1 Chronicles 7-9
John 6:22-44
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…’” —Matthew 28:18-19
After three years of Jesus’s ministry, there were only 120 disciples present on the Day of Pentecost, which is a poor percentage compared to the multitudes who had heard His teaching. Jesus told them the truth, and they did not like what He required of them. Believing in Jesus did not mean having an addition to their lives that would make life more comfortable, but about giving their lives over fully to Him.
As a Man on earth, Jesus had no agenda of His own, but gave His life completely over to His Father. “For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). To take up our cross, as Jesus did in obedience to His Father, is an illustration of the challenge we face in becoming a disciple of Christ. This is a process in which the Spirit of Christ sets Himself up in the midst of our sin, our weaknesses and our failures to bring about His will and purpose for us. To live with a genuine desire to serve Christ is going to lead us into inner battles where the flesh is constantly fighting against the Spirit. Externally, it will lead us into opposition, adversity and persecution for which we must be prepared.
This does not sound too appealing, especially when we already have enough demands and pressures made upon us, but that is exactly the point. The person who trusts wholeheartedly and submits entirely to the lordship of Christ flourishes. All the pieces of their own lives fall into place when the agenda of Jesus Christ is paramount in their lives. Many people want their name on the ticket that gets them into heaven, but they refuse to live under the authority in which it was given. The authority is Jesus Christ and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him—we cannot lose!
Jesus ends His Great Commission with, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Christ’s presence that is promised is not a nice finishing touch to encourage us. It is the essential ingredient. Whatever strategies, programs or techniques we have to offer do not make disciples for Christ. It is the working of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God penetrating the hearts of people that bring them into relationship with God. We are merely the vessels He uses, but when we live in dependence upon the direction and enabling of the Holy Spirit, and step out in faith for Jesus, we can indeed flourish!
Dear Lord Jesus, help me to wholeheartedly submit to You. May my life flourish as I live in dependence upon the direction and enabling of Your Spirit. Thank You, Lord.
John 6:22-44
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…’” —Matthew 28:18-19
After three years of Jesus’s ministry, there were only 120 disciples present on the Day of Pentecost, which is a poor percentage compared to the multitudes who had heard His teaching. Jesus told them the truth, and they did not like what He required of them. Believing in Jesus did not mean having an addition to their lives that would make life more comfortable, but about giving their lives over fully to Him.
As a Man on earth, Jesus had no agenda of His own, but gave His life completely over to His Father. “For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). To take up our cross, as Jesus did in obedience to His Father, is an illustration of the challenge we face in becoming a disciple of Christ. This is a process in which the Spirit of Christ sets Himself up in the midst of our sin, our weaknesses and our failures to bring about His will and purpose for us. To live with a genuine desire to serve Christ is going to lead us into inner battles where the flesh is constantly fighting against the Spirit. Externally, it will lead us into opposition, adversity and persecution for which we must be prepared.
This does not sound too appealing, especially when we already have enough demands and pressures made upon us, but that is exactly the point. The person who trusts wholeheartedly and submits entirely to the lordship of Christ flourishes. All the pieces of their own lives fall into place when the agenda of Jesus Christ is paramount in their lives. Many people want their name on the ticket that gets them into heaven, but they refuse to live under the authority in which it was given. The authority is Jesus Christ and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him—we cannot lose!
Jesus ends His Great Commission with, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Christ’s presence that is promised is not a nice finishing touch to encourage us. It is the essential ingredient. Whatever strategies, programs or techniques we have to offer do not make disciples for Christ. It is the working of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God penetrating the hearts of people that bring them into relationship with God. We are merely the vessels He uses, but when we live in dependence upon the direction and enabling of the Holy Spirit, and step out in faith for Jesus, we can indeed flourish!
Dear Lord Jesus, help me to wholeheartedly submit to You. May my life flourish as I live in dependence upon the direction and enabling of Your Spirit. Thank You, Lord.
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