Activity of Holy Spirit

 

The activity of the Holy Spirit

Genesis one – the Spirit of God hovered, surveying the scene, then spoke into being the world in which we live. Then God communicated with Adam in the evening breeze.

Genesis six – In Noah's day it was the Spirit that sought to turn the people away from sin.

Genesis fourty one – of Joseph, who retained trust in God despite suffering, of him it was said "a man who is obviously filled with the Spirit of God".

And it continues in the Old Testament – God's Spirit enabling people to speak for Him and do special things for Him.

The sad end of the Old Testament is recorded:

Zechariah 7:12 "They made their hearts hard as stone, so they could not hear the law or the messages that the LORD Almighty had sent to them by His Spirit, through the earlier prophets.".

2 Peter 1:21 " It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God"

 

In the New Testament, it continues to be the Holy Spirit,that communicates God's truth. In John 16, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would complete the revelation of God the Father revealed in Jesus Christ, using the Apostles and NT prophets. They spoke and wrote the truth as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 2:10. – "But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us(the Apostles)  even God's deep secrets." – how blessed we are to be able to read the New Testament, and know it is inspired by God!

Acts 2  This communication of truth was so evident on the day of Pentecost, when the once afraid  Peter, stands before a great crowd and delivers (spontaneously)  , a brilliant message . Peter had been confused and disappointed, but now by the Holy Spirit he clearly reveals that God was doing something special by the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The people were convicted their sin, and sought forgiveness. Peter boldly issues a promise – "Repent and be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"

This was a very special day, for the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven had sent down to earth the Holy Spirit to fill all believers. They were thus enabled to communicate in many languages the wonderful works of God.

Peter's message was from God, and the effect was by God the Spirit. About three thousand people believed and were baptised in water. What follows in the chapter, shows that they were also immersed by the Holy Spirit (baptised) into one body. Thus began the great work described in the letter to the Ephesians – 'one body by one Spirit '.

But I have missed so much. Let me briefly mention the life of the Lord Jesus.

-         Miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit –Matthew 1:18

-         Anointed by the Holy Spirit for service – Matthew 3:16

-         Led by the Holy Spirit to the place of temptation – Matthew 4:1

-         Casting out demons by the Holy Spirit – Matthew 8:16

-         He offered Himself, through the eternal Spirit , without blemish to God –Hebrews 9:14

-         He is declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of Holiness by His resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord! –

-         Romans 1:4

-         He promised to send the Holy Spirit –  Acts 1:8

And so it is that we have the assurance of who Jesus is ,by the Holy Spirit.

 

In the book called 'Acts', let us trace the continuing activity of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 – the Spirit gave utterance.

Acts 5 – Peter discerned a hidden lie by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6,7  Stephen evidently served and spoke by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8 – Phillip was directed by the holy Spirit.

Acts9  - Saul was promised Holy Spirit fullness  for his service.

Acts 9.31 The disciples were comforted by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10.19  The Holy Spirit communicates to Peter.

Acts 10.44 The Holy Spirit came to the Gentile believers as a gift, enabling them to speak in other languages as proof to the visiting Jews that the Gentiles were cleansed by grace as much as Jews (Acts 15.8,9).

Acts 13.2 The Holy Spirit  gave directions.

Acts 19.2 The Holy Spirit's presence is directly linked to the Name of the Lord Jesus.( not outside that authority)

Acts 20.28 The Holy Spirit appoints overseers.(Shepherd  to care)

Acts 28.25 The Holy Spirit interprets and applies the Old Testament

 

I pause here and ask you to note the multivaried functions and activity of the Holy Spirit. Note well that the Holy Spirit came from above,  communicated and acted through whom He chose. It was always to the glory of God through Jesus Christ. It was not for the glory of men, nor was His presence focused on subjective feelings. Rather as one of the trinity, He was communicating for God.

Next – The Holy Spirit in the teachings of the Apostles.

