God’s Plan For Man – Pastor Sandra Kennedy
July 14, 2013
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=wholelife&eID=97http://www.sandrakennedy.org/
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
February 1, 2014
December 14, 2013
End Times Spirit-filled hymns: Healing in His cleansing blood!
Blessed Assurance
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915 Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1839-1908 Tune: ASSURANCE, Meter: 9 10.9 9 with Refrain
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain) Links for downloading: MIDI
background story: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) is heralded as one of the world’s most prolific and talented hymn composers. Blind from shortly after birth, Fanny nonetheless wrote 8,000 hymns. One day Fanny overheard her friend and fellow musician Phoebe Knapp playing a new composition on the organ. Phoebe told Fanny the tune was called Assurance. Fanny replied: ‘Blessed Assurance! Jesus is mine!’ And so began the collaboration that was to become one of Christendom’s most beloved hymns. Blessed Assurance was published in 1873
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus | Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882
Scripture: Proverbs 30:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
5 Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.
_________________Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Tis_So_Sweet_to_Trust_in_Jesus/midi/
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
_________________Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Tis_So_Sweet_to_Trust_in_Jesus/midi/
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
___________Background story
According to the story: It was a beautiful sunny day. Louisa M. Stead, her husband, and her daughter Lily, decided to go for a picnic. They went picnicking on Long Island Sound. While having their picnic, the Steads heard a scream. It was from a young boy. Mr. Stead ran to the rescue. Louisa Stead and young Lily watched helplessly as Mr. Stead and the boy drowned. Their troubles were not over yet, however, and without her husband, Mrs. Stead became very poor and destitute. Yet God never left her. He provided for her always and she and her daughter made it through. Louisa learned to trust God, and thus the words to the song ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.’ Shortly after this incident, Louisa and her daughter Lily moved to South Africa where they became missionaries.
__________________________
The words of Stead’s poem were put to music by famed musician William J. Kirkpatrick, and subsequently published in several hymnals. The tragedy that prompted the lyrics of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus has resulted in bringing comfort to many souls, for close to 130 years.
October 11, 2013
Journey to see God: see the Father in heaven as spoken by Jesus
Study on our heavenly 'Father'
in the words spoken by Jesus, the Son of God
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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
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so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
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But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
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Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
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For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
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that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
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Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
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For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
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If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
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For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
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And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
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Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
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Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
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[ Jesus Rejoices in the Father's Will ] In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.
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And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
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If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
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Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
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Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
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They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know My Father also.”
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I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
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Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
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Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
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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 that I have said to you.
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You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
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In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;
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And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
June 10, 2013
Journey to see God: speak what you mean; mean what you say
The word of God is powerful. “But only speak a word and my servant will be healed.”
The Roman centurion spoke to Jesus in such
great faith that Jesus marveled, “I have not found such great faith, not
even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:5-13) What did the centurion do that made
him one cut above the others who sought help (healing and deliverance)
from Jesus? The centurion’s understanding and acknowledgment of the power in Jesus’ words.
How did he know the word of Jesus had power? He had paid attention to
what Jesus had spoken and done. Many others noticed and witnessed the
same. The difference was that the centurion chose to believe and not doubt the power of Jesus’ word. Even Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus told the others that “I will not believe.” He was a typical natural (not spiritual) man. He could not believe unless he saw, and touched. He ‘willed’ not to believe that Jesus would be raised from death. Jesus had spoken this prophecy and told them beforehand that He would resurrect after death. Thomas chose to put his own senses above the word of Jesus.
But Jesus was right. He was raised from death just as He had spoken. His spoken word was life and spirit. When His words are spoken, the spiritual realm changes. The physical will follow.
For those spiritual navigators who want to differ from others in sailing through this span of vast and uncharted waters, it pays to pay attention, understand and believe the word of God. The word is our only sure compass.
So here are more gems today from the riches of the heavenly treasury._____________
‘SIMPLE’ – this is a ‘neutral’ word with two practically opposite meanings. The word can mean ‘stupid’ which is unacceptable. The word can also mean ‘innocent’. Being simple concerning evil is acceptable. On the other hand, you need ‘wisdom’ in what is good. (Romans 16:19) The deciding factor is the object of one’s action: evil or good.
How does one transform from being simple to wise in what is good? The words of God transform.
