Saturday, December 19, 2015

God Working with Us



I am the vine, ye are the branches.   He that abideth in me and I in him, the same 
bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5




Jesus was known for speaking in parables to explain spiritual aspects of the Kingdom of God.  He used the natural aspect of the vine with its branches and fruit to explain how we, His followers, are connected to Him; our Lord and Savior. 

In the natural world, life comes from the vine. The vine sends a life flow into the branches of a plant to produce fruit. The branch does not bear fruit of its own. If it is separated from the main vine, it ceases to bear and eventually dies.  This is the example Jesus used to illustrate the flow of God's power in the spiritual world. We are the branches that bear the fruit. Jesus is the vine. We do not in our own strength produce the fruit, we just uphold it. 

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  John 15:4

The powerful miracles of New Testament times were not Peter's miracles. They were not the work of Apostle Paul's hands. They were a result of the Holy Spirit of God flowing through them as spiritual branches bringing forth spiritual fruit.

These men did what God had commanded them. They preached the Word. They laid hands on the sick. They commanded demons to loose their hold on the lives of men and women. They obeyed and left the results to God.

Obey God and leave the results in His hands. 

We are not the miracle worker, we are the miracle-working vessel. 

God is the source of power. When we are obedient to God and act on His Word, then it is up to Him. He produces the power through us.  Peter and John, filled with the power of God, walked in power and authority granted by God and miracles were performed:

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  Acts 3:6-9

Peter was such a miracle working vessel that people just wanted to pass under his shadow:

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  Acts 5:15

Peter was not the only one, all the disciples were miracle working vessels:

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Acts 5:10-13

When the disciples asked, "What shall we do that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered. . .

. . . This is the work of God: that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.  John 6:29

The Holy Spirit is the One who works through us. He is the One who has delegated the authority. We do not have to work up the power by emotionalism. We do not have to "pray it down". It is the power of God working in and through us.  In the day of the disciples, Jesus was there working with them:

. . . they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.    Mark 16:20

Often in ministry this pattern is switched. Many try to work for God. But the method that brings powerful results is "The Lord working with them" through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told the disciples:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon we: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.    Luke 24:49

The Holy Spirit is the life flow between man and God.  If we are not connected to this source our attempts to do the ministry work; to bear the fruit of the vine will fail.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.   And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.   Acts 19:13-18

Many ministries and people fail because they go forth before receiving the enduement of spiritual power. If we are to meet the challenges of the great responsibility Jesus gave us, we must do so in the authority and power of God given to us through Jesus Christ.  There is no other way to act in this power and authority except through Jesus Christ!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.    John 14:16





(Biblical Studies)




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11/17/18
07/24/20
07/14/22

Friday, December 18, 2015

Power from on High



But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
 shall be  witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8



When Jesus concluded His earthly ministry and returned to Heaven, He left His followers with a tremendous responsibility: 


Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Matthew 28:19-20

The responsibility Jesus gave His followers was to reach the entire world with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

There is a definite relationship between responsibility and authority. When someone is given a responsibility to do something, he must also be given the authority to do it. That authority must be delegated by someone greater than he.

For example, a policeman is given the responsibility to maintain order in a city. He is also given authority to fulfill that responsibility. He is given authority to act out his duties and given a weapon to give him power to walk out that authority.   The policeman does not have authority in himself. His authority is delegated (given) to him by his superiors. He is a man working with power delegated to him by a higher authority. He represents the government.

Jesus gave His followers the responsibility of reaching the world with the Gospel. He also gave them the authority and the power to accomplish the task. 

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues . . .  Mark 16:17

You cannot give someone responsibility without giving them the authority and necessary tools to carry out that responsibility. What was this authority? The authority was the name of Jesus and the power was the Holy Spirit; spiritual power-- great spiritual power: 

. . . All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.   Matthew 28:18-20

When Jesus came to this earth, He came with power and authority. Jesus had "all power" delegated from God. Because of this, Jesus had the authority to delegate both responsibility and power to His followers:

And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Matthew 10:1

And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.    Mark 3:14-15

And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.  Mark 6:7

Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.   Luke 9:1

It was not emotionalism or material blessings which Jesus delegated to His disciples. He did not establish an organized base of operations in Jerusalem. He knew these alone would not accomplish the task. He delegated Power.

The power which Jesus delegated to His followers is greater than the power of the enemy:

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.             Luke 10:19

Satan is not afraid of us. He will not respect us, but he fears our God-given authority.

Authority is based on relationship. For example, the policeman has authority because of his relationship with the government. Our authority is based on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ; our connection to the vine.  Attached to us is Jesus with "all power." When we realize this truth, our life will change.  

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.    Luke 24:49

When the Disciples were endued with this power they were changed from fearful, unbelieving, doubting men to men of authority:

. . . they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.  Mark 16:20

The book of Acts records how the promise of spiritual power was fulfilled in the lives of believers. The miracles, signs, and wonders described in this book are impressive. Each manifestation of God's power contributed towards the fulfillment of the great responsibility of reaching the world with the Gospel.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.   Luke 10:19

The power Jesus gave His followers carried with it a specific responsibility: It was to be used to extend the Gospel to the nations of the world:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

This power is for the purpose of extending the Gospel to the nations of the world.

Jesus told a parable illustrating this truth:

For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man His work, and commanded the porter to watch.   Mark 13:34

The authority was given to accomplish a work. That work is the extension of the Gospel to the nations of the world.

Some people believe that spiritual power was only for the early church. They say it was only for the disciples. They claim the day of miracles is past.

But this begs the question, has the entire world been reached with the Gospel? The assignment  Jesus left to His followers is not yet finished. We still have the responsibility of reaching the world with the Gospel of the Kingdom.   Even as Apostle Paul neared the end of his journey, he began preparing Timothy, whom he had discipled, to carry on fulfilling the commission.   Jesus would not withdraw the authority before the responsibility was fulfilled.

Consider the account of Jesus’ conversation with Martha regarding Lazarus’ death:

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.     John 11:21-24

®     Martha believed Jesus could have raised Lazarus in the past 
           (". . . if thou hadst been here").  
®     She believed Jesus could raise him in the future 
           ("in the last day"). 

Jesus shared a very important truth with her.  ("I AM the resurrection and life”)  "I am" is speaking in the present tense.  Then He raised Lazarus from the dead.   

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:   John 11:25

There is no such thing as a past day of miracles. There is no such thing as a future day of miracles. In every age there is power to work miracles to meet the needs of people. In every day and age, God is manifesting His power. He says to you, "I AM"--present tense.


(Biblical Studies)








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