Teachings of the Apostles

 

The Holy Spirit in the teachings of the Apostles

In one of the earliest writings, 'James', reads " The Spirit that dwells in us." – just like Romans 8:9

Now to trace the mentions of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel explanation – Romans:

The holy Spirit raised Jesus from death  1;4,  8;11

Our hearts are filled with God's love by the Holy Spirit. 5:5, 15:30

The new way to serve God is by the Holy Spirit . 7:6

The life giving Spirit gives freedom from sin.  8:2

To be controlled by the Spirit, is to think about spirit things. 8:5

Life and peace are the result of a Spirit controlled mind. 8:6

Renunciation of sin is by the Holy Spirit. 8:13, 14

God is our 'Abba Father' by the Spirit of God. 8:14.16

The presence of the Holy Spirit is a foretaste of glory 8:23

He is the one who comes alongside to help in prayer. 8:26, 27

Hope comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:13

Sanctification is by the Holy Spirit. 15:16

Miracles and signs are by the Holy Spirit. 15:19

Wow, how blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit.  How shall we fit all the teaching into these short articles?? Please follow a concordance to study all the mentions of the Holy Spirit in Corinthians and Galatians – so important foe Christian living and victory over law keeping.(I may get to them later)..

I would like to focus on the "filling of the Spirit" in Ephesians 4:18. It is essential to survey the context:-

Ephesians 1:13 Each believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit.

 2:18  All believers by one Spirit have access to the Father.

2:22 The whole body of believers is made into a temple of praise by the Spirit. 3:15 The inspiration of scripture is by the Spirit.

3:16 The Spirit connects with our inner being (spirit) and heart to understand the unknowable love of God. 4:3 Unity is by the Spirit.

4:23 Spirit and mind are linked together. 4:30 He can be grieved.

5:18 "Be filled with the Spirit" – I would like to focus on this to clear up confusion about being filled with the Spirit.

 Five times in the book of Acts is mention made of disciples being filled with the Spirit. Each context verifies that  this was to enable serving the Lord. Here in Ephesians the explanation is given. It is the opposite of being intoxicated with alcohol, which removes control and moral guidelines, and ends up often with debauchery. The aftermath is devastating.

Filled with the Spirit is the opposite – full control, not by our self nature, but by God's Spirit.  Then verses 19-33 tell us what that will be like.

1       "Psalms , hymns and spiritual songs" will be our delight because we are enjoying the wonderful things that God , in Christ, has done. Review chapter 1-4

2       "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" If we let the Spirit help us count our many blessings, we will never cease to praise Him.

3       "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" This is not pleasing to the natural person, but for the born again , spirit filled person a  very moderate attitude prevails. Others are more important than self!

4       "Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord". It may be countercultural, but this is the command of the Holy Spirit. Would He be wise enough to know what is best?

5       "Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church". A husband filled with the Spirit will be responsible for, protective of, and faithful to the wife. Christ's love will prevail.

6       "Children obey". The Holy Spirit intends children to learn obedience, giving respect to parents, inspite of their faults.

7       "Fathers provoke not".  By the Spirit, Fathers will be able to control the natural instinct to abuse power, and implement the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

8       "Servants, obey your earthly masters" Servants filled with the Spirit will work well and not be troublemakers.

9       "Masters treat your slaves/servants right." How different the Christian master should be. In the face of temptation to make money, to abuse power, the Spirit guided master is reflect the Master in heaven.

The alternative to being filled with the Spirit is described in Ephesians 2:2  "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air(satan controlling radio, tv, internet etc), the spirit that is now working in the children of disobedience.........passions of our flesh, desires of the body and mind..........."

Evidently there is a real conflict between the Holy Spirit and the natural world as dominated by the devil. Chapter 6:12 identifies this conflict, and the need to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  This is both to control our own sinful desires and to prevent others controlling us. Be careful not to welcome strange spirits into your mind and life. The Holy Spirit operates in us as we yield to His voice in the Spirit inspired scriptures. He leads us nearer to God our Father, He leads in praise filled Christian living and He fills us with God's love so that we can selflessly love others.

Well  there is more, but for now sing, submit, serve.....in the Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit

 

The fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22

Fruit is the final outcome of a seed, a shoot, a stem, a branch, a leaf and finally fruit.