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
Psalm 119: 130 “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
_____________________
‘SPEAK’ – this is the most powerful action word. God speaks. Jesus speaks. The Holy Spirit speaks. The prophets speak. The apostles speak. When God’s words are being spoken they come into physical existence. God spoke light and there was light. God spoke and framed the world by His word, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Words cannot be seen. But they are real. ‘Speak’ is the action word that brings forth physical reality of spiritual truth. Speak faith. Faith in the unseen. But speak anyway.
Here are some powerful Biblical applications:
Jesus: John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Believers: Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” 10 “for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Apostle Paul: Acts 9:20 “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”
Perfect man: James 3:2 “For we all stumble in many things, if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
Positive words spoken by faith by Apostle Paul:
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 18 “Indeed I have all and abound.” 19 “And my God shall supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:3 “God…has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” 5:30 “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”
Galatians 3:26-27 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” 2:20 “…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 “But we have the mind of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Romans 5:5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” 26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses…makes intercession for us…” 34 “It is Christ…who also makes intercession for us.” 37 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
June 2, 2013
Sunday message: living by the Spirit; tongues; martyrs; Te Deum
Further revelation note inserted here on 6-4-2013: It dawned on him today that the day this tongue (above sentence ) was uttered was a Sunday while he was preparing this blog. The full sentence of the sound (tongue) he uttered while listening to the presentation of ‘Te Deum‘ on YouTube by Franz Joseph Haydn, Te Deum n.2 in C, and drafting the blog was: “Sabbath- last ned -koro- kito- sheh” (which means: “Sunday download-choir-others-see“, based on separate meaning of each individual words in four languages; when combined they formed one complete sentence which his spirit understood and obeyed!).
This confirmed an earlier question the watchman asked the Lord (in the preceding few days) about whether all sounds spoken in tongues have meanings. After this amazing revelation he was led to read 1Corinthians 14:10 which further confirmed this revelation:
“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.” (KJV)
“There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,” (ESV)
____________________
Excerpts from download on martyrdom:
On February 5, 1597, twenty-six Christians – four Spaniards, one Mexican, one Indian, all Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits and seventeen Japanese laymen including three young boys, who were all members of the Third Order of St. Francis – were executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki on the orders of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.[1] These individuals were raised on crosses and then pierced through with spears.
Persecution continued sporadically, breaking out again in 1613 and 1630. On September 10, 1632, 55 Christians were martyred in Nagasaki in what became known as the Great Genna Martyrdom. At this time Catholicism was officially outlawed. The Church remained without clergy and theological teaching disintegrated until the arrival of Western missionaries in the nineteenth century.
While there were many more martyrs, the first martyrs came to be especially revered, the most celebrated of which was Paul Miki.
Drawn from the oral histories of Japanese Catholic communities, Shusaku Endo‘s acclaimed novel Silence provides detailed accounts of the persecution of Christian communities and the suppression of the Church.
(Excerpts from Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
_____________________more excerpts from same source:
Paulo Miki (Japanese: パウロ三木; c. 1562[1] – February 5, 1597) was a Roman Catholic Japanese Jesuit seminarian, martyr and saint, one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan.
Biography
Paulo Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese family. He was educated by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki. He joined the Society of Jesus and became a well known and successful preacher – gaining numerous converts to Catholicism. The Japanese daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, fearful of the Jesuit’s influence and intentions began persecuting Catholics. Miki was jailed, along with others. He and his fellow Catholics were forced to march 600 miles (966 kilometers) from Kyoto to Nagasaki; all the while singing the Te Deum. On arriving in Nagasaki, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan, Miki was crucified on February 5, 1597. He preached his last sermon from the cross, and it is maintained that he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese.
____________downloaded as instructed by the Lord Holy Spirit:
Te Deum, which was translated into English in the 19th century as “Holy God, we praise thy name.”
Franz Joseph Haydn, Te Deum n.2 in C http://youtu.be/PXNGqgNTNIQ
| Latin text | Translation from the Book of Common Prayer |
|---|---|
Te Deum laudamus:
te Dominum confitemur. Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur. Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates; Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae. Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Patrem immensae maiestatis: Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum. Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. Iudex crederis esse venturus. Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari. [added later, mainly from Psalm verses:] Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum. Per singulos dies benedicimus te; Et laudamus Nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire. Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum. |
We praise thee, O God :
we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim : continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty : of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge thee; The Father : of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true : and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man : thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting. [added later, mainly from Psalm verses:] O Lord, save thy people : and bless thine heritage. Govern them : and lift them up for ever. Day by day : we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name : ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us : as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never be confounded. |
May 17, 2013
Pentecost Day: be endued with power from on high!
