"FOR THIS I HAVE JESUS"

                                               John 15:4                                                           

Pastor Rick Jackson

Many years ago in a small church in Ireland a message was given in which the minister said that Jesus' words "Abide in me, and I in you," mean to simply say in every circumstance, "For this I Have Jesus," and Jesus will say," For This You Have Me."

While he was speaking, a telegram was delivered to the young pianist. It read: "Mother very ill, take first train home."

At the conclusion of the message she shared the telegram with us, and she added: "I have never traveled alone, but, ‘For This I Have Jesus. I must take a midnight train, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.’ I must cross the channel and make connections on the other side, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.' Then I take a long train trip to the south of England, but 'For This,' and all the suspense along the way, 'I Have Jesus'." As she spoke these words, we saw the Light of Heaven upon her face.

Several weeks later a letter came from her which was a song of praise. She wrote, "As I traveled that long sorrowful journey, I continued to say, 'For This I have Jesus,' and He answered, 'For This You Have Me.'”

"As I reached home my sister fell sobbing on my shoulder saying, 'Oh, if you had come ten minutes sooner you would have seen Mother who so longed to see you.' Instantly I looked up and said, 'For This I Have Jesus,' and He came between me and my sorrow, and vain regrets had no power over me. We had never had a death or funeral in our family, and they all depended on me for every decision. Acknowledging my ignorance, I said softly, 'For This I Have Jesus', and He gave me His wisdom for every detail. There was also His perfect peace for all legal matters that needed attention.”

"Now life has become joyous and victorious as in every circumstance I continued to say, 'For This I Have Jesus'.”

Consider Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, beaten without cause, placed in the stocks, cruelly treated without a trial. Is there any doubt they said in effect, "For this I have Jesus,' and He said, "For this you have Me.”? And at midnight --- they sang praises.

Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they refused to bow to an image even though a death sentence hung over them like Damocles sword. Did they not say. "For this we have Jesus" and did not He reply "For this you have Me"? When the king looked in the burning fiery furnace He saw four men, and the fourth, he said, "is like the Son of God."

Consider David as he faced the opposition of his brother, of the king, of Goliath himself. We know what he thought because the Scriptures tell us what he told that big galoot! He basically said, You come to me with sword and spear but for this I have Jesus! And Jesus replied in deed and er know what David knew, "For this you have Me."

Consider Stephen as the angry mob gnashed on him with their teeth after he preached unto them Jesus, he must have thought, "For this I have Jesus", and Jesus allowed Stephen to see Him standing on the right hand of God, was Jesus not saying in effect, "For This you have Me!"?

Consider John on the Isle of Patmos. All of his fellow disciples have died for the faith. Lonely, he stares out to sea but wait, it's the Lord's day, the weekly commemoration of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. John must have thought many time, "For this I have Jesus" and the answer must have come back to him, as surely as the waves breaking on the island, "For this you have Me." On this Lord's day he is in the spirit and the Lord Jesus appears to him and gives him a great revelation. It's not the revelation of St. John the Divine but rather it is

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Consider... yourself

1. SALVATION - When you come to the realization that you are a poor lost sinner, knowing because of your sin you deserve to go to a devil's Hell -consider this. Jesus, God in the flesh, left Heaven's glory to be born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, He died a substitutionary death on your behalf on an old rugged cross. He was buried but three days later He rose from the dead in victory proving He was Who He said He was and that He had accomplished what He came to do. Receive Him as your Saviour. Then you can say with every blood washed, Heaven-bound believer, For This I Have Jesus!

2. SANCTIFICATION - How can God use me, a sinner saved by grace? Say dear friend, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!" 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and, sanctification, and redemption:

3. SORROW - Here we are with heart breaking, how can we face the future, the world, the day at hand. Look up and say, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!"

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4. SITUATIONS UNKNOWN - "Pastor, you don't know the future." No, but I know Who does! "But you can't begin to know my situation." No, but I know who does.

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. What do you suppose the Psalmist was saying in effect?

"... What is the circumstance in your life today that is beyond your control? Is it sorrow, sickness, suffering, fear, unsaved relatives, disappointment, discouragement, guidance, finances, misunderstanding, or another trial? You, also, can look into His face and say, "For This I Have Jesus," and He will say, "For This you have Me."

Luke 12:27, 28 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Heb. 13:5-8 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Story in italics taken from a tract published by the Gospel Tract Society, Inc.