight of faith to enforce it and keep it from the thief.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10.
What do you do when Satan attacks? You A.C.T., bringing everything to Me for resolution knowing I had the solution to the problem before you ever knew about the problem. I am the LORD who looks ahead and provides. You must take the initiative, you must be proactive. If you cooperate, I can operate. You cannot sit back like Job and let the enemy run all over you and blame Me. You must rebuke the devil and unclean spirits with My Word, the Sword of the Spirit.
To understand this we will look at three teachings: Mark 11:22-26, 2 Chronicles 20, and Philippians 4:4-9. The best way is to fight with Me because I will fight for you if you just face the enemy with My Word, but first I want to something clear to you. No one has to do evil, obey the devil, or permit his tactics in his or her life. Even those who do not believe can take up their dominion authority that I gave to all men in the beginning and get Satan off their territory. No one has to lie, cheat, murder or steal. That is their choice and it is against the conscience I have put in every man and woman. But if you join forces with the devil, as Adam did, you have surrendered your authority over to him and are working with him so that you permit him to destroy you with your own hand.
That said, we turn to Mark 11:22-26 and see what Jesus said.
And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
When the devil comes against you, never retreat, give in, or give up. Stand up and use your faith to make the facts line up with the truth of My Word. Your response should be to immediately A.C.T. and release the most powerful weapon on earth, the Voice of Thanksgiving, so as to prevail against every hindrance of the enemy.
What does it mean to A.C.T. ? It is all about using the Word and your faith:
“He sent His Word to heal you and deliver you from all destructions.” Psalm 107:20.
My Word is truth and just as in any court when someone files a complaint or petition against you, you must answer their accusations or lose by default, so when the devil brings his lies you must:
A: Answer his lies with the truth of My Word that addresses that issue such as healing, provision, redemption, or whatever promise applies.
C: Cast out the unclean demon in the Name of Jesus or take down the mountain or storm that is in your way and cast all your care on Me for restoration.
T: Thank Me for the performance of My Word in a very loud voice with songs and shouts of praise before you see it manifest and watch the wonder come.
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11.
That is legal language. The blood by which you have been redeemed is the law on which you plead your case and the Word of your testimony in agreement with the truth of My Word wins every time over the devil’s lies.
When the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness after His baptism at the Jordan River, you see that the devil plays chess. There were three moves by Satan to take all the pieces off Jesus’ board and take him captive to do his will, Jesus checked him all three times by answering his temptations with My Word as it is written, and after three checks by Jesus, the devil had to flee in checkmate. Begone Satan! But Satan waited for another round. Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:13. Do not be unaware of his tactics and be ready to A.C.T. again every time he attacks.
Let Me summarize how you A.C.T. again. First and foremost you draw close to Me in prayer and consult with Me knowing I am on your side, then from this place of fellowship, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you find the Scripture that best addresses your issue (Have faith in God. Mark 11:22). And you will find it for every answer you need in life you will find in the Bible and it will address your particular problem though it may not have originally been addressing your particular problem, but it will be there for you by grace just when you need it. Hebrews 4:16.
Next you then speak that answer directly to what has attacked you; cast the unclean spirit out or speak to the mountain or storm and take it down (Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Mark 11:23). Then cast your care on Me in prayer for restoration (Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Mark 11:24). And next, you thank and praise Me for the good result before you see it but know you have it for sure.
The T in A.C.T. is the catalyst that moves the mountain right into the sea. But it is a very special way of thanking, and it is called the Voice of Thanksgiving. And the Voice of Thanksgiving Works Wonders.
“And I will go about Your altar, O LORD, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.” Psalm 26:6-7.
The word “wonders” is the Hebrew word pele (פֶלֶא) which means something so surpassing and extraordinary, so marvelous, that it is hard to understand. And we see David had experienced the wonders the Voice of Thanksgiving brings as he writes:
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” Psalm 40:2-3.
You see this in action in the account of what Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did when faced three attacking armies set forth in 2 Chronicles 20. You may think you know this story well, but if you are not able to discern the voice of thanksgiving and the atomic bomb of praise, you do not know it at all.
