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Words of Faith 2-23-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 16
[25] "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. [26] In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. [27] No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. [28] I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
[29] Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. [30] Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
[31] "You believe at last!" Jesus answered. [32] "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

Isn't it great when things suddenly become clear? The disciples had been struggling to understand what Jesus was talking about. Jesus had been speaking in parables with symbolic language. They could not understand why He had to leave them but suddenly things were becoming clearer.
A time was coming after the resurrection when Jesus would speak more plainly about God the Father. We do not know much about what Jesus said to the disciples during the 40 days after the resurrection and before His ascension. Some of this teaching may have been communicated in the later preaching and writing of the Apostles.
Jesus was now very clear about one thing. He had come to reconcile God to man and that work would be complete. Once Jesus ascended to the Father, He would not need to make further sacrifices on behalf of believers. He was setting out to win full access to the Father through the name of Jesus. As a result the disciples would be able to ask the Father for themselves in the name of Jesus.
This does not mean that Jesus would cease to intercede on our behalf. Scripture speaks of the intercessory work of Jesus in overcoming a believer's sin. Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34). If we sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1
John 2:1-2). Jesus continues to pray for us but we also have direct access to the Father because of His completed work on the cross. Our standing with God depends solely on His merits. Because of His work we are able to approach the Father directly with our petitions.
The disciples finally seemed to be getting it. "Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
"You believe at last!" Jesus answered. This belief, faith in Jesus, sets the foundation of our access to the Father. Jesus knew that even with this faith the disciples would be scattered after the crucifixion. But Jesus would not be alone because the Father would be with Him.
Do you believe? Do you trust that the work of Jesus has won access to the Father for you? Do you trust that you can now go to the Father in prayer because of Him? Do you know that Jesus continues to defend you in prayer when you sin? Indeed, the curtain has been torn away. He has reconciled us to God.

Lord Jesus, than you! Thank You for Your work on the cross on my behalf. Thank you for opening the way for me to be reconciled to the Father. Father, hear the prayers of my heart. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2017
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.