The purpose of anything manufactured is found in the mind of the manufacturer. The creator knows the purpose of his creation. It takes reading the manual prepared by the manufacturer of a car to know how best to use the car and all the benefits built into the car. Purpose can be said to be the original intent of the manufacturer or creator. The subject of purpose (when it comes to God) has been made mysterious as we hear it especially when we cannot explain why things happen. God has expressed many of His purposes in His Word and by His Spirit. He still expresses many more. Everything God created was designed to fulfil His purpose and when purpose is unknown, abnormal use (abuse) is inevitable. In all matters, when we do not check with the Word of God and we use our experience or observation to determine the purpose of the thing, we are usually not accurate. What is God’s purpose for marriage? His purpose for the church? His purpose for your life? His purpose for your work? His purpose for your family? Everything God created is loaded with potential to become greater than its obvious or perceived abilities or capabilities. It takes us having a mind of stewardship to help unravel the potential and eventually fulfil His purposes for the thing or subject in question. It is easy to assume that things happen accidentally. When we are connected to God for His purposes to be fulfilled, there are no accidents in God. He works out His purposes in every occasion. Our hunger for Him to carry out His purposes positions us to experience His power and enjoy the fullness of His purposes in our lives! Ephesians 1:11-12 (KJV) ‘In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.’
God’s Purpose for Apostle Paul was Known: Acts 26:16-19 (KJV) ’But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision’.
God’s Purpose for the Church
What is His purpose for the church, the body of Christ? We can find that by reading what Jesus said when He said, He will build His Church; and also by studying the prayer Jesus taught His disciples. We see the purposes of God and can identify if the church is fulfilling its purposes. Matthew 16:15-20 ‘He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.’ Matthew 6:8-13 (NKJV) “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” We (the church) are a bunch of heavenly citizens sent here to bring heaven to earth. Whatever is not being done in heaven should not be allowed here and whatever is allowed in heaven should be allowed here. The church in the book of Acts did their part in fulfilling God’s purposes. Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV) ‘And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.’ They carried out His purposes through these activities: discipleship, fellowship, worship, evangelism and ministry.
Pressing Toward the Goal
Apostle Paul made it a goal to know the purposes for which he was apprehended by God. God saved us according to His purposes not according to our works. We are all called according to His purposes. Philippians 3:7-14 (NKJV) ‘But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’ 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (NKJV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Romans 8:28-31 (NKJV) ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’ We are the called according to His purpose. When we know this we are at rest, knowing all things will work for our good as we stay in prayer, being helped by the Spirit of God. Ephesians 1:7-14 (NKJV) ‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.’ In Ephesians 3:8-13 (NKJV) we see that His purposes are eternal; they transcend time. ‘To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.’ In Hebrews 6:17-18 (AMPC) we see that His purpose is unchanging. ‘Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath. This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].’ We need to press in to understand His purposes in our lives. It’s not enough to interpret things based on our or others’ experiences. There is usually a superficial understanding of anything; then there is the upward call in Christ.
God’s Purpose for Marriage
Let us take marriage for example. On the surface it’s about two people loving one another, then getting married and starting a family; and then trying to raise the children well whilst trying to earn money to keep the family, etc. All these are important but we can do these without fulfilling God’s entire purpose for marriage. God’s purposes are higher than that. He wants to create a picture of the love relationship between Christ and the church as His bride. Hence the instructions for the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church, etc. Christ is the example of headship as well as submission, for the husband and the wife respectively. He is the head of His church and He is in submission to the Father. Ephesians 5:17-33 (NKJV) ‘Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.’ The love of God within the context of marriage has to do with submission and headship in the home. The focus is Christ being in the centre as an example of submission as well as headship. A Christ-centred home will reflect the love of God to all in the family, enabling God’s will to be done in everyone’s life in the family. The purposes of God for marriage include the fulfilling of God’s plans in each member’s life; their growth, maturity, encouragement as well as healing from the past. The home is meant to be a place for the building of lives to fulfil destiny. To fulfil God’s purposes in our lives we need to cultivate the lifestyle that will enable us to keep on knowing God, knowing ourselves and knowing our assignments in all areas of life. Knowing God includes knowing His plans, purposes and expectations. This involves understanding the basis of our relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This includes our new identity in Christ. This is a lifelong quest. We cannot finish knowing God. We believe, then we experience Him, then our knowledge of Him increases. We need to be constantly hungry for more of God in our lives. Understanding is like a journey; we need to get somewhere before we can reach a further place. Are we like Christ now or are we like Him on the cross? 1 John 4:17-19 (NKJV) ‘Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.’ As He is, so are we, right now! He came to bring heaven to us so we can carry out heaven’s programs on earth. He gave us the keys. To know God starts with knowing about Him. Then as we exercise our faith and experience Him, we deepen our knowledge of Him. It is not just an intellectual knowledge of Him.