As three united enemy armies marched towards Jerusalem the report came to King Jehoshaphat and the people and they at first feared, but Jehoshaphat knew what to do. He called all to come assemble in My Temple and put their eyes on Me for a Word that would deliver them. And they got it. I inspired a prophet among them to rise up and declare My Word, “Do not fear because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s, go out and face the enemy and God will fight for you and show you His Salvation (Yeshuah)!” Just hearing My Word, faith came and they all threw themselves face down upon the ground singing praise and arose with loud songs of praise.
The next day they rose early and marched out to face the enemy with the singers in the front singing thanksgiving and praise to Me for My love and faithfulness. And the minute their song began, I set ambushes in the three armies, and they turned and fought each other until not one person was left alive. When the people of Judah came over the hill the enemy was all dead and they collected the booty for three days and never stopped singing praise.
What should you do when you face a problem, no matter how big or how little? You A.C.T. and take up your victory stance with the Voice of Thanksgiving and keep praising till you get the desired result in My promise. And when it comes to pass, be ready to collect your reward. The wonder will follow the voice of thanksgiving just as thunder comes after the lightning.
Now I invite you to ACT using as an example what to do in attacks of illness or pain. When it comes, what do you do? You get together with Me and find the scripture that addresses it and then you ACT. So repeat after me each line:
Attacks of illness:
“Oh no you don’t! I have a Healer: Jesus bore my sickness and took my pains, by the bloody scourging of Jesus I am healed! Spirit of [name the pain/sickness/growth/rash] you are not mine and you cannot stay in me. I cast you out in Jesus’ Name!”
Exodus 15:26; Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Mark 16:17.
Attack of pain:
“Oh no you don’t! He bore my sickness and took my pains, spirit of pain, you are not mine and you cannot stay in me. I cast you out in Jesus’ Name.” Isaiah 53:4, Mark 16:17.
Attack of terminal illness:
“Oh no you don’t! The LORD gives me long satisfying life. His Spirit in Me gives life to my body. I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. Spirit of death you must go in Jesus’ Name.” Psalm 91:16; Romans 8:11; Psalm 118:17; Mark 16:17.
Attack of depression and hopelessness:
“Oh no you don’t! Jesus tasted the dust of death for me, so I refuse to partake. I put on the garment of praise. I am anointed with the oil of joy. Unclean spirit of depression you are the spirit of hell and I am saved; you have no business with me. OUT and stay out in Jesus’ Name.” Psalm 22:15; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 1:9; Psalm 45:7; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 10:9; Galatians 3:13-14; Mark 16:17.
Attack of fear:
“Oh no you don’t! God did not give me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind! I cast all My care on God and He makes all work out for my good. Unclean spirit of fear I command you away from me in Jesus’ Name!” 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 5:7; Romans 8:28; Mark 16:17.
And then thank and praise Me for the good result before you see it but know you will have it for sure. 2 Peter 1:19; Proverbs 4:22; Psalm 107:20.
Now we turn to the instructions of My Spirit in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
Be anxious (merimnaó (μεριμνάω): to be anxious, to worry, to care for) for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.
This is not a suggestion. It is a command. So if you are anxious and worried over things you are being disobedient to My Word. But you also know that whenever I give you a command to “be”
something, I have given you the power to do it. Jesus gave you His peace and His joy and told you to keep your hearts calm and protected.
This is My Word to you. Submit to it, resist the devil, and he will take flight.
It does not matter what is causing the anxiety, whether it is your error, misdeed, or another’s. Hand it over to Me and let Love (Me) take care of it. I know what to do. It may require you to apologize, make restitution, or put some things right, but have no anxiety at all. Anxiety does not help. It actually hinders you and makes you unable to love. Do not worry about tomorrow. It is always the next day. Each day is what you have to live and love in.
I pardon all your sins and fill your days with good things. It is not just for those who never sinned. Read the order in Psalm 103—it is someone who sinned, was sick, and was in the pit that I forgave, healed and rescued from all those things.
If you are in the pit, I can get you out. Look to Me that you may be radiant with joy and your faces shall not blush with shame. I will take you out of the miry pit and place your feet on a height and put a new song into your mouth! A song of praise!