Peter understood the concept of growth – 2 Peter 1. He encouraged adding e.g. 'add to your faith virtue'..... and finally 'add to brotherly kindness love'. Maturity is seen in the display of God's kind of love.

Returning to Galatians 5:22, the list begins with the priority of love. The reaction of many people is – 'I must be more loving' or others 'love makes me feel good.' Both expressions are the result of a misunderstanding.

LOVE is rather a motive, than a feeling. John 3:16 puts it clearly "God so loved the world that He gave......". It was not the worth of the objects, nor a warm fuzzy feeling that moved God to send His Son. He was  motivated by His intrinsic purpose of good, yes eternal  good for those He chose to love. Love is relational, seen best within the person of the Trinity. (John 5). God's kind of love is not blind, but overcomes the obstacles to effect the good intended.

So then, how can I who am by nature prejudiced, biased, revengeful, selfish and ignorant, where can I get God's kind of love? Certainly not from within, not from the world, but rather God by His Spirit to my spirit. Ponder for a moment the message to the Galatians and catch the fires of Divine love kindling in your soul:

In review:

1       We have received good news, that inspite of our unworthiness,(fit only to be crucified), the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

2      The blessing of the Spirit has not come to us by lawkeeping, but rather through God's grace, God's promise, through Christ suffering the curse for us. Faith says 'yes Lord" 3:26

3      Our very special relationship with God as 'Father' and our place as heirs (4:7) has been secured for us by God sending His Son into the world, born of a woman, born under the law.....4:4

4      The freedom (5:1) in Christ is priceless, but purposeful – "through love serve one another" (5;13).

 These blessings result from God's love. And this is the love being produced in us by His Holy Spirit.

So love is a very warm, undefinable reality. That which the Holy Spirit produces slowly  in our lives ( from self love to God's love to sacrificial love for others.) Some people feel cosy when they remember that God loves them. Maturity is when God's love controls us to selfless activity – "we love, because He first loved" 1 John 4.

JOY, is the second outcome of a Holy Spirit filled life. I watch people who are constantly stressed, fretting over the past or the uncertainty of the future. If the Holy Spirit has His way, we have a deep down contentment with God and His gracious mercies which are new every morning. This is more than happiness that happens sometimes. Rather joy is the heart  rejoicing that God is good and I am in His hands.

PEACE  is akin to joy, but rather relates is a response to distress and difficult circumstances. How can one have peace in war, in domestic violence, in social disorder, in family dysfunction, in sickness etc.  Only by trusting someone greater than ourselves. How can we know Him? - By the leading and instruction of the Holy Spirit.

PATIENCE – seldom in a woman, never in a man – but possible by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Our perception of others needs to be modified by the instruction of the Spirit. Our personal impetuousness needs to be condemned for what it is and replaced with Spirit begotten patience.

KINDNESS......GOODNESS......FAITHFULNESS........GENTLENESS..........SELF-CONTROL.   These are the outcomes of the Holy Spirit instructing the spirit of the believer. God's good fruit in our lives!

I conclude with two quotes from Galatians:

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" 5:26

"Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life" 6:8

There is so much more , but enough for now, enough to cause our hearts to rejoice

johnmckee@internode.on.net

A Christian for real?

 

Becoming a Christian

The experience of conversion varies from person to person. But the two basic truths involved are important. The Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul preached "repentance toward God and Faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ".

All of humanity are born with the problem of sin – the inclination to go our own way without God. This may vary from simple selfishness to rebellious evil. Many are told that they are in themselves good and that they just need Jesus to go through life with them. Well, God has a different conclusion. From His perspective, we are all Adam's children – lost. More than that, God sees our independence and self directed ways as sin. Things that are often obscure to us, like pride, hypocrisy and devotion to other things are like idolatry to God.

When we remember that we were made for God, then it is appropriate that Jesus said "Repent". Repent means to recognize that we have sinned, failed to give God the honour due to Him, then to turn from our own way to Him with true heart surrender – "Yes Lord  you are right, I have been wrong".

