Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1 Corinthians 10:24
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has not only blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, but has made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus who is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places. Jesus Christ has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God and to reign on the earth.
God is love and He sought not his own well-being but ours! God is love and while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God is love and He gave His only begotten Son that we should not perish but have life everlasting. Life ever lasting and Love is a person called Jesus Christ and not a set of doctrines or beliefs. And if we truly are perfect and have Love inside of us we will seek not our own but each other’s well-being. God’s word is unchanging:
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:10-17
Love is expressed primarily not by words but by deeds. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, His wonderful Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, and all things. His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2Peter 1:3 ). He desires that we may prosper in all things and be in health, just as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). Our flesh and blood bodies are NOW the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We no longer have the "Spirit of the Lord" upon us. We have the "Spirit of the Lord" IN US:
"Christ IN US, the hope of glory…"
"The Father and the Son will come and make Their abode IN YOU…"
"The Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU…"
"The Spirit of truth will dwell WITH YOU and IN YOU…"
It’s true EMMANUEL, "GOD WITH(in) US", the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the ANOINTING within us.
Jesus Christ dwells within us and that His anointing is our anointing! The same POWER that Jesus used to preach, teach, prophesy and ministering healing to thousands is NOW resident within each and every born-again, Holy Spirit baptized man, woman and child. All the anointing of God we will ever need to "do the works of Jesus" and "greater works than these" are NOW possible because God lives in us. His word is unchanging:
"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. "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. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. John 14:12-19
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
Because God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him, we will go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. We will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. The One who send us will work with us and confirm the Word through the accompanying signs. God’s word is true:
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." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Matthew 16:15-20
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, Acts 6:5
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6 8
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:10
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28
Yes God wants a people who are full of faith and power and who will do great wonders and signs amongst the people. He has given to His church the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues. He has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Yes, we don’t have to go to Bible college and have several degrees after our name before we can become a POWERFUL Holy Ghost filled witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to know a lot about the Bible and Christian doctrines before we can become a POWERFUL witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. All we need is simple child like faith to DO THE WORKS OF JESUS! Lost, sick and hurting humanity is waiting for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed. God’s word is unchanging:
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Yes, we must all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Each one of us must do the works of Jesus and take our rightful place as the sons and daughters of God. God’s word is unchanging:
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:19-27
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2
What amazes me about many false pastors and preachers is they write their own rules and doctrines and then are surprised that God doesn't believe in them or follow them? As a result many shall find themselves in places they never expected to be for God gives grace to the humble and contends with the proud. And many of them are sure not humble! They don't seem to understand the purpose of ministry as demonstrated in the life of Jesus. The Word of God has given us God’s vision or definition concerning ‘the purpose of ministry’ by the five fold ministries in the church of Jesus.
Apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are not called to do their own thing, to build their super ministry, but to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Yes, God is concerned that we call come to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. To do or give any less to God’s people is to rob them of their birthright and inheritance for which apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers will give account on the Day of Judgment.
‘The mission of ministry’ is to be like Jesus who in love ministered to everybody without exception and without being a respecter of person. Jesus Christ, who was no different from you or I, except He was filled with the Spirit from birth and anointed with the Spirit for ministry at the river Jordan, by the power of the Spirit, was able to meet whatever need the people had including casting out demons, healing sick bodies and miraculously feeding five thousand men, not including women and children.
It’s to be noted that Jesus started and finished each day with prayer, even long hours of prayer. And to God the heart of man, including that of the person who ministered, was more important than outward appearance or character. As a matter of fact Jesus never taught about excellence in ministry. He just ministered to the people! He had a servant heart and came to minister and not to be ministered too. He taught that faith in God will do the impossible, with God nothing is impossible, and according to your faith it will be done for you. He also taught on the importance of heeding His words:
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:21-27
A pastor, who had visited heaven and talked with Jesus there, told the real story of a man who died and went to heaven, expecting Jesus to welcome him at the gates of heaven. He waited there three days before an angel told him that it is pointless for him to wait there since Jesus won’t see him. He was puzzled because he had done a great work for Jesus. He had initiated a Christian businessmen fellowship that encircled around the globe. There are chapters in every city and town in almost every country. There are meetings, magazines for Christian testimonies, souls were saved – surely he had done a great work for God. But the angel asked him one question. When he started the work, did he really get the idea from God or was it from himself? He pondered for a long time before he admitted that it was his own idea. The angel showed him his book of records and he was shocked at seeing the consequences of his actions. “You mean I did that?” was all he could utter repeatedly. His work was actually drawing many Christians from their true callings when they jumped on the bandwagon he started.
To do things such as prophesying in Jesus name, casting out demons in Jesus name, and doing many wonders in Jesus name not in God’s timing and will is to practice lawlessness for which apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers shall not enter the kingdom?' Also Jesus Christ, the epitome of love, did not have much patience or was kind and benevolent to the religions and political leaders of His day. He called King Herod who wanted him murdered a fox. The bible records:
On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You." And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' "Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke 13:31-34
There are real consequences in life for the things that we do or don’t do. Dr. Paul Dhinakaran relayed about one of these consequences:
Once a woman suffered severely owing to some illness. A Pastor requested my father (Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran) to offer personal prayers for her. My father visited this woman's house and prayed fervently for her. The Lord revealed the reason for her illness. At once my father looked at the woman and said, "Sister, you don't have to suffer like this anymore. The Bible says in Matthew 6:14, 'For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.' Do you have any brothers?" That woman responded saying, "Yes I do have brothers." Then my father continued saying, "Dear sister! You have not followed the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have been unfairly hoarding the possessions and land documents of your dear brothers. They are suffering greatly and are terribly in want of money. Please handover all their documents and make them happy. Surely God will heal you and make you happy too." That woman resented this statement because she did not want to give up the possessions of her brothers that were under her control because she craved for worldly honour, respect and power. Therefore, suffering with that illness she passed away.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may cover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
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