The Gospel of John – Building a Relationship with Christ

By Pastor Ron McKey

A lot of us want to know God. Now more than ever, we’re hungry for a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. How many times have we quipped about how great it would be if we went fishing with Jesus, or if we were around Him? We tend to forget that we have Him IN us. In fact, Jesus reminds us of His presence in our hearts before He ascends into heaven. So, how do we build that relationship with Jesus?

John 14: 1 – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Know What’s in Your Heart

John 14: 1 – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Trouble will come, but Jesus says not to let it into your heart. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Everything in your life, good or bad, comes from your heart. Similarly, your life always moves in the direction of your strongest thought. So, you need to know what's in your heart.

Scripture reminds us to ask God to reveal our hearts to us (Psalms 139). God knows your innermost being because you were woven together by Him. So, ask Him to reveal your heart to you. Ask Him to show you if there's something in your heart that's not right. Then, go in the opposite direction of it.

If your heart is troubled, then you have not completely trusted God in your heart. Worry reveals the area in your life where you trust God the least. If you're worrying about something, you're not trusting God. So, put your faith in God and let Him direct your heart.

You can either place your faith in yourself, other people, or God. But ultimately, you’ll let yourself down, and so will other people. Of course, we can accomplish some things, but the only safe place to put your trust is in God because He never fails or disappoints. God will never let you down. He never comes up short, and He is always there. So, always trust in God.

If you want to focus on something in 2023, make the decision to trust God under all circumstances.

Let Your Heart Be Ruled By the Peace of God

One of the main ways that God leads us is through His peace. So, if an area of your life is constantly aggravating you, you might want to do some work in that area of your life.

As we’re reminded in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of God rule your heart.” The peace of God gives us direction. It shows us when we step out of bounds or make the wrong choices in our lives. If you're going in the wrong direction, the peace of God will leave your life. That’s how God calls you back into His fold.

If you're doing something you shouldn't be doing or having a conversation you shouldn't be having, losing the peace of God is His way of telling you to come back in line with the Word. So, let the peace of God rule your heart.

If you're in a situation and you don't have peace, remove yourself from that situation until you find the peace of God in your life.

Choose a Relationship With Jesus

John 14:2-4 NKJV–

“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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

John 14:2-4 NKJV– “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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Jesus promises that He will come again and receive us to Himself. This is the first reference that we have from Jesus about the rapture of the church. Things look different today than they did just two years ago. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 40% of Americans believe that we are at the end of time.

The Bible says we have been living in the last days ever since the Church Age began. But when Israel became a nation in 1947, we especially knew that we were stepping on the threshold of the times. One of the prophetic signs is that the Euphrates River will dry up so that Israel can be invaded from the North. It’s almost dry, meaning the prophecy is being fulfilled.

We know that special alliances would be formed to wage war. There would be an increase in hunger because of famine. There would be incurable diseases and pandemics; we've just walked through one. There would be an uptick in senseless violence and persecution of Christians. We’re seeing all these things happening, and they’ll worsen as demonic activity increases on the face of the earth.

I’m not saying any of this to scare you. It’s only a reminder that we are living on the threshold of the end of time. For children of God, this means our ascent to heaven is near.

John 14: 5-6 – Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus tells Thomas that there’s no physical map to heaven. The only way to heaven is Jesus. So, the road to heaven begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. No one goes to heaven or hell by accident. Everybody makes a choice in this lifetime.

It’s important to choose a relationship with Jesus. Only Jesus laid down his life and rose from the dead. Only He suffered under the weight of our sin. And only Jesus has the keys to death, hell, and the grave.

Remember, the Name of Jesus Gives Authority

John 14:12 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the work that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Before his crucifixion, Jesus could only be in one place at a time. Now that Jesus has ascended into heaven, He left His authority on earth. Therefore, wherever we go, we're taking Him with us. We are His representatives and compassion on the earth.

So, wherever we go, we are multiplying the influence of Jesus on earth. When Jesus went to heaven, He left His authority to the church. And so, we shall lay hands on the sick and do great things in His name.

Jesus says if we ask anything in His name, He will do it. Matthew 18:20 goes on to say that where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, there He is in the midst of them. Scripture shows us that Jesus is deputizing the church. He is leaving His authority with us. So, whatever you do in His name, the power and spiritual authority of heaven will back you up.

When you pray in Jesus’ name, you do so because you have a revelation of the spiritual authority that is behind that name. There is power, authority, and healing in the name of Jesus. Everything that is named in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth is subject to the name of Jesus. That spiritual authority has been given to the church.

The Bible tells us that demons trembled in the name of Jesus. So, you must have a personal revelation of that name. Being successful in the realm of the Spirit lies in understanding and having a revelation that there is authority in the name of Jesus. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you’re not just signing off. You’re saying that the spiritual authority of Jesus backs up your prayer.

Keep Christ’s Commandments

John 14:15 NKJV – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Many people have a wrong picture of God because they misinterpret this verse. People mostly interpret this verse from an authoritative position. But we’re human, meaning we can't always keep His commandments. This verse is not meant to make you follow God out of fear. Jesus operated out of love. And so, this verse is spoken in love.

I find it easy to keep my vows to my wife because I love her. It's never been a chore or something I dread doing. I do it because I love her. When I read what God wants me to do, I want to do it, but not out of fear. I want to do it because God loved me first. And I, in turn, want to return that love to Him. So, I want to do everything I can to show the Lord that I love Him.

Let the Holy Spirit Be Your Guide

John 14:16 NKJV

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, who is exactly like Him. He tells us that He’s leaving so that the Holy Spirit can come. Now, here's the tradeoff – Jesus could only be in one place at a time and the Holy Spirit is in every believer at the same time. So, you’re not near or around Jesus. The Bible says He's living in you; He abides in you.

The Holy Spirit came to dwell and make His life inside of you. He is God on the inside of you. Jesus also uses the word ‘Comforter’ to describe the Holy Spirit. That means someone that is called alongside to assist. No matter what you go through, the Holy Spirit will be there to work with you, to keep, protect, and watch you. The Holy Spirit is just like Jesus; He'll instruct you.

John 14:17 NKJV – The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

This verse is indicative of a transition as Jesus was getting ready to leave. At this point, the Holy Spirit could be with people but never live IN people. So, Jesus says the Holy Spirit is no longer just going to dwell on you; He's going to move on the inside of you.

John 14:26 – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.”

When you get born again, you receive the Holy Spirit within you. Jesus says the Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

You cannot effectively read your Bible without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If you’ve ever read something in your Bible that speaks to your heart, that's because the Holy Spirit is making that real for you. He's speaking to you at that time, and He's directing your life.

The Holy Spirit will speak to you and make alive the Word of God in your life. He becomes a life coach for you. He becomes Jesus in the spirit to you. He's teaching you and revealing all things to you. He assists, prompts, teaches, reminds, leads, and guides you.