For those who seek the Lord, there is a very definite solution to the problem of our disconnection from God. Repentance is good, but not enough. Faith in Jesus Christ, is God's universal solution. Keeping the law and commandments will not work. Doing one's best is insufficient. The only way to forgiveness and acceptance with God is by His way. His way is by Faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Faith means to believe that God the Father sent His  Son into the world as Jesus. Faith understands the need to be saved by someone greater than ourselves and looks to the perfect person, Jesus Christ. Faith is to trust HIM to reconnect us with God.

The Jews and the Romans did not understand the events of crucifixion of Jesus . The Lord Jesus explained it many times.  He said He was as the Good Shepherd, giving His life for the sheep. Again, He was paying the ransom price to set guilty sinners free.

He said, after He rose to life again, that now through faith in Him, forgiveness of sins is freely available.

 

Faith in Him is to trust Him and His sacrifice, to make us right with God.

Faith also believes that He who died, rose again and is now seated in the place of highest honour at God's right hand.

 

This repentance of self and sin may seem crushing. But this faith in such a wonderful person enables us to be so much better than our best selves. To be 'in Christ' gives eternal security and everlasting blessedness. Gods' actions for us , in us , lead to the abundant life of being in the safe keeping of the great shepherd who said "My sheep hear my voice and they follow Me. I give unto the eternal life and they shall never perish"  John 10

 

God by the Holy Spirit interacts with each person individually but the principles of conversion remain the same – repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

I trust that my readers are definitely connected to God, not hoping for heaven by some other way. Feel good gospel is no gospel. Religious observance will not do. Good living will not measure up.

I  encourage all to take the Bible and read through the letter of the Romans, there discovering the Gospel from God's vantage point.

The Word of God

 

It was our recent privilege to distribute Bibles to many enthusiastic children in the schools in our area. We pray that many children will find peace with God through searching the Holy Scriptures.

The Bible is more than a book of words, more than historical records about Israel and more than wisdom from human experiences. It is clearly a record of God reaching out to humans. God has been interested in individuals and much of the Old Testament is about God’s interactions with the Israelites.

When Jesus came, the emphasis in the New Testament was on personal connection with God. The book of the Acts initially focused on The Lord  calling Jewish people to turn back to God through the risen Messiah. The  book also records the Lord God reaching out to the Gentile people outside of the Jewish religion. Paul wrote many parts of the New Testament, explaining the blessing God gives to  the peoples of every nation. The treatise called Romans, is particularly significant in explaining how God chooses to reconcile people that are most unworthy. God has planned that by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, guilty people can be forgiven and given a new life by the Holy Spirit. This good news makes disconnected people of all nations part of the family of God. By faith in Jesus the Lord, all believers are forever connected with the wonderful love of God.

I quote the purpose of God’s kindness:

So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will make you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

My prayer for those reading those Bibles and for all reading this article is the same.

If you do not have a Bible please email  johnmckee@internode.on.net

Going God's way

 

Living by the power of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:15

So be careful how you live, not as fools, but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music to the Lord in your hearts.

And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Church or Christian

 

Playing church or living as a Christian

History reveals so many people, whose Christianity is little more than going to church! In the Old Testament, gathering for festivals was normal. When the Lord Jesus came, the relationship with God as Father became much more important.  He said that prayer done in secret was better. Worship was to change from time and place to worship in spirit and in truth – anywhere anytime. (John 4) Discipleship, He taught, was not about attending services or meetings, rather the 24/7 commitment to the LORD Jesus Himself – Himself, His teaching, His directives. (take up the cross and follow Him- Mark 8)

Paul understood the need for Christians to support each other. Yet he did not see meetings or church services as an end in themselves. He along with John and Peter, saw love for others as the outworking of understanding the teaching of the Lord Jesus. Love that was practical in giving and care. Love that was forgiving. Love that went beyond ourselves to seek and to save the lost.

Some stress the corporate idea of church. Revelation 1—3  presents the Lord Jesus as the head over the churches, and that churches are people whose hearts must be tuned to HIMSELF in first love (priority love).

How good it is to be counted into the Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven!  It is a very big family, a big flock for whom Christ died. In love to Him, let us love one another and spread His name as He said – to all the world.

Really saved?

 

I was recently asked to speak on the topic –"Are you really saved?"

