KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:30 KJV” Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man should ask thee:by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.”

After a number of years walking with Jesus his disciples said, they now understand what he has been telling them lately. How were they now appreciating what he has been telling them? There are a number of children of God who complain a lot about not being able to understand the scriptures. They wonder how certain brethren could easily explain so much of the word of God. The secret is consistently reading the scriptures. Understanding grows with the acquisition of more proper knowledge.

The disciples came to such clarity in their understanding after many sessions of listening to the master.

These men could now add A to B to see the genesis, and buildup of truth and even make sound conclusions on various issues. Don’t get hysterical or agitated in any way. Just maintain your consistency in reading and meditