John 14: What is Necessary to See God's Glory in our Life!

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6 days ago
7 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

John is the disciple whom Jesus loved. He recounts more about the final night with Jesus than any other gospel. The fourteenth chapter of John is filled with wonderful promises from our Lord. Until this time, God’s presence was focused on the Temple where His presence continually dwelled and upon certain people, prophets. Now, as Jesus readied Himself for the ultimate sacrifice, He readied His disciples to receive the ultimate rewards!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-2 ESV Strong’s)

Jesus declared that He was going somewhere and that God had many “rooms” or in other versions, mansions, within His house. What are these rooms within the house of God?

For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed, we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling… (2 Corinthians 5:1-2 AMPC)

A metaphor for our bodies is a tent because it is a temporary dwelling. God’s house is His very body which is a structure. Within Him are rooms, or places created for each of us to be with Him. Both David and Moses spoke about this place:

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1 AKJV)

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. (Psalms 27:5 AMPC)

God’s body is His tent. He is so big that there are places within Him where we can be hidden. How do we know that this is something that we can experience now and not just after we die?

“And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3 AMPC)

Jesus had to die so that He could return to the Father and prepare a place for us. He returned to the disciples after rising on the third day. This part has been fulfilled. Now, “where He is, we can also be.” He spoke about this in the longest prayer He ever prayed, right before He ascended:

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24 ESV)

When do we need to see the glory of Jesus? After we die, we will be in God’s glory, in Heaven. We need to see the glory of Jesus now, while we are on this Earth. We are in the presence of God, when it descends upon us, we are actually in the Secret Place: we are with Jesus.

How Do We Get into His Presence?

The disciples were very confused and didn’t understand what Jesus was speaking about. This is good, because Jesus explained a bit more about how we can enter into the presence of God and experience His glory:

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-17 ESV Strong’s)

Many know the part where Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in My name I will do it,” but they often take it out of context. Right before that, Jesus reveals that His work was actually the work of the Father. He didn’t do what He wanted, only what the Father told Him to do.

The work we should be doing is what God tells us to do. When we ask for things in Jesus’ name, it should be what the Father tells us to ask. These are the things that Jesus will do! Let’s continue to look at this chapter to verify this is the appropriate context for this scripture.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17 ESV Strong’s)

When we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments AND then we will receive the Holy Spirit. What was the one commandment Jesus gave us in the prior chapter? To love one another as He loved us. Are Christians doing that or are they attacking other denominations? This constant attacking of one another grieves the Holy Spirit and keeps us from operating in the glory of God!

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV)

When we love one another, we are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving each other. This is how the world should see Christians. Instead, we are seen as a fractured, bitter group that constantly attacks one another. Let’s keep reading through John chapter 14 and find out what else we need to do to be with Jesus in the Secret Place so we can experience His glory:

“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, He it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. (John 14:21-24 ESV Strong’s)

In this chapter, Jesus tells us three times to do what He commands. This is what is necessary to receive His glory in our lives. When we do this, both Jesus and God will come to us and “make their home” with us. That is when we are abiding in the Secret Place as Moses stated in Psalms 91. The Lord didn’t abandon us when He died, He left so that He could send everyone support:

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (John 14:26 AMPC)

I love the Amplified Classic version. The single word used to describe the Holy Spirit is actually so much more than that one word. He is our Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. This version also gives us some important information about using the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings the Name of Jesus when He comes to us. He is the one with the Name and who will show us how to use it in our lives.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14 KJV)

When Jesus was here on earth as a Man, on this Earth, He could only be in one place at a time. Through His death, He has enabled us to receive His Spirit who can be with each of us wherever we are. To effectively wield the name of Jesus, we must learn to hear and obey the Holy Spirit who is sent through that very name. This is when mountains are moved by faith and the use of the name of Jesus.

How chaotic would it be if everyone could tell a mountain to move and be cast into the sea in Jesus’ name, and it actually happens? What is beneficial for one person may be harmful to another. Mountains moving hither and tither would cause chaos. That is not God’s way for He is orderly. Only the things we ask for in agreement with the Holy Spirit will come to pass. He is our Guide and our Counselor. We need to listen to Him.

To receive the fullness of our Helper, we must be willing to obey our Lord and follow His commandments. If you do not yet understand how the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, it is time to begin learning God’s ways. A great place to begin is a free, small book titled, Why Doesn’t God Speak to Me? or free online classes at the Online Christian Church (www.onlinechristianchurch.com). Let’s make room in our lives for more of God’s glory so that both Jesus and the Father can come and make their home in us!