1^st question – saved from what? In Bible terms it means to be saved from sin. Forgiven by God, freedom from bad habits and saved from Hell.

2^nd question – can we be sure? Yes, as sure as the promises of God!

I found a good answer in the Bible section called 1 John. This was written after Jesus had returned to heaven. The purpose of the writing is stated:

"That you may know that you have eternal life"  1 John 5:13

Read on as I summarise the apostle's teaching.

Chapter 1: Jesus Christ was a real person, and to really know Him is to have eternal life.

Some people claim to walk in the light but continue with secret sins – living a lie – they are not saved. For those who step into the light, theirs sins are cleansed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Other people claim to have no sin. This contradicts God's conclusion – "All have sinned" (Romans 3.23)

God understood the damage and destiny of sinners, so He provided the solution. The Lord Jesus Christ who never sinned, became the propitiation, that is, the mercy-seat where God so holy could be reconciled to mankind, so unholy.

Anyone who comes to God through Him, will change from sinful behaviour to live like Jesus lived. This means to love instead of hate.

God's desire for believers is presented – forgiven, to know Him, to overcome evil, to know the Father, to know the Son, to be strong, with God's word abiding in them so as to overcome the evil one. – read 2:12-14.

Next John deals with our environment. The world we live in and the responses inside us tend to distract us from the Lord God. If a person is preoccupied with these things (good or bad), then the love of 'the Father is not in him'. The Lord Jesus made it clear that love for God must be first.

The writing changes to the person of Jesus. By the Holy Spirit we can know that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah promised in the Old Testament). He is the Son of God. (Son, not child). To deny this, John writes, is to be a liar!

Chapter three is about God's kind of love. God's plan is for all believers to be His children, to be like Jesus, to live pure lives, to live in love.

The warning is clear:

"Whoever makes a practice of sin is of the devil"

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer."

LOVE is then explained:

Love is much more real in action than in words.

Love is understood best by the action of the Lord Jesus – He laid down His life for unworthy ones like us.

Love is commanded as the motive of a Christian life.

"Anyone who does not love, does not know God"  4:8

Chapter four identifies Jesus to be a real man. The Gnostics had all sorts of antichrist ideas. The Spirit of truth is that Jesus was a real man, and the Son of God at the same time. To deny this is to make God a liar. God spoke from heaven when Jesus was baptised – "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased". (Matthew 3.17). God has given eternal life and this life is in His Son.

The Apostle John concludes his writings in chapter 5:18

1  A person born of God does not keep on sinning.

2  The world is directed by the evil one.

3   We know the Son of God has come.

4   The believer is IN Him, IN His Son Jesus Christ.

5  He is the true God and eternal life.

The final warning – "Dear children, keep away from anything that .might take God's place in your hearts."

Well we should respond:

"We love HIM because He first loved us"

Now read through 1 John for yourself and check if you are saved!

Jesus - risen from the dead

 

The words of Jesus Christ, after He rose from the dead:

The words of the Lord Jesus we must accept or reject.

Luke 24:25  Jesus said "wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His time of glory"

This statement makes the Old Testament part of the Bible so important. Previously I asked you to read Isaiah 53. Let me add to that Psalm 22, Zechariah 12:10. The Lord Jesus insisted that the sufferings were predicted, necessary and sufficient.

Luke 24:39  Jesus appears to the perplexed and frightened followers saying:

"Look at My hands, look at My feet, you can see that its really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost."

Sure He was acting with super spiritual power, but He insisted that He was the same person that they had know before and the same person that was  crucified on a Roman execution stake.

Luke 24:44 The Lord again reminds the disciples of the importance of His former predictions, and the prophecies of the Old Testament.

Luke 24: 46-49  These words of the Lord Jesus turn the events of the past into the purposes of the future. Please read them carefully:

"that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, that repentance  and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all Nations"

This forgiveness, needed by all humanity, is not now in law keeping or prayer or good deeds, but rather forgiveness for all who turn to God , believing in Jesus Christ the Lord.

Luke 24:49  Now He says something that only God can say:

"I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My Father promised."