Luke 24:36-53 The apostles and disciples still did not believe despite the physical appearance of the resurrected Jesus. They were terrified and frightened. He showed them His hands and feet and asked them to touch and see that He had flesh and bones and not a ghost. He even ate with them. He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures (the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms) which were written concerning Him and must be fulfilled.
[John 20:22 He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”]
(continue Luke 24 above)Then He spoke this last word, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.“
The Acts of the Apostles (also titled “the Acts of the Holy Spirit”) recorded the actual physical historical events demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit being received and lived out in the lives of the apostles and disciples, as they believed and obeyed the words of God (including all that Jesus had spoken).
_________Bible verses:
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
1:8 And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and and supplication…
2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2:2 And suddenly there came…
2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
______________________The following recorded the conversation between the religious Jewish leaders and Peter and John after many had witnessed Peter healing a man born lame. Five thousand men heard the word of God they preached and believed. The high priest, rulers, elders, and scribes arrested the two apostles and interrogated them:
4:7 “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “…that by the name of Jesus Christ…this man stands here before you whole.”
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
________________After this Peter and John were let go and went to their own companions and reported…they all prayed to God with one accord. The following is part of the prayer and what happened after the prayer. The physical evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit confirmed their prayer.
4:24-30 Lord, You are God…the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. For truly against Your holy servant Jesus, Whom you anointed…to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they speak Your word.
30 “By stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled were shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul…
____________The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested through the increasing number of believers, and the healing and deliverance of multitude of sick people and those tormented by evil spirits. Even Peter’s shadow could cause healing.
5:16 …and they were all healed.
5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching Jesus as the Christ.
____________The Holy Spirit led the apostles and disciples to set proper priority for leadership as in the kingdom of God. (6:1-10)
Priority of the apostles: 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (2 “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”)
Priority for qualification set for appointment of the other church leaders: be of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, full of faith and power, do great wonders and signs among the people, able to speak God’s words by wisdom and by the Holy Spirit.
______________Baptism of the Holy Spirit by laying of hand was recorded in the following episode.
Philip preached Christ (the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus) to the Samaritans and the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Him, hearing and seeing the miracles He did. Unclean spirits were cast out and many paralyzed and lame healed. There was great joy. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. But when the two apostles Peter and John came they had to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Why? Because they did not have the physical evidence (praying in tongues).
8:17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18-19 And when Simon (a former sorcerer) saw that…he offered them (Peter and John) money, saying, :Give Me this power also, that anyone on Whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
(Simon saw the physical evidence of the Holy Spirit and knew this is real!)
Peter corrected Simon and told Him that the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by physical manifestation of speaking in tongues is the gift of God.
What was the difference between the multitudes of believers who received when Peter and John laid hands on them and the former sorcerer Simon?
The multitudes of believers just believed that God wanted to give them this gift and they all received by faith.
Simon was filled with other thoughts and desires:
- Envy of the others’ possession of a power which is greater than the one He used to display.
- Worry about own congregation (followers) having gone to another ‘church’. His regular income would be adversely affected unless he copied their method and displayed their power too.
- Perhaps He even secretly prayed for the power but could not receive. He was filled with jealousy and bitterness. After all He was more qualified and experienced in spiritual matters.
But The Acts of the Apostles has shown otherwise. The real problem is not in the external. It is inside the heart.
8:20-23 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for Your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this Your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of Your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
_____________________Pentecost is here again. The watchman urges the leaders of churches who do not yet manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit and desire to receive the gifts to turn to Your Bible and the word of God. Be still before the Lord and wait upon Him.
- Read what Jesus has commanded.
- Believe and obey.
- Read the Acts of the Holy Spirit.
- Believe and obey.
- Repent for unbelief and walking according to the flesh and not in the Spirit and pray humbly for spiritual weapon, the might of God to “pull down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
- Live a lifestyle of living before God. Have the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2)
“I pray that God, the Father of glory, give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of our calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…”
May 14, 2013
Journey to see God: be Strengthened with all might
Today the 5am Bible reading brethren in Christ read Colossians 1
and John 14, referring to Ephesians 1& 3, and 1 John (on praying
God’s will).
Here are diagrams that help us to understand and memorize God’s words.
Here are diagrams that help us to understand and memorize God’s words.