Knowing God
The secret of strength is in a continuous unfolding in our knowledge of God. The more of Him you know, the more you want to know. In the book of Daniel 11:32, it says, “And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) ‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ There are some examples of biblical characters who knew God like Daniel and Joseph did. In Joseph we see some character traits that are built into us as we get to know God more and more. These traits can be likened to our development of Christ’s character. Reading from Genesis 37 to 42 we see transparency, humility, loyalty in service, forgiveness as opposed to bitterness, and a strong desire to please God in spite of everything he went through. The same can be said of Daniel. Let us lay some foundation for knowing God. He revealed Himself through His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:6-13 (AMPC) ‘Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father—that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power). Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father’s name convince you.] I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.’ The Father is revealed in the Son. The Son is revealed in the Word. JOHN 1:1-5 (AMPC) ‘In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].’ The Father’s plan is for us to be conformed to the image of the Son. Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV) ‘For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.’ In 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) we read that we are transformed by beholding Him in a mirror. ‘But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ It is not automatic that we shall be conformed to the image of the Son or be transformed into His image. We need to behold Him, both in the Word and by His Spirit. It is part of our covenant right to expect to be transformed as we behold Him. 1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV) (The Test of Knowing Him) ‘Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.’
Knowing Ourselves
The more we know God, the more we learn to position ourselves to experience Him. We can experience His love, power and grace. This includes His forgiveness, mercy and help when we need these in our lives. We know in whose image we were made. This leads to knowing ourselves; how we were and how the transformation is taking place gradually in us. What do I know of myself and how am I applying myself to the process of transformation? It is true that our nature, culture and nurture have all contributed to our perception of ourselves as well as our perceived weaknesses and strengths. Rejection from the past can be hiding behind our present responses to correction in our lives. People pleasing as well as wanting to control others are all part of the mixture borne out of rejection. This is why we should try not to be critical of anyone, because if not for the grace of God, we might be like them! God’s love can reach deep into our lives and heal us of our past rejections, failures and insecurities. God’s power can set us free from the past, if we allow Him. To enjoy God’s goodness, we need to consider ourselves dead to sin and to the works of our unregenerate flesh. That is why knowing ourselves can help us know how to walk in victory; where our victory in Christ can be applied to every area of our lives. If I do not know why I tend to walk in envy, or in strife, or in offences, I may repent and after a while revert to justifying my behaviour. Many times the issues people deal with are not just on the surface as it seems. Many issues have their roots in unresolved offences, deep seated rejections of the past, or unbroken character traits inherited in Adam, through parents. Sometimes we need to identify the roots, not just fruits of our actions, so that we can repent, renounce and if need be receive deliverance by speaking to the prevailing spirit that may be taking advantage of the ungodly habits that we have developed over time. This calls for ruthless sincerity with ourselves and letting the Spirit of God help us put our hands on key issues in our lives. What are our goals for character development? What are the godly goals we should have? Christlikeness should be one of our goals in life. Walking in the wisdom of God should also be one of our goals. A humble disposition helps us to make the right choices in this area. Knowing who you have become in Christ must be discovered through humility. James 3:14-17 (NKJV) ‘But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.’ 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NKJV) ‘Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ Steps to transformation include laying a proper foundation in the Word; cultivation of the disciplines of study, confessions, meditation and acting on the Word consistently! Beholding happens in worship, meditation and prayers. There should be a hunger to know Him and be conformed to His image. This is an inner transformation by the Spirit of God. We need to put ourselves in the place of dependence on Him for transformation to take place. God designed us for fellowship with Himself. He wants to display His power, love and character through us. We need to have the desire to experience God more and more if we want to fully display His nature within us. If there is no hunger for more of God in our lives, we shall settle for what is common to others. Let us go all out for Him.
Knowing our Assignment Towards God, Others and Ourselves.