Only God can put the Holy Spirit on a person, or in a person. And that is just what happened after Jesus returned to heaven. Acts chapter 2 records the special event that changed frightened fishermen into bold witnesses of Jesus Christ as Lord. They were so certain that they had see the Lord Jesus alive from the dead, that they were willing to die for it. And die for it they did.

This section gives the answer to the original question – was His death a mistake or a deliberate sacrifice – it was a deliberate sacrifice to enable repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His Name.

An event to change the world

 Risen from the Dead

Luke chapter 24 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible. I ask you to read it carefully three times. First, as an historical document.  Second, as a record of the words of Jesus Christ. Third, as the foundational teaching for Christian doctrine.

Questions we must consider:

1 Is the Bible accurate in stating that Jesus died and rose again?

2 Did Luke get the facts right, that  the man they ate with actually had the scars of crucifixion?

3   Is the record true that Jesus went , as a living man, up into heaven?

I will explain more next time.

He seemed to know

 

Bible unfolding -  Luke 22 - Why did Jesus die?

The behaviour and words of the Lord Jesus become more mysterious. The Historian Luke, records Jesus following the normal Passover celebration routine. They gather, He with the twelve disciples, in a large upper room. Then begin the puzzling revelations:

“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” – He seemed to know something serious was about to happen !  Luke 22:15

Again “ I will not eat it (Passover) until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God” – how could the Passover be fulfilled? Did it have something to do with the title given to Him by John the baptiser – “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

 

As the meal was concluding, He said of the bread,” this is my body given for you.” Again: “the new covenant in my blood”. These are the terms of sacrifice, the promise of a better covenant, the means of forgiveness.

Evidently, Jesus knew not only the sufferings to come, but the purpose.

In many ways the disciples had reason for foreboding fears. In 22:30, He breaks through the storm clouds with this kingly statement: “I assign to you… to eat and drink at My table in My kingdom….”. What a moment to announce a place in His glorious kingdom. Well, I don’t know if they understood the glory of the statement, but we must perceive that this Jesus, knew the sufferings of tomorrow could not destroy the glory that would follow.

Luke 22:31    The foretelling of Peter’s denial is again evidence of His Divine knowledge. As they leave the Passover meal, the Lord links the happenings of the next few hours to the prophecies of the Old Testament.:

“For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled: ‘He was numbered with the transgressors’.”  ( Luke 22:37  -  Isaiah 53)

This is so significant since the quote from Isaiah 53 makes it very clear that the suffering Messiah  would “bear the sins of many”. This would enable the servant of the LORD to become the intercessor bringing many lost people back to God, granting forgiveness of sins and giving an abundant entry into His heavenly kingdom. Isaiah 53 is a must read to understand the seeming mystery surrounding the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read it again today!

Vital question

 

The death of Jesus Christ- an unfortunate mistake or a deliberate sacrifice?

Many causes were involved – the Jewish leaders were jealous of His popularity, the Roman judge seeking to protect his own position, a crowd that was incited by nationalism. I would like to consider this question from the writings of the historian, Dr Luke. I will focus on the recorded words of the Lord Jesus himself.

At a time when Jerusalem was dangerous for Him, 'He resolutely set out for Jerusalem' (Luke 9:51)

He said to the people :  "What happens to me will be a sign that God has sent Me" (Luke 11:30)

In brief detail, He predicted His future:  "First the Son of man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation"  (Luke 17:25)

More detail is given that includes references to the Old Testament prophecies. – "When we get to Jerusalem, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully and spit upon. They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again ." (Luke 18:32). It is significant that He knew the future, but more important that He acted with deliberate purpose.

As Jesus continued teaching in the city, the leading priests and scribes made plans to kill Him.

To be continued soon in Luke 22

Love, Mercy, Grace

 

Yesterday my cousin died. Three words came to mind and in his memory I write.

Love,  Mercy,  Grace

Love

God has many attributes – holy, just, forgiving but above all loving. His actions are for good and not evil. We can understand Him loving good people, but the truth is revealed in the Bible that God loves all the people of the world.

Mercy

Because God is love, He chooses to withhold judgement so that people have the opportunity to repent – to turn to God, and turn away from sin. Such kindness and pity is not to be despised for He will judge the world by Jesus Christ.

