John 14 vl-6; CHRIST IN OUR MIDST: Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also

in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there you may be also. And whither I go you know and the way you know, Thomas said unto Him, Lord we know not where you go and how can we know the way. Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me . v1 .Let not your heart be troubled. The comforting Christ in our midst. Matthew 1 v28; come unto Me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. We become troubled when we get immersed in the sins of the world. When we suffer from the guilt complexes of unconfessed sins and unforgiven sins of those who might have hurt us. When we drift away from Jesus and forget that He is our very present help then we are troubled. PSALM 46 vl; God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 86 vl2-13; I will praise Thee O Lord my God., with all my heart and I will glorify Thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me, and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell As we allow Jesus, the Son of God, to take control of our lives, so we come to believe in Him and get to the point of sharing with Him our fears and troubles. As He meets our needs and blesses us so our faith in Him increases and we unquestionably trust in His promises. You believe in God ; Genesis I vl ; In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, v24 ; And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping thing, and the beast of the earth after his kind, and it was so.v26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, v27. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them This whole world and its occupants had to have a Creator, It didnt just happen. The people in their various tribes and nations have always worshipped a creator, even if at times they did not understand who the creator was. The Israelites recognised their Creator and had many names for Him. He was known as Jehovah, the self existent One. The eternal God. When someone had a personal experience with God a name was given Him relating to that experience. Jehovah Hoseenu. The Lord our Creator. Psalm 95 v6; 0 come let us worship and kneel down before Jehovah our Maker. Jehovah Jireh. Our Provider. Jehovah Mikaddesh, The Annointer. Psalm 23 v5. Thou annointest my head with oil, my cup :runneth over. Jehovah Nissi. The Lord our Banner. Exodus 17 vl5. And Moses built an altar and called the name of it . Jehovah Nissi.. In all our battles with satan and his demons, we need only to turn to God in the name of Jesus and there find strength to win the victory. Jehovah Rophi. The Lord our Healer. Psalm 103 v3.Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases. Jehovah Rohi. The Lord my Shepherd. Genesis 48 vl5; And he blessed Joseph and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Jacob did walk, the God who fed me all my life long unto this day. Staying close to God and in obedience to Him assures us that we are blessed and loved by him. Jehovah Shalom. The Lord our Peace. Judges 6 v23-24; And the Lord said unto Him, peace be unto you, fear not, you shall not die.. Then Gideon built an altar there and called it Jehovah Shalom. Isaiah 26 v3; Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee. Jehovah Shamar; the Lord is there. A believer's joy should be real and overflowing at the realisation that our God is always There Psalm 139 v7-10 shows that the Spirit of God is everywhere. In Hagar's flight, Genesis 16 v6-13; Out of the wilderness of Shur, God spoke to her words of promise and cheer. She called the place Jehovah El Roi, The God that seeth me, She experienced Jehovah Shamar The Lord who comforted her. And Jehovah Jireh, The God who provides. When her son was born she called it Ishmael, the God who hears. God had a special people, the Israelites and when they obeyed His commands they were blessed. When they disobeyed God he punished them. Yet though all that He could say, I will never leave you nor forsake you.. He was and is ever ready to forgive those who will repent. 2 Chronicles 7 vl4; If My people which are called by My name shall

humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Jeremiah 26 v3; If so be they will hearken and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent Me of the evil which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. There is no doubt that the Jews to whom Jesus was speaking had a real belief in a holy God. Believe also in Me. The entreating Christ in our midst. John 3 vl6-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. The Old Testament contains prophecies of the coming of a Saviour, the Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus actually came to this earth Isaiah 9 v6; For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name shall be called Wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace This prophecy was fulfilled in Luke 2 vll; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is :Christ the Lord. The New Testament reveals a great deal about Christ's ministry on earth. and many people marvelled at His powers of healing, deliverance and ministry. He came calling the people to repentance of their sins and a return to God who sent Him to be our Saviour. Our salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ . Acts 16 v3l. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Acts 8 v37; And Philip said to (the eunuch ) If you believe with all your heart you may. And the eunuch answered and said, I believe that Jesus Cnrist is the Son of God. Jesus asks us today to believe that He came from God, died on Calvary's cross to ensure us that we could have ours sins forgiven and receive eternal life when we repent of our sins and accept Him as Lord and Saviour and follow Him in obedience to the Word of God. We have read the accounts of Christ's miraculous ministry from those who were His disciples and witnessed His deeds. Today we have been given a commission by Jesus to go forth and do the things that He did and use the name of Jesus for our authority. In My Father's house are many mansions; The confiding Christ Psalm 90 vl; Lord Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations Psalm 91 vl-2; He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust. Centuries ago, Job knew He would see god and Jesus Christ. Job 19 v25-27. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another, though my reins be consumed within me. What joy is ours to know that we can belong in God's family and have His provisions given us daily. God is in heaven waiting for the rapture when Jesus shall return to take His church up to heaven to be presented to God, 1 Kings 8 v39; Then hear Thou in heaven, Thy dwelling place. 2 Chronicles 6 v3O; Jesus is also in heaven and we can now look forward to the day when we shall be caught up to heaven. Mark 16 vl9; So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. If it were not so I would have told you; The assuring Christ. John 3 vl7; For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Our Saviour went through all kinds of agony even before He was nailed on the Cross. Jesus said, I am the way the truth and the life. Titus 1 v2; In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began. We know from Scripture that Jesus was the sinless Son of God so His assurance cab be relied upon. I go to prepare a place for you. The providing Christ. As Jesus died and rose from the dead to finally ascend into heaven, so the born again believer can now look forward to that day when Jesus returned for His church. 1 Thessalonians 4 vl3-18; For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again from the dead, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them that are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another

with these words. As God's word is true we dare to believe it. A place prepared for the Christians in heaven, and a Saviour who died on Calvary's Cross to make provision for us to live with God and Jesus in heaven for a particular period of time. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you. The promising Christ in our midst. Acts I vIl . You men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven John 11 v25-26; Jesus said unto Martha, I am the way the truth and the life, He that believeth on Me, though he were dead yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this ? The old physical body dies and is buried, and the soul of man goes to heaven to await the rapture 2 Corinthians 5 v8; For we are confident I say, willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Philippians 1 v23; For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better. So we wait today for the fulfilment of that prophecy. That where I am you may be also. The redeeming Christ Acts 7 v55; But he, Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. When Jesus says that where He is we are also going to be then we can believe it and rejoice in the love and mercy of a holy God and His Son Jesus. This is the reward of the repentant sinner, who asks God for forgiveness and allows Jesus to take control of his or her life. John 20 v3l; But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through His name. Whither I go you know and the way you know, The Revealing Christ. Mark 16 vl9; So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. The disciples were well taught by Jesus during the three years they were with Him and when Jesus returned to heaven they went out into the countryside to preach the gospel and heal the sick. Acts 4 vl2. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved John 3 vl4-15; And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. The way to Jesus is clearly spelled out in Scripture. Romans 3 v23; For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 6 v23. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 1 vl2; But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God. Revelation 3 v2O; Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear My voice and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with Me. Thomas said unto Him, Lord. The enthroned Christ The malefactor who was crucified alongside Jesus, called Him Lord. The Apostle Thomas called Jesus Lord. When you can call Jesus Lord with sincerity and purpose then you will have enthroned Jesus in your heart and life. Isaiah 9 v6; For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. I am the way, the truth and the life. The risen Christ Jesus taught His disciples this truth and then sent them out to tell others all that He had told them. Jesus came to save us from the bondage of satan. To set us free and to be Christ's disciples. Psalm 103. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from

destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Ephesians 2 v8; For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. The unchanging Christ; John 6 v47; Verily I say unto you he that believeth on Me has everlasting life. John 10 v27-28; My sheep hear My voice and I know them and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. John 5 v28-29; Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His force, and shall come forth they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they, that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Jesus Christ was the only sinless man who could satisfy the requirements of God to redeem us from satan's dominion the name of Jesus we claim our salvation with gratitude and love . In the name of Jesus we can heal the sick and deliver people from demon oppression. All because Jesus Himself gave us the commandments to go forth and preach . His gospel and the power to bring the lost sheep into His house.