Colossians 1:2-12 Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
Colossians 1:13-20 The beloved Son of God -Jesus
Colossians 1:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 For
this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for
you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his
will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 1:11
King James Version (KJV)
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
May 13, 2013
Journey to see God: Stay In Christ!
JOHN14 is a crucial chapter for all who follow Jesus. Here are two diagrams for the ease of memorizing the crucial verses.
KEEP YOUR IN CHRIST POSITION!
The watchman prays that the “eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 1:18-20)
KEEP YOUR IN CHRIST POSITION!
“If you love Me, you will keep My word”
“the Father who dwells in Me does the works”
The watchman prays that the “eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 1:18-20)
May 12, 2013
End Times church countdown: worship in spirit and in truth
The church was formed nearly seven months ago. On the first Lord’s Day, they were led to read the Acts of the Apostles (Acts of the Holy Spirit) and almost all who participated that first Lord’s day were filled with the love of God during worship.
They had no musical instrument or music director. They used a tiny MP3 player and listened to Scripture songs, learning to sing along. They had no preacher. Each brethren reads his/her Bible at home and some come for weekday morning 5am Bible reading. On the Lord’s day one brethren will speak the words of God and teach as led by the Holy Spirit.
The singing had been enriched lately by the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to some members. Today the singing was harmonious as broke through the usual level of spiritual realm. They were led by the Lord to heavenly realm. The rivers of living water that flew out of each belly (John 7:38-39) merged into a mighty river! It was like heavenly angels joined in and blended together with the little group of brethren (age 7-80+) and praising the Almighty God.
The worship continued as the Spirit of the Lord continued to flow within the believers. They were joined to the Lord and became one spirit with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Even the brethren who was speaking that morning did not bother with how little time he would have left when the worship took longer time. Time was not on anyone’s mind.
In fact, time stood still. The singing went on in the Spirit. Someone prayed in understanding from time to time as led by the Spirit.
When the speaker finally took over and spoke. The word turned to a clear focus on Christ Jesus who was the Word Himself. it was wonderful.
The truth flowed as during worship. Words came direct from the Bible. They linked and bonded across the pages from various chapters, Old and New Testaments. Some were Scripture songs that could be sung. So they all sang those verses during the sermon (which was aptly called “The Word of God”).
The watchman had longed for such a day for quite sometime. It came.
________________Suggested Bible reading:
John1; Hebrews 1-2; Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah 11 (2,9); 2 Timothy 3; Hebrews 4; 1 Corinthians 2; John 14, 17; Proverbs 4; Psalm 119 (1-2, 9-11)
May 8, 2013
End Times Classic Revival: Prevailing Prayer
Power from on high: Prevailing Prayer (by Charles Finney)
Prevailing prayer is that which secures an answer. Saying prayers is not offering prevailing prayer. The prevalence of prayer does not depend so much on quantity as on quality. I do not know how better to approach this subject than by relating a fact of my own experience before I was converted. I relate it because I fear such experiences are but too common among unconverted men.
I do not recollect having ever attended a prayer meeting until after I began the study of law. Then, for the first time, I lived in a neighborhood where there was a prayer meeting weekly.
I had neither known, heard, nor seen much of religion; hence I had no settled opinions about it. Partly from curiosity and partly from an uneasiness of mind upon the subject, which I could not well define, I began to attend that prayer meeting. About the same time I bought the first Bible that I ever owned, and began to read it. I listened to the prayers which I heard offered in those prayer meetings with all the attention that I could give to prayers so cold and formal. In every prayer they prayed for the gift and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Both in their prayers and in their remarks, which were occasionally interspersed, they acknowledged that they did not prevail with God. This was most evident, and had almost made me a skeptic.
Seeing me so frequently in their prayer meeting, the leader, on one occasion, asked me if I did not wish them to pray for me. I replied: "No." I said: "I suppose that I need to be prayed for, but your prayers are not answered. You confess it yourselves." I then expressed my astonishment at this fact, in view of what the Bible said about the prevalence of prayer. Indeed, for some time my mind was much perplexed and in doubt in view of Christ's teaching on the subject of prayer and the manifest facts before me, from week to week, in this prayer meeting. Was Christ a divine teacher? Did He actually teach what the Gospels attributed to Him? Did He mean what He said? Did prayer really avail to secure blessings from God? If so, what was I to make of what I witnessed from week to week and month to month in that prayer meeting? Were they real Christians? Was that which I heard real prayer, in the Bible sense? Was it such prayer as Christ had promised to answer? Here I found the solution.