Grace

Beyond mercy, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ desires to give undeserved favour to all humans. The Lord God reaches out to all. To those who receive His Son, He freely gives complete forgiveness, acceptance, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, an inheritance in heaven and a place in the wonderful plans of God. Imagine it , "to be conformed to the image of His Son"!

Notice this is all God's doing. Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lord from heaven, God is reaching out to you today, with Love, Mercy and Grace.

Receive HIM and be saved, redeemed, reconciled, regenerated, sanctified, justified, glorified...!

"God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Lord Jesus reaching out to the lost world

 

The commission given to Paul by Jesus Christ the Lord, from heaven

Acts 26:17

  "I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in Me"

And so he did , turning the world upside down, bringing freedom to so many and giving hope in a hopeless world.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Deception

 

Satan's lies.

One of his first lies can be summarised:

 'Disobeying God's command doesn't matter'

Or in the Bible record:"Did God really say you must not eat of the fruit of the garden?"  - after sowing seeds of doubt, the lie is more direct: 'You won't die, God knows that your eyes will be opened....when you eat you will become just like God ..'  (Genesis 3)

We today suffer the consequences of Adam and Eve disobeying God!

Jesus Christ said of the Devil:

"There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."   (John 8)

John the apostle is more specific about the command that affects us directly:

"This is His commandment – we must believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ and love one another."   (1 John 3)

The lie given to our generation is that Jesus is just a man, and at best a prophet.

The angel Gabriel and God the Father declared that Jesus was and is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Believing the lie of satan will take a person to satan's destiny – the lake of fire.

Comments to johnmckee@internode.on.net

Temptation

 

Response to temptation

After forty days of fasting, the Lord Jesus was tempted. His answers to the tempter are most enlightening . Let me quote them.

1    "people need more than bread for life " Luke 4 NLT

We are more than physical. We are spirit, soul and body in that order. The passions and needs of the body are very real, but the spirit is most important . The body connects us with earth. The spirit connects us with heaven.

 

2    "You must worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve"

The distractions of this world are very real. They become demanding, entwining and ultimately idolatrous. Be it religious, political, wealth, education, social status or self interest,,  anything that displaces God the  Almighty, God as priority, God as provident – such robs God of His rightful glory and is sin. 

 

3   " Do not test the Lord your God"

Trusting God's applicable promises is not sin. Seeking a sign is not sin. But doing or saying something that presumes upon the miraculous is tempting God. To pray 'Lord keep me' , then to drive dangerously is tempting God. If I pray 'deliver us from temptation', then choose to read the wrong, or watch the wrong things is testing God.

The Lord Jesus did not fall for the temptation. Let us watch and pray.

Lord keep my heart,.............

I need Thee every hour

Most gracious Lord

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour

Stay Thou nearby

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh

In heaven

 

Now Christ has gone into heaven,

He is seated in the place of honour at the right hand of God,

and all the angels and powers are bowing before Him.

1 Peter 3:22

 

Heaven seems a far off place. To some it may seem like 'pie in the sky'. But wait – is the universe limited because I can't comprehend it all?  Is heaven impossible because we are limited and finite? I take the words of Jesus Christ seriously – He taught that God the Father is in heaven.

After Jesus died and rose again, the angels stood on the mountain called Olivet with these words:

"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will return...." Acts 1

Another witness was Stephen:

"I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honour at God's right hand."  Acts 7

God the Lord in heaven, creator of all, judge of all,  has given Jesus the highest place of honour and power. -  Messiah, Lord, Saviour, King of kings.

For thousands of years people have risen up to claim great fame, power and honour, but they are gone. For example, the pyramids stand witness to the wealth and power of the Pharaohs. But the mummified bodies tell us of their ultimate weakness and eternal poverty. Only Jesus Christ the Lord has risen from death, never to die again. He alone has the official right and moral right to sit at God's right hand!

For those who love Him, this brings peace, hope and joy.

For those who reject Him, tomorrow is uncertain, the prospect of judgement is sure. Without Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour,  a person is without God and without hope.

 

Soon all the angels, all powers, all authorities and all humanity will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the scriptures record:

"At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow......   every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:10

 

Better to bow the knee now, while mercy and grace are available.

