For Our Gospel Came Not Unto You In Word Only But In Power - Part 1674

Without getting into too many details regarding David and Saul, the one scripture that stands out is this. David is saying to Saul -- "Wherefore hearing thou men's words, saying, "Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?" Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade me kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, "I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the Lord's anointed." (I Samuel 24:7-10)

Too often, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, we subscribe to the antics and whims of this world. We stand back and allow a modern day religious culture to teach us the ways of the Lord, and in so doing, miss the many blessings that come from communing with the Lord Jesus continually in our hearts. Jesus' disciples came to this place when Jesus met them on the beach. How do we know? Because after that particular meeting, wherein Jesus told the disciples to "cast their net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find," His disciples forsook everything to pursue the Lord's mission for their life. (John 21:7-25)

In John's account, Jesus asks one disciple in particular - Simon Peter (son of Jonas), "Lovest thou Me?" And when Simon answered, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee .." what did Jesus reply?

Jesus told him to "Feed My sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee -- when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." Herein, Jesus is specifically signifying what death Simon Peter should glorify God. (John 21:19) Still, in a similar manner, we who profess to believe in Jesus by faith also need to be girded by another, so that everything we do is for the glorification of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. That He truly becomes our all in all.

In other words, we need to stop looking at our peers, and the world and focus our sights solely on Jesus. This means that in terms of the earthly, the Jericho's that strive to keep us constrained and in bondage needs to crumble. As I write this, I think specifically of the Lord's promise in Revelation 3:8-9, wherein Jesus states:

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
The time has come for a people who will stand for truth -- the One and Only absolute that can only be found in Jesus. In striving for the perfection James speaks about, those who profess to love Jesus (like Simon Peter) all need to reach the heart place of Paul, when he asked:

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:10-12)

Paul's message was confirmed when Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus wrote unto the church of the Thessalonians stating, "for our gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in  much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." (I Thessalonians 1:5-6)

We need to remember from whence comes our salvation. We need to stand for the truth that can only be found in Jesus, for He said to each and every one of us, "I have called and ordained you ..." And He placed His purpose in our hearts whilst we were still in our mother's womb. We need to stop catering to the world/earthly and reach for the heavenly.

Why is this so important? Because God’s Word was manifest in the flesh, in which flesh dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily -- for you and I. The sacrifice on the cross, when the Lord God of heaven willingly poured out His holy blood was for us. The flesh (veil) when He fashioned Himself as a Son. The Spirit within the veil of flesh was none other than the holy Spirit of God. For the very SEED which had conceived the life within the veil of flesh was the SEED of the Holy Ghost. Yes! JESUS the Christ was fathered by the life of God. In JESUS the Christ' veins did flow the blood of the Holy Ghost.

The holy Spirit of God humbled and humiliated Himself for our sakes. God left His glory purposefully to provide and offer to men and women redemption as a free gift. Redemption was purchased at Calvary by God Himself. When JESUS, who is the manifestation of God Himself in the flesh (as a Son/servant), laid down His pure and holy sin-free life, God was willingly taking upon Himself our messed up and sin torn lives. God was sacrificing His life as an offering. A one-time offering that would never be repeated. For in that one offering God wiped the slate of our lives clean.

This is the teachings the holy Spirit of JESUS personally delivered to us, first by the Lord Jesus and now -- through the ministry of JESUS' Spirit. (If you need understanding, read Acts 1 and 2 in its entirety) The difficulty is that often, we receive the other teachings which JESUS wanted to tell us during His time on earth, but because of our inadequacy to receive more weighty teaching fail to grasp the real meaning within the scriptures. But all is not lost for these teachings are now advanced toward us. We have the Word of God - the Biblical scriptures - to enlighten us so that the scales of blindness fall from our eyes.

Further, upon calling on the Name of Jesus, we are redeemed, baptized and filled with the breath of JESUS which is His holy Spirit. As a consequence, the Word can now be effective within our being!

So when we read these words in verse 11, “I CERTIFY YOU BRETHREN!” we learn that the gospel preached to humankind is not man made. For I did not receive this gospel from man. Neither was I taught the gospel by man. Rather, I received this gospel which was delivered to me -- as Paul states, through the imparting of revelation.

Take hold of the truth this day. Be a partaker in the Lord's blessing and mission for our lives. The time is short. Stand in the offering plate.