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Category Archives: Jesus
John 17- Prayers of Jesus Part 1
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. John 17:1-2
In this Chapter we see Jesus prayed 3 distinct prayers, the first one was for himself that God may be glorified by the works performed by Christ. The second prayer was for the Apostles and the third prayer was for all believers
Notice God has given Jesus power over everyone and eternal life is only possible through Christ. The question for you is Jesus glorified in everything you do? Everything Jesus went through, from the manger, to the persecution, to the cross, to the tomb, was to glorify the Son of God. Everything that we say and do should be to glorify Jesus Christ!
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:3-4
Why did Jesus come to Earth to do the things he did? Christ came to finish the works required to give us eternal life. Jesus became our Passover Lamb, Jesus became the ransom for our sin, and Jesus defeated sin and death forever!
Jesus provided the Way for salvation, not just for Israel but also the world who receives him. Jesus said “That they might know the only true God” without Christ we could never know the true God.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5
Jesus was and is the Son of God before the world even existed. Christ didnt begin at the Manger in Bethlehem, Jesus is eternal and came down to Earth in human form to save us from our sins!
Even though Jesus lives among us, the world didn’t even recognize him, to the point the world killed the Son of God. If this doesn’t demonstrate the depravity of mankind, then your blind
In all you do, glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, which every knee will bow in Heaven, and Earth , and In Hell Amen!
Law of Christ
John 16- In Jesus Name
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. John 16:23-25
It’s become Christian tradition to end prayer in Jesus name, most likely it derived from this scripture. Jesus said “Whatever you ask in my name, I will give it to you” Now of course many false prophets and false teachers have twisted this scripture and used it to justify “Prosperity Gospel” but Jesus being our personal genie was not what he had in mind
First whatever we ask Jesus for should be in the will of God, does your request serve God’s Kingdom and give him glory? Most prayer requests usually don’t , true Christianity is about self denial not to glorify ourselves!
At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. John 16:26-28
Jesus is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) to our Heavenly Father. Anyone who thinks that can speak directly to the Father, doesn’t understand their depraved state. Our sin separates us from God, this is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) Notice Jesus says “ He will pray to the Father for you” Jesus is our Mediator to God, without Christ you can’t stand in the presence of God
His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? John 16:29-31
When we pray in Jesus name, its not a magic word or anything, its about praying in the Will of God. Its abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in you. Jesus is everything to us, our Lord , our God ,and our Mediator to the Father!
So next time your praying in Jesus name, know that what you are saying or proclaiming should be in accordance to the will of God Amen!
Walk The Walk
John 16- The Holy Spirit Part 2
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:5-7
Again we see Jesus foretelling about the coming of the Holy Spirit. And again we see the same word in Greek “Parakletos” to describe the Holy Spirit , meaning Counselor, Advocate, Helper, and Comforter. English just doesn’t do the Holy Spirit justice in trying to describe him, as he is very complex and fulfills many roles
As Jesus says “Sorrow has filled our hearts” when Christ left to ascend into Heaven. Everyday we wait for the Lord is difficult , however Jesus needed to go so the Holy Spirit could come!
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:8-11
Here we see another role for the Holy Spirit, the convictor of Sin! What drives a person to repent of their sin? Its the Holy Spirit, if you ever question if the Holy Spirit is inside of you, if you repented of your sin with Godly Sorrow, the Holy Spirit is within you!
The prince of this world is judged, who is that? Its Satan, he is judged and will be thrown in the Lake of Fire at the final judgement day! The victory is ours in Jesus Christ!
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:12-14
The Holy Spirit is also The Spirit of Truth! The Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth, there is much deception in this world , be led by the Spirit of Truth, don’t be misled by sinful humans
Another important job of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ! The Holy Spirit will lead you to Christ and teach you his ways. Without the Holy Spirit there is no true conviction of sin, without the Holy Spirit there is no baptism of Fire
The Spirit of Truth will lead you to Jesus, the Holy Spirit will lead you in truth, The Holy Spirit will lead you to true repentance , Come Holy Spirit! Amen!
Fullness Of Time
John 15- Hated For Christ
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19
One of the great mistakes of the Church is trying to be loved and accepted by the world. This is actually in total contradiction to Jesus’ teachings. Why? Because Satan is the ruler of this world (1 John 5:19) Many “Churches” today are trying to blend in with the world or change their doctrine to appease the world, this is not true Christianity
Why would we expect to be accepted in the same world that murdered our Lord? This is a paraphrase from the late theologian Leonard Ravenhill. But think about , they murdered Christ, and you expect to be loved and accepted with open arms? They hated Jesus and they will hate you also, if your a true follower of Christ
A false Church that will say anything to be accepted by the world, what good is it? Just as Jesus said “What good is salt that lost its flavor”? (Matthew 5) A false Church that is sending everyone to everlasting Hell is good for nothing
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. John 15:20-22
You will be persecuted as a Christian because the world hates Christ. You don’t believe me? Try speaking about Jesus in public school or your public workplace, find out how quickly people are resistant to the gospel message.
The sad truth is most Christians don’t say anything that’s why they are not persecuted. Jesus said “To make disciples of all the Nations” (Matthew 28:19) Yet most Christians never share the gospel with anyone.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. John 15:23-25
Why does the world hate Jesus? Because the world hates God, why? Because the world loves their sin. Everyone loves Jesus until they realize you must repent and become Born Again, then the world despises Jesus
Don’t conform to the ways of the world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2) The world is not your friend, the world is not your home, become Set Apart in Christ Amen!
Law Leads To Christ
John 15- The Vine
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:1-3
Jesus again reveals another “I AM “ statement, Jesus states “I AM The Vine”, as we remember is in reference to God revealing He is “I AM” to Moses in Exodus. This is obviously another revelation of Christ deity. Notice Jesus is the Vine to the Father, remember Jesus said He is The Way to the Father (John 14:6)
Jesus said “Any branch that doesn’t produce fruit will be cut off” Now some would argue that means we can “lose our salvation”. I’m not convinced we can lose our salvation, as the salvation was never ours to begin with. Salvation is a gift from God through Christ. Secondly when we become Born Again in Christ (John 3) how can you become spiritually unborn again? Doesn’t seem logical or possible to me
Remember what Jesus said to the LukeWarm Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3, “Since you are not hot or cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16) Jesus has expectations for us as believers. If you claim to have faith in Christ, there should be some evidence for your faith, a conversion you might say. As the Apostle James taught “Faith without works is dead” (James 3)
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. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:4-6
Now you might say “this is works based salvation talk” , notice what Jesus says “A branch can’t bear fruit without him” Any works that we produce as a Christian, is because of Christ. Including our salvation, nobody can save themselves, salvation is only possible by Jesus alone.
What leads us to repentance? Its the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) See any fruit we bear or works we produce is because of God, not ourselves. Fruits are the evidence of our salvation
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:7-9
What is the secret for producing fruit? Abide in Christ! The word Abide here in the Greek means to remain, wait, and stay. Be patient with God, be faithful and obedient to Jesus, and he will take care of you!
Any good work or fruit you produce is for the Glory of God. Nothing is done in the name of Jesus for our own glory, otherwise we are not producing good fruit. Abide in Jesus , Amen!