I became convinced that they were under a delusion; that they did not prevail because they had no right to prevail. They did not comply with the conditions upon which God had promised to hear prayer. Their prayers were just such as God had promised not to answer. It was evident they were overlooking the fact that they were in danger of praying themselves into skepticism in regard to the value of prayer.
In reading my Bible I noticed such revealed conditions as the following:
(a) Faith in God as the answerer of prayer. This, it is plain, involves the expectation of receiving what we ask.
(b) Another revealed condition is the asking according to the revealed will of God. This plainly implies asking not only for such things as God is willing to grant, but also asking in such a state of mind as God can accept. I fear it is common for professed Christians to overlook the state of mind in which God requires them to be as a condition of answering their prayers.
For example: In offering the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come," it is plain that sincerity is a condition of prevailing with God. But sincerity in offering this petition implies the whole heart and life devotion of the petitioner to the building up of this kingdom. It implies the sincere and thorough consecration of all that we have and all that we are to this end. To utter this petition in any other state of mind involves hypocrisy, and is an abomination.
So in the next petition, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," God has not promised to hear this petition unless it be sincerely offered. But sincerity implies a state of mind that accepts the whole revealed will of God, so far as we understand it, as they accept it in heaven. It implies a loving, confiding, universal obedience to the whole known will of God, whether that will is revealed in His Word, by His Spirit, or in His providence. It implies that we hold ourselves and all that we have and are as absolutely and cordially at God's disposal as do the inhabitants of heaven. If we fall short of this, and withhold anything whatever from God, we "regard iniquity in our hearts," and God will not hear us.
Sincerity in offering this petition implies a state of entire and universal consecration to God. Anything short of this is withholding from God that which is His due. It is "turning away our ear from hearing the law." But what saith the Scriptures? "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." Do professed Christians understand this?
What is true of offering these two petitions is true of all prayer. Do Christians lay this to heart? Do they consider that all professed prayer is an abomination if it be not offered in a state of entire consecration of all that we have and are to God? If we do not offer ourselves with and in our prayers, with all that we have; if we are not in a state of mind that cordially accepts and, so far as we know, perfectly conforms to the whole will of God, our prayer is an abomination. How awfully profane is the use very frequently made of the Lord's Prayer, both in public and in private. To hear men and women chatter over the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," while their lives are anything but conformed to the known will of God is shocking and revolting. To hear men pray, "Thy kingdom come," while it is most evident that they are making little or no sacrifice or effort to promote this kingdom, forces the conviction of bare-faced hypocrisy. Such is not prevailing prayer.
(c) Unselfishness is a condition of prevailing prayer. "Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3).
(d) Another condition of prevailing prayer is a conscience void of offense toward God and man. 1 John 3:20, 22: "If our heart (conscience) condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things; if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God, and whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."
Here two things are made plain: first, that to prevail with God we must keep a conscience void of offense; and, second, that we must keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
(e) A pure heart is also a condition of prevailing prayer. Psalm 66 18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
(f) All due confession and restitution to God and man is another condition of prevailing prayer. Proverbs 28:13: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy."
(g) Clean hands is another condition. Psalm 26:6: "I will wash mine hands in innocence, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord." I Timothy 6:8: "I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
(h) The settling of disputes and animosities among brethren is a condition. Matthew 5:23, 24: "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, then come and offer thy gift."
(i) Humility is another condition of prevailing prayer. James 4:6: "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."
(j) Taking up the stumbling-blocks is another condition. Ezekiel 14:3: "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?"
(k) A forgiving spirit is a condition. Matthew 6:12: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors"; 15: "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses."
(l) The exercise of a truthful spirit is a condition. Psalm 51:6: "Behold, Thou desireth truth in the inward parts." If the heart be not in a truthful state, if it be not entirely sincere and unselfish, we regard iniquity in our hearts; and, therefore, the Lord will not hear us.
(m) Praying in the name of Christ is a condition of prevailing prayer.
(n) The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is another condition. All truly prevailing prayer is inspired by the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:26, 27: "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." This is the true spirit of prayer. This is being led by the Spirit in prayer. It is the only really prevailing prayer. Do professed Christians really understand this? Do they believe that unless they live and walk in the Spirit, unless they are taught how to pray by the intercession of the Spirit in them, they cannot prevail with God?
(o) Fervency is a condition. A prayer, to be prevailing, must be fervent. James 5:16: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
(p) Perseverance or persistence in prayer is often a condition of prevailing. See the case of Jacob, of Daniel, of Elijah, of the Syrophoenician woman, of the unjust judge, and the teaching of the Bible generally.