Forgiveness

 Are sins really so bad that they need to be forgiven?  Ask the judge sitting in the courtroom. Does fraud really need to be punished? Most people respond – "Yes"

Peter the apostle of Jesus Christ, spoke to the Roman soldier Cornelius about Jesus being the 'Lord of all people'. He said Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. Towards the end of his message, Peter said that the Lord Jesus ordered the Apostles to preach   : "that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all – the living and the dead." Acts 10:42

So in the day of final judgement, what is Jesus the Judge going to assess? This chapter –Acts 10- reveals that He sees all, knows all,  the good and the bad. Cornelius was commended for his good works, but still needed forgiveness. Like us all, he was born into Adam's family, with the inclination to do wrong, to choose self before God. In the sight of men he was good living, but in the sight of God he had not measured up to God's standard. That is why he needed to have his sins forgiven before judgement day. Peter  did not tell him to keep on doing good so as to out weigh the bad – no,  no. Peter said all his sins could be forgiven, cleared, pardoned through the Name  of the Lord Jesus Christ! And not just for Cornelius! Peter said:

" Everyone who believes in Him (Jesus Christ the Lord), will have their sins forgiven through His Name"   Acts 10:43

Why was Peter so sure about forgiveness with a holy God?

Peter had seen Jesus die. Then he saw and heard Jesus alive again. The risen Lord Jesus gave the Apostles this commission:

"I was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day. With My authority take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me."     (Luke 24:46)

So on judgement day the first question is ' have we believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour?' Second question is 'What about our sins?'

I encourage you to read the prophet Isaiah chapter 53, and there discover how it is possible for a just judge to forgive the sins of the guilty person.

Oh how blessed are those can say:

"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"   (Romans 5:1)

A debt paid

 

When we were utterly helpless,

Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 

Bible -Romans 5:6

Helplessness is not something we enjoy. Yet in life it is a moment when we discover the kindness of others. I was quite helpless when I was electrocuted – locked onto the electric current, unable to move or speak. Only through the wise action of my wife in turning the power off, am I alive today.

Most psychology systems seek to use self help. But God has a different approach. Jesus said we need to become as little children, not immature, but childlike in trust and dependence on Him. It was special to me when my children accepted my word, especially in moments of danger. They trusted my wisdom to make things work out for their good.

            So it is vital that we accept God's word. God speaking through Jesus and His apostles is trustworthy. He knows our helplessness better than we do. He has a twofold solution to our greatest needs. From His perspective, sin is very offensive and warrants judgement (like in a court case). He sees the debt of sin and has paid that debt in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Secondly He sees the problem of unconquerable bad habits. To the repentant person, He grants freely the Holy Spirit to change hate to love , despair and depression to joy, from fear to peace, from impatience to patience, from greed to generosity, from vindictiveness to self control. God's way is to change people  from the inside to outside. Then society will change as the people change. For all who feel their need (helplessness), God has promised transformation.

"Despite all these things, victory is ours through Christ Jesus who loved us."  Romans 8:37

Perhaps you don't have a Bible to check what I am referring to – I have some to give away and your request is welcome.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Love that changes us from the inside

 

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son

So that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish

but have eternal life

John 3:16

In a world of confusion and violence, people need the love of God. So many forget God. Others are against God. Yet God still loves all of humanity.

God's love does not give us what we want. Rather, He is wise enough to give us freely what we need. More than food and clothes, we need inner peace and hope for the future.

            Our lack of peace is due to our disconnect from God. Our uncertainty about the future is because we are short-sighted, trusting in our own strength,  or the achievements of other people.

God's promise of peace is achieved through Jesus Christ the Lord. Millions of people have confessed their sins as the cause of angst with God. God by Jesus Christ His Son (once crucified and now alive again), gives forgiveness, acceptance, reconciliation, fatherly love.

God's purposes for those who believe Him, are not only for our lifetime, but beyond this life. It is the purpose of God for all to have a family relationship with Him forever – Eternal life!

Be warned of danger.

Be wise, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son,  today.

 

johnmckee@internode.on.net