25/08/13

He wills you know Him and His Word

Acts 22:14
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear [listen] the voice of his mouth.

One of the greatest problem with Christians is they do not know why they are Christians or need to be Christians. When I say Christian it does not mean those who follow the religion Christianity but means those who follow Christ and are in the process of becoming like Christ.

People are fooled to believe that accepting Christ as one's saviour will get them to Heaven. Jesus again and again in the 4 Gospels said the words 'follow me'; a person that does not follow Him is not called a Christian. Understand the people were called Christians only in Antioch, in all the other places they were called 'people of the way'. The name was not given to them because of what they believed but more because the way they lived their lives.

The primary reason why Jesus came as man and died on the cross is not understood by many. If you ask any Christian you are sure to get the answer to forgive us our sins.

Imagine a vessel that is dirty and in muck, you taking that vessel and washing it spick and span and putting it back in the muck. Does that make any sense?

Jesus by His sacrifice forgives us of our sins when we believe in His sacrifice and accept it in our lives but then His sacrifice does not attend to the sinful nature in us and that is why even after we become Christian we still sin. No Christian can say they do not sin either in thought, words or deeds if not in all.

God knew to really save man He needed to change man and there was no way man could change by himself. So God needed to be in man, with man to save him. Sinful man is like stagnant water that breeds all likes of infection and in such water God can not dwell. Repentance is what causes the dirty water to move or flow out and knowledge of the kingdom of God is like fresh clean water that fills in. Even if that water is as dirty as can be, all one needs to do is follow the process continually, till all the dirty water is drained and fresh water fills in. This process is what Jesus calls being born again and for this we need God in us and that is why Lord Jesus Christ gave us His Spirit.

If we do not understand that the most important part of believing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is to receive His Holy Spirit and to be led by Him, we will fail to be true Christians.

We need to know due to sin we lost something and just removing stain of sins is half the job, we need to gain back what we lost and that is the only way we can be complete and enter Heaven.

Today's scripture says God willed that we know His Just one Jesus Christ from whom we receive Righteousness but to receive this Righteousness we need to know His Word and it is the Spirit of Truth - the Holy Spirit who does the job by renewing our minds, our hearts and bringing the Truth in us.

Jesus as man taught His disciples but yet they did not understand Him. Jesus knew that no man can teach man perfectly, that is why He said He will give them the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who will disclose all that He taught them and bring them to the Truth. Jesus who was so perfect yet relied on the Holy Spirit but we have many preachers and leaders who try to do the job by themselves.

In our last message we learned how God will prompt us and help us in our mission, today God is reminding us and telling us the importance of the Holy Spirit in our mission in Him. We need to understand we are not to lead people unto the end but like Jesus just prepare them to a stage that the Holy Spirit can take over and finish the job. That is why scriptures say there is not teacher other than the Lord (Holy Spirit). But since man being far from knowing the Holy Spirit or being in communication with Him, we the anointed ones of God need to fill in that gap.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, many think by just acknowledging You in their lives they will enter Heaven. Paul called us corrupt - dirty and partly broken being and we need to not only be cleaned but also rebuild, renewed and born again. Holy Spirit it is only by You that we can be renewed in our nature when the Truth abides in us. Holy Spirit fall on your people and take charge of their hearts and minds. Renew them and complete the job Jesus came for and You have started in us...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Matthew 23:8 - But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Romans 8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 16:12-16
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)