(q) Travail of soul is often a condition of prevailing prayer. "As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." "My little children," said Paul, "for whom I travail in birth again, till Christ be formed in you." This implies that he had travailed in birth for them before they were converted. Indeed, travail of soul in prayer is the only real revival prayer. If anyone does not know what this is, he does not understand the spirit of prayer. He is not in a revival state. He does not understand the passage already quoted, Romans 8:26, 27. Until he understands this agonizing prayer he does not know the real secret of revival power.
(r) Another condition of prevailing prayer is the consistent use of means to secure the object prayed for, if means are within our reach, and are known by us to be necessary to the securing of the end. To pray for a revival of religion, and use no other means, is to tempt God. This, I could plainly see, was the case of those who offered prayer in the prayer meeting of which I have spoken. They continued to offer prayer for a revival of religion, but out of meeting they were as silent as death on the subject, and opened not their mouths to those around them. They continued this inconsistency until a prominent impenitent man in the community administered to them in my presence a terrible rebuke. He expressed just what I deeply felt. He rose, and with the utmost solemnity and tearfulness said: "Christian people, what can you mean? You continue to pray in these meetings for a revival of religion. You often exhort each other here to wake up and use means to promote a revival. You assure each other, and assure us who are impenitent, that we are in the way to hell; and I believe it. You also insist that if you should wake up, and use the appropriate means, there would be a revival, and we should be converted. You tell us of our great danger, and that our souls are worth more than all worlds; and yet you keep about your comparatively trifling employments and use no such means. We have no revival and our souls are not saved." Here he broke down and fell, sobbing, back into his seat.
This rebuke fell heavily upon that prayer meeting, as I shall ever remember. It did them good; for it was not long before the members of that prayer meeting broke down, and we had a revival. I was present in the first meeting in which the revival spirit was manifest. Oh! how changed was the tone of their prayers, confessions, and supplications. I remarked, in returning home, to a friend: "What a change has come over these Christians. This must be the beginning of a revival." Yes; a wonderful change comes over all the meetings whenever the Christian people are revived. Then their confessions mean something. They mean reformation and restitution. They mean work. They mean the use of means. They mean the opening of their pockets, their hearts and hands, and the devotion of all their powers to the promotion of the work.
(s) Prevailing prayer is specific. It is offered for a definite object. We cannot prevail for everything at once. In all the cases recorded in the Bible in which prayer was answered, it is noteworthy that the petitioner prayed for a definite object.
(t) Another condition of prevailing prayer is that we mean what we say in prayer; that we make no false pretenses; in short, that we are entirely childlike and sincere, speaking out of the heart, nothing more nor less than we mean, feel, and believe.
(u) Another condition of prevailing prayer is a state of mind that assumes the good faith of God in all His promises.
(v) Another condition is "watching unto prayer" as well as "praying in the Holy Ghost." By this I mean guarding against everything that can quench or grieve the Spirit of God in our hearts.
Also watching for the answer, in a state of mind that will diligently use all necessary means, at any expense, and add entreaty to entreaty.
When the fallow ground is thoroughly broken up in the hearts of Christians, when they have confessed and made restitution, if the work be thorough and honest, they will naturally and inevitably fulfill the conditions, and will prevail in prayer. But it cannot be too distinctly understood that none others will. What we commonly hear in prayer and conference meetings is not prevailing prayer. It is often astonishing and lamentable to witness the delusions that prevail upon the subject. Who that has witnessed real revivals of religion has not been struck with the change that comes over the whole spirit and manner of the prayers of really revived Christians? I do not think I ever could have been converted if I had not discovered the solution of the question: "Why is it that so much that is called prayer is not answered?"
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May 6, 2013
Two prayers: ask for spiritual eyes to open and receive spiritual strength!
Ephesians 1:15-23
Prayer one: the eyes of your hearts be opened and enlightened
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer two: to receive Spiritual Strength, filled with God!
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
April 19, 2013
Your Power in the Holy Spirit (miracles are for today!)
your power in the Holy Spirit
The Miraculous Mind of Christ
Jesus’ mental
processes were miraculous. Ourlibraries are full of books written by
great thinkerslike Thomas Edison and others who were incessantthinkers.