Towards God: Let us fear and obey Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV) ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.’ Hebrews 12:28-29 (NKJV) ‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.’ Luke 10:27-28 (NKJV) ‘So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Our prayer life, our worship and service to God, our hunger for His presence, power, and all He has for us, and how we minister to Him on a one-on-one basis will all affect the quality of His grace we enjoy. Our Assignment Towards Others: How we serve God’s purposes in the lives of others. As we are endued with power from on high, we are supposed to go and be witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to bring the kingdom to bear on this earth. We get to define our assignment more accurately as we mature. Mathew 28:18-20 (NKJV) ‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.’ We are the answer to His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. There’s no sickness or bondage or unsaved person in heaven so we endeavour to bring that to pass on earth, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are agents of His kingdom; we release kingdom power into any situation we face. He has given us the keys of the kingdom: keys of prayers, releasing our faith, keys of binding and loosening, keys of obedience, consecration, serving the needs of humanity in His name etc. Mark 16:14-18 (NKJV) ‘Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” God’s purpose is for His kingdom to influence the earth! There is no sickness in heaven, there are no demons there; we have the keys of the kingdom to express heaven on earth. Our Assignment Towards Ourselves: The studying of God’s Word is our responsibility so we can be equipped to do His will. Proverbs 2:1-13 (NKJV) ‘The Value of Wisdom- My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness…’ To rise up to fulfil God’s purposes, let us consider three areas. The three subjects to consider are: God’s love, His power, and His kingdom. These are all examples of aspects of our lives we need in order to rise up to fulfil God’s purposes in our lives. God is love. He sent His Son to save, not to condemn the world. John 3:14-17 (NKJV) ‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ That’s why He didn’t condemn the woman caught in adultery. John 8:7-12 (NKJV) ‘So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” In knowing ourselves, the question is- how have we received the love of God? Do we love like He does? We need to believe in God’s love for us and receive it fully. And can we love others like God does? His love is shed abroad in our hearts and He expects us to love others like He loved us. Why is it difficult to love others like God does? We need to trust and depend on God to love others in the same way. Romans 5:6-8 (AMPC) ‘While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.’ John 15:12-13 (AMPC) ‘This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.’ Romans 13:10 (AMPC) ‘Love does no wrong to one’s neighbour [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.’
God’s Power: The Holy Spirit is the Powerhouse!
John 14:12-17 (NKJV) ‘The Answered Prayer. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. Jesus Promises Another Helper. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.’ Acts 1:8 (NKJV) ‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Luke 24:46-49 (NKJV) ‘Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The best discipled ones (the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ) were told to tarry till they were endued with power from on high. The filling of the Holy Spirit was just the beginning of the greater expression of kingdom power. We need hunger to stay in the flow. So many who are filled with the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues, seem satisfied with tongue-talking. It was meant to be the first sign of being filled with the power and Spirit of God. We need to stay hungry for more of God’s power and be willing to take risks to demonstrate His power. It’s by His Spirit that His power is released. Zechariah 4:2-7 (NKJV) ‘And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” God’s power is available to us by His ever present Spirit. His Spirit in us has been sent to help us in every aspect of our lives from manifesting the character of Christ to demonstrating God’s power when and where needed in our lives or the lives of others. His fruit is the manifestation of power through character and gifts. Galatians 5:16-17 (AMPC) ‘But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.’ Galatians 5:22-26 (AMPC) ‘But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.’ 1 Corinthians 12:7-12 (AMPC) ‘But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit. To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).’ His gifts and fruit-bearing qualities lie in us and need to be cultivated.
A Brief Study of God’s Kingdom
Luke 10:9 (AMPC) ‘And heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come close to you.’ The gospel of salvation is a part of the gospel of the kingdom. It is the king’s domain. He wants kingdom expressions to be on the earth and we are His agents. When someone is healed, the kingdom is manifested. His kingdom is within us and He wants us to give expressions of His kingdom everywhere we go on earth. (Mathew 6:8-13, 33) Luke 17:20-21 (AMPC) ‘Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].’ God’s purposes do not happen automatically. There is an enemy who is committed to ensuring these purposes are not fulfilled. He started it in the Garden of Eden, and attempted it at the cross and throughout the life of our Lord Jesus while on earth. He is still at it, even though he has been stripped of his powers. He is still deceiving mankind and utilising the authority God gave them to fulfil his dastardly acts of stealing, killings and destruction. God’s purposes must be aimed at deliberately and the willingness to do whatever it takes should be in us. Then we can count on heaven’s resources to be made available to us. Remember we can study and see His purposes in the Word of God, the Bible. We must rise up in our personal lives in study, staying hungry and acting on God’s Word for His purposes to be fulfilled. We cannot be satisfied with whatever comes and call it God’s will.
God bless you.