In the gospel of John, chapter 20, Jesus formally provides the Holy
Spirit to the apostles. Previously, Jesus had declared certain people
clean, presumably because they were willing to hear what He was
teaching, "because of the word I have spoken to you". It appears that
the giving of the Holy Spirit in John 20 was simply an empowerment, at
least to forgive/retain sins, yet this is the first reference I know of
where Jesus speaks of giving the Holy Spirit to anyone. Nevertheless,
He certainly did.
In the book of Acts, chapter 1, Jesus again speaking to the
apostles, informed them that they should wait in Jerusalem for the
Promise of the Father: the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Obviously this
baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second work of Grace as the apostles
had already received the Holy Spirit from Jesus in Jn. 20.
Acts, chapter 2:1-4 states that "the apostles were all with one accord
in one place (doing what Jesus had commanded) when a sound came from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole place where
they were sitting. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
distributed and resting on each of them. And they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance".
I have heard ministers say that when you are born again by the Holy
Spirit, you then receive all the Holy Spirit you will need or get.
Clearly the apostles experienced two distinguishable events: after
being made clean by His word that they were willing to receive; they
received the Holy Spirit when He breathed upon them then were baptised
or filled with the Holy Spirit WITH THE EVIDENCE being speaking with
other tongues (differing from their native language). I suggest to you
that each time we speak in tongues, whether in our personal prayer time
or vocally in a church service, God refills us with the Holy Spirit. It
builds us up on our most holy faith! (Jude v.20,21)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
What Has Jesus Said to You?
John 11:1-44
The eleventh chapter of John's gospel shows us how Jesus responded to the death of Lazarus. Mary and Martha went to Jesus to inform Him that Lazarus was sick. Jesus responded by informing them the sickness was not unto death. He was dead, but Jesus knew His petition to the Father for Lazarus would be successful: the Father and the Son would be glorified as capable to not only heal but to raise people from the dead. We see in verse 43 that, just as Jesus had said, Lazarus was raised from the dead after four days. Again, Jesus spoke, saying, "Lazarus, come forth!" Jesus has all power in heaven and earth! What He told Mary and Martha was as good when He said it as it was when Lazarus walked out of the grave.
Now let us look at how those who had been around Him responded to His words. His disciples, as well as Mary and Martha, said the following:
v.8 (when Jesus knew it was time to travel back to Judea to help Lazarus) the disciples said to Him, 'Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are you going there again?" (I am guessing that Jesus already knew that.)
v.12 "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." (Another interpretation I suppose Jesus was aware of. He then had to tell them that Lazarus was dead but would live.)
v.23 Jesus informs Martha that her brother will rise again. Martha goes on to tell Jesus what she knows.
v.32 Now its Mary's turn. She tells Jesus that if He would have been there for them, her brother Lazarus would not have died. The scripture reads that Jesus groaned and wept. I think it is very possible that He was groaning and weeping due to His disciples lack of understanding that what He has spoken will be.
v.37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"
v.39 Jesus begins the resurrection of Lazarus. Mary has more information for Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus re-explains believing unto glory; thanks the Father and resurrects Lazarus.
Matthew 8:8 shows us that the centurion said to Jesus, "only speak a word, and my servant will be healed". The centurion knew when Jesus spoke, it was good as done. No groaning nor weeping here.
I am in no position to criticize another person: I have had wobbly legs in certain matters just like the disciples. But, thanks be to God, I want to be like the centurion.
"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges Him- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48,49)
The eleventh chapter of John's gospel shows us how Jesus responded to the death of Lazarus. Mary and Martha went to Jesus to inform Him that Lazarus was sick. Jesus responded by informing them the sickness was not unto death. He was dead, but Jesus knew His petition to the Father for Lazarus would be successful: the Father and the Son would be glorified as capable to not only heal but to raise people from the dead. We see in verse 43 that, just as Jesus had said, Lazarus was raised from the dead after four days. Again, Jesus spoke, saying, "Lazarus, come forth!" Jesus has all power in heaven and earth! What He told Mary and Martha was as good when He said it as it was when Lazarus walked out of the grave.
Now let us look at how those who had been around Him responded to His words. His disciples, as well as Mary and Martha, said the following:
v.8 (when Jesus knew it was time to travel back to Judea to help Lazarus) the disciples said to Him, 'Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are you going there again?" (I am guessing that Jesus already knew that.)
v.12 "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." (Another interpretation I suppose Jesus was aware of. He then had to tell them that Lazarus was dead but would live.)
v.23 Jesus informs Martha that her brother will rise again. Martha goes on to tell Jesus what she knows.
v.32 Now its Mary's turn. She tells Jesus that if He would have been there for them, her brother Lazarus would not have died. The scripture reads that Jesus groaned and wept. I think it is very possible that He was groaning and weeping due to His disciples lack of understanding that what He has spoken will be.
v.37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"
v.39 Jesus begins the resurrection of Lazarus. Mary has more information for Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus re-explains believing unto glory; thanks the Father and resurrects Lazarus.
Matthew 8:8 shows us that the centurion said to Jesus, "only speak a word, and my servant will be healed". The centurion knew when Jesus spoke, it was good as done. No groaning nor weeping here.
I am in no position to criticize another person: I have had wobbly legs in certain matters just like the disciples. But, thanks be to God, I want to be like the centurion.
"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges Him- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48,49)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
The Bread of Life
John 6:48-58
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "how does this man give us His flesh to eat?"
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I IN HIM. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that comes down from heaven-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."
This is an intense portion of scripture as it directs us to do something which is physically impossible yet obviously is very important to our Master. Jesus reminds the Jewish people that their fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. The manna was edible. They gathered it daily and consumed it that day. They had no other food to eat. It was vital to their existence. Jesus is telling the Jewish people(and us) that, if they want to live eternally, they must feed on Him. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood is a way of telling them/us to partake fully of who He is: partake worthily of communion with Him. Now, is it really physical eating and drinking that Jesus is concerned about? He used this analogy because He knew how vital eating/drinking are to life. He knows we want to live yet the way to REAL LIFE is in Him! Ask the Father to reveal to you what it means to eat Jesus' flesh and drink Jesus' blood. I think you will find this is a raw depiction of one who hungers and thirsts for Him!
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "how does this man give us His flesh to eat?"
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I IN HIM. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that comes down from heaven-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."
This is an intense portion of scripture as it directs us to do something which is physically impossible yet obviously is very important to our Master. Jesus reminds the Jewish people that their fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. The manna was edible. They gathered it daily and consumed it that day. They had no other food to eat. It was vital to their existence. Jesus is telling the Jewish people(and us) that, if they want to live eternally, they must feed on Him. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood is a way of telling them/us to partake fully of who He is: partake worthily of communion with Him. Now, is it really physical eating and drinking that Jesus is concerned about? He used this analogy because He knew how vital eating/drinking are to life. He knows we want to live yet the way to REAL LIFE is in Him! Ask the Father to reveal to you what it means to eat Jesus' flesh and drink Jesus' blood. I think you will find this is a raw depiction of one who hungers and thirsts for Him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)