With Jesus there is something different. Hespoke out from the Spirit
that dominated Hisspiritual faculties. The Spirit of Christ ruled
Hisintellect. Gems of divine truth dripped from His lipsas honey from
the honeycomb. The Sermon on theMount and great portions in Luke and
John are asuntouched as when they dropped from the lips of Jesus. Men’s
writings grow old and out of date. God’struth is ever fresh. Yes,
Jesus’ words and life andcontact with men were miraculous; they are
still miraculous.His death on the cross, His three days in the tomb,His
dramatic and startling resurrection, were allmiracles. His presence
among the disciples ondifferent occasions and, finally, His ascension in
thepresence of five hundred witnesses were miracles.
They do not belong to
the reason realm; they belongto the miracle realm. Jesus was in the
realm of theSpirit, the realm of faith, the realm where God acts,the
realm where the real child of God lives. You see,Christians have been
translated out of the realm of human thought and reason into the kingdom
of theSon of His love, the realm of the Spirit.
It would be uncharitable if we were to criticize aman of reason who knows nothing about thespiritual realm.
Christianity is not the
product of human reasoning. Christianity is a divineintervention.
Christians are those who have beenborn from above. They have been
re-created. Thislife of God that comes into their spirit naturedominates
the reason so that they have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
to think God’s thoughtsand live in God’s realm of miracles.
Friends, when a Christian tries to live by reason, he is moving out of God’s country into the enemy’s land.
We belong in the miraculous or supernatural realm.
Christ was a miracle. Every Christian is a miracle.
Every answer to prayer is a miracle.
Every divine illumination is a miracle.
The power of Christianityin the world is a miraculous power.
God, help us torealize that ours is a high and holy calling.
____________________________________
Miracles Are For Today
I want to talk to you
on the subject of miracles thisafternoon. From the year 400 until now,
by and large,the church has assumed the attitude that the days
of miracles are passed—without any scripturalevidence whatever. They
have taught that miracleswere to demonstrate the divinity of Jesus and
that, therefore, the divinity of Jesus having beendemonstrated, there
was no longer any need formiracles.
We had a local incident
that demonstrates the effectof this teaching. I think my conviction on
the matteris that it has done more damage to the Christian faiththan any
other teaching that has been promulgated.
There is a gentleman
who works at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, O. A. Risdon, who is one of
theengineers there. He had a son with a deformed head.The top of the
head raised up like the ridge of a roof; the forehead and back of the
head also were forcedout in similar manner, giving the head the
appearance of the hull of an upside-down yacht. He was born with what
the physicians call a closed head. The boy was always slobbering. The
pressure on the brain caused the right side to become paralyzed, and the
boy was dumb. He was five yearsold at this time.
The physicians said
there was nothing they could do.Then, in desperation, he appealed to his
pastor. The pastor told him that the days of miracles were past, that
the Lord did not heal now, and that miracles were given to demonstrate
the divinity of Jesus. The father replied, “If Jesus would heal my son, I
would be convinced that He is divine now. If He is divine,He could lift
this damnation from our house.
“Finally, he came to us
seeking help. We began tominister to the child. In a few days, we
observed that the paralysis began to depart. Instead of walking onone
side of his ankles, he began to walk on the foot, and that indicated
that the pressure was relieved onthe brain. In seven weeks, the child
was perfectly well. The bones of the head softened and came downto
normal. The paralysis disappeared, and the child began to talk. In three
months, he was in the publicschool. He is a young married man now.
Dear friends, if we had
continued to believe that the days of miracles were past, that boy
would be in the insane asylum. But we believed that Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today, and forever, and the boy was healed.
It is a delight to
believe the words of Jesus. I have used this rule in my study of the
Scriptures. If there is any question on any Scripture, I settle it with
the words of Jesus. I consider all the Scriptures are a common court of
the gospel, but the words of Jesus are the Supreme Court of the gospel.
When I want a Supreme Court decision, I appeal to the words of Jesus.
You can read all the
words of Jesus in two hours or less in a red-letter New Testament. Make a
practice of reading the words of Jesus on any subject that troubles
you, and make a compilation of what He says.
He ought to be
sufficient authority on any question, for the heavenly Father called
attention to the fact that He is the Son of God and that we are to hear
Him. God declared:
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)
April 13, 2013
5 am lesson: Key to walking in courage and power
Jesus
the Son of God had demonstrated to His disciples (and all believers
who want to be His disciples) how to walk in the mighty power of God.