I can turn your mourning into dancing and give you beauty for your ashes. Do you believe this? If you do, you will shout with joy no matter how deep a pit you have dug yourself into or someone else has thrown you in, as his brothers did to Joseph and as the leaders did to Jeremiah in the miry cistern. Or King Darius did with Daniel when he threw him in the pit of the lions’ den.
But even if you got there yourself, I can get you out. I can restore you, as the prodigal son was restored by his father. And I will give you rest from your enemies on every side. When I take pleasure in anyone’s way, I cause their enemies to make peace with them. Proverbs 16:7.
Let us go back to My Word to you and break it down: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving make your requests known to Me. I told you not to permit any anxiety in your life about anything. You are not to live worried, fretful, and all tied up in knots. When Jesus’ disciples showed fear and doubt, He called them of “little faith.” This will ruin your joy (you cannot rejoice or enjoy anything in that condition), make you unfruitful, and will eventually destroy your health and ultimately your life. It will drive you into depression, mental breakdown, and suicidal tendencies. It is a tool of Satan and it can only be remedied by a good dose of your speaking in agreement (witnessing) with My Word.
Now, you may be saying that sounds great but you cannot seem to shake the anxiety gnawing at the pit of your stomach knowing the trouble you are in, whether it be financial, legal, medical, physical, or emotional. When you see huge problems and difficulties on the horizon it is hard to even pay attention to what is going on around you. It is like you are in a dark and threatening place that you want to get out of.
Let Me show you what to do. It is simply this: do not fight with the anxiety but fill yourself up with My love to replace it. Come to Me and make your trouble known to Me. Cast your cares on Me because I care for you. And I tell you to express yourself in prayer and petition. Ask Me for the result you want and let Me know the promises in My Word that you are relying on to obtain it, this will strengthen you in knowing it is My Will and that I will do it. And when you have given Me the problem thank Me for My answer as though you heard Me respond “Yes” to your request. Believe that you have received it. And declare the result with My Word whether you see it yet or not. See it with the eyes of faith and declare that you have the victory in Christ Jesus. Stand on My Word to you for healing, prosperity, protection and direction. Lift up your voice in grateful praise and lift up your hands to Me. Thus you shall enter My gates, My courts, and enter right to My throne with confidence in My Word to you.
And then just begin to love. Do acts of love for everyone around you even though they do not seem related to the problem. The more love you put out the more good and love will return to you. And when no one is around, instead of worrying, sit still and send out love. Imagine the problem is resolved—not that it will be but that it is—and try to feel the joy and relief you would feel in that situation. And love it. Send out love for the solution you want, love and thanksgiving to Me for bringing it to pass, and love for the people involved.
Love never fails.
Even if you sinned and caused the hardship that has come into your life or the lives of others, no matter how serious it seems to you, repent, and thank Me that I have already forgiven you in My Son and it is gone as if it never took place as far as I am concerned, and proceed to love. Through love and faithfulness My Son atoned for all sin and you can now receive Him as Lord and benefit from that. Then, through fear of the LORD evil is avoided. Proverbs 16:6. If you are intent on pleasing Me you will not purposely commit evil. Grace teaches you to behave in godly ways.
Not in penance and withdrawal but the giving of love and being faithful to My Word. Stop sinning, stop judging others, stop complaining, and stop worrying. You would be wise to avoid these things.
Let Me be very clear, even if you have sinned and caused a terrible problem, repent, and, if you have not already, take Jesus as your LORD, receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and be cleansed in the Blood of My Son, give thanks, rejoice, and give love, love, love, and more love to everyone and everything, including those you wronged or who wronged you!
Do not worry about tomorrow. Seek the Kingdom today and tomorrow will be good. Even if you have been anything but a Kingdom seeker up to this day, begin today and watch your life change.
Reconcile with your brother today before you put a gift on the altar.
Once you turn to Me, I can prosper you anywhere you are. Once you begin loving and keeping My Word the rest will follow. I know those who love Me and I show Myself strong on their behalf.
I love you. Love is the answer to everything. For I am love.