Am in awe of Jesus and how He opened eyes to see, to hear
and understand Scripture, by going through the breaking of the bread and taking
the wine in remembrance of what was shed for us. He did this in Luke 24:29-31.
And yet, He opens their understanding here in John 16.
Holy
Spirit Opens our Understanding to Know Truth: John 16:12-15 NKJV
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13
“However, when he, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all
truth, for he will not speak on His own authority, but whatever he hears He
will speak and he will tell you things to come. 14”He will glorify Me, for he will take of what is Mine and declare it
to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that
He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
1. You
are relaying the ministry of Jesus Christ right where you live: we know He was
speaking to His disciples and apostles….still we are en-grafted into the family
of God and the Jews and are to tell others
2. Teach
others as Jesus did and stay in tune with the Father
3. Jesus
treated people with dignity: as the woman at the well, He addressed her present
condition John 4:1-42….Truth was given
of her present condition and what would she do with it
4. In
truth we deal with accuracy, integrity and being sincere with dependability in
our lives
5. Jesus
had transparency of heart: he was not after titles, nor after a position: He
came to save!
6. He
was after people’s souls
In relaying the ministry of Jesus; we find His was the
kingdom comprised of the Beatitudes. As seen in Matthew 5:1- Matthew 7:29.
Matthew 5:20 stands out since it the
kingdom of God is by a righteousness of heart not by a hypocritical or eternal
legalism. Only is this through the Messiah’s personal reign. Does He reign in
our lives?
In the New Birth, we begin to see the kingdom of God. His
word becomes clear. And within this it is the Holy Spirit’s works and wonders
are believed and experienced. Faith is ALIVE!
In Our Walk of Faith: Humbly Call to the Lord to Perform
Signs, Wonders and Miracles: Acts 14:3-7
NKJV 3 Therefore they stayed there a
long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of
His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the
multitude of the city was divided; part sided with the Jews, and part with
apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews,
with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled
to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And
they were preaching the gospel there.
Trouble was brewing from what we read hear in Acts 14. Preachers preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. Signs and wonders to represent an awe and a lesson given. You have apostles and have unbelieving Gentiles. But the preaching continued. Paul and Barnabas were threatened and they fled when stoning was mentioned. Why would they escape at some junctures and stand their ground at others places? Holy Spirit is the controlling principle God placed. In that close and intimate communion with the Lord, they received marvelous communications of the divine mind and will.
Enduring
persecution with Faith and Patience : 2 Thessalonians 1:3-8 NKJV 3 We are bound to thank God always
for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly, and
the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we
ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in
all your persecutions and tribulation that you endure, 5 which is manifest
evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of
the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer. (this suffer is from without: a treatment that threatens violence
against you)
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with
tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest, 7
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those
who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1. Vengeance
on those who do not know God
2. Vengeance
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
In verses 6-10 the righteous action of God is seen. There
was punishment for the persecutors and rest for the persecuted. Obeying the
Gospel is obeying Jesus Christ.
Allow the Holy Spirit to Make Demonstration of His Power
when You Speak or Preach: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
NKJV And I, brethren which I came to you, did not come with excellence
of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling . 4 And
my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in
the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
We
should expect manifestations of the Holy Spirit, not for show or sensation, but
as means for God to validate the glory of the Gospel.
The
apostle Paul wrote about his preaching was to glorify God and not himself. He
came to them proclaiming the testimony of God, not with excellence of speech or
of wisdom. He was neither an orator nor a philosopher. Paul’s message: Jesus
Christ and him crucified ( found in verse 2)
In
weakness, in fear and in much trembling: Paul was the earthen vessel, and the
treasure the Gospel; that the excellence of the power might be of God and not
of Paul. His preaching was always in demonstration of the Spirit and Power.
Live in Purpose: Respond to Anxiety and Worry with Joy and
Much Prayer: Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness
be known to all men, “The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Our conversations should be
permeated with and in Christ Jesus.
1. We
should allow the Lord to show us
that which needs His purpose to prevail.
2. Understand
that to pray is equal to finding the
peace of God.
3. In
coming to His plan: His conduct and actions show clearly that we are to be one
heart with Him.
4. Allow
God to reveal through your prayer time that which you must know either within
the church body or within that where you work
5. All
is important to God: He desires us to know the mind and the disposition of
Christ Jesus…3 John 3 I have not greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in truth. 3 John 2 says: Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and
be in health, just as your soul prospers.
6. We are to be sound, that is
hygienic…that is taking of the word of God daily in and praying to prosper in
sound faith. Balance is required in our bodies, in our lives and within the
body of Christ.
Finding balance in God is by the Holy Spirit and will
progress in all areas of our being: spiritually, physically, financially,
emotionally and yes socially! Spiritually motivated people reside in truth, are
unified with other believer’s of their faith in God through the shed blood of
Jesus. These are those who walk in truth and give other’s the God kind of love
always! We must have balance for within this we walk by faith, have joy in our
hearts, and bring encouragement and much love to others!
Our bodies may wear out but our spiritual man should always
be strong. May our physical health correspond to our spiritual vigor. Sad but
true, many people take better care of their bodies than their spiritual man.
Let’s allow Holy Spirit His way in our lives so that we too can go from grace
to grace and glory to glory.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
Seasoned
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