Jesus told us plainly that no one had seen God except Him. When one
sees Jesus one sees God. So His mission on earth was to show us how
God is like. God is Almighty. He walks in supreme power. Jesus also
walked in supreme majesty and power. Power came out of Him when
patients touched Him (His clothes) by faith and they became healed
immediately. Demons submitted themselves to Jesus voluntarily.
Jesus told
His disciples that all who believe will do the same things that He
did and even greater things. To Jesus being like Him (in word and
deed) is a natural thing. Those born of God's Spirit are spirit and
have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness. All that
God has given to Jesus He has given to those who believe in Jesus.
Like Father like Son (and sons). So why are we not seeing this
supernatural and transformational change in many of us? The distinct
manifestation of the Son of God in us?
Today's
message for the 5am class is: the key to living and walking in His
power. The key is in Jesus. Thus we are on the right track when we
continue to read the word of God revealing Jesus to us.
Jesus has
revealed two of His secrets to success:
Success
Key one: Walking in the Light.
He
announced that He was the true Light that gives light to every man in
the world. (John 1:9) He commanded His disciples to take heed that
the light which is in them is not darkness. (Luke
11:33-36) He warned them of the dark forces behind the hypocrites
-namely Pharisees, scribes and lawyers (symbol of religiosity in
appearances and not in truth and motives; in flesh and not in spirit)
of that generation which He called evil and perverse. (Luke 11:37-54;
Matt.15:1-20; 16:1-6)
What is the
spirit behind the hypocrites? The spirit of the world. They were
blinded and dull and hardened with worldly philosophy (which runs on
natural laws). They just could not see or understand the supernatural
laws that Jesus had demonstrated in reality. God is supernatural. No
man can possibly understand the matters of God without Jesus. But
their jealousies and covetousness (which is idolatry) had hardened
them further, even to the point they were willing to perish forever.
Jesus summed up
their depraved condition: “Men loved darkness rather than light
because their deeds were evil. But everyone practicing evil hates the
light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed.” (John 3:19-20)
Jesus Himself
was undeterred by such dark hatred and opposition. He continued to
walk and operate in the Light of God. He manifested God's Light.
“But
he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in Go.” (John 3:21) Only
those who do the truth can come in the Light of God and the deeds are
done in God! Nothing can be more powerful than deeds done in God!
This is the success key of Jesus -doing everything in God's Light,
that is, in God. God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)
What does this
mean to those who want to have this success key? The answer is in 1
John 1:6-10. (Read the whole passage and meditate and pray)
1 John 1:7 “But
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.”
Success
Key two: Walking in understanding of the matters of God.
One thing
that Jesus repeatedly
told off His disciples
was their
not understanding what He told them about the matters of God, that
is, the Kingdom of God.
He
demonstrated how the Son of God has the power over natural matters:
walking on water, calming the wind and sea, multiplying (without
limit) food stuff out of the unseen resources in heaven, making
demons (evil spirits) tremble and submit to Him, commanding (by mere
words) physical things to happen (healing, deliverance, giving life
back to the dead etc.). Power was evident in Him. Even King Harod
admitted. Sick people touched the hem of His garment and were made
well.
Why did
the disciples not use this power when they were alone? They just
could not understand the supernatural matters, the matters of God's
Kingdom then. The key word is 'understanding'.
That is
why Jesus spent a lot of time teaching them and all who followed Him
at that time about the Kingdom of God and how it operates. Jesus was
very clear about the way it functions. He is from above and He has
seen how it operates in the supernatural realm. He knows it is real.
When
Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to preach the Gospel, calling
for repentance, healing the sick, casting out demons, saying the
Kingdom of God was near, He gave them the power of God through His
word. He instructed them by word and His word came to pass. They
merely obeyed and witnessed that indeed what Jesus had spoken came
true.
After
Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples continued to obey and waited
for the power from above, the Holy Spirit. Indeed the power came as
told. After they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit their
spiritual eyes were opened and they had spiritual understanding of
the whole Kingdom of God message. They were transformed from a bunch
of fearful humans to overcomers (as in Revelation 12:11).
Today,
how do believers receive such supernatural understanding of the
kingdom of God?
GUIDE ONE:
ASK! (Luke
11:9-13)
11:9 Ask,
seek, knock
11:13 how
much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask Him!
GUIDE
TWO: PRAY! (Ephesians
1:17-23)
17 pray
for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God
18 the
eyes of your understanding being enlightened
19 know
the greatness of His power toward those who believe
20-23
know the power in Christ. He is our head. We are His body! We can be
filled with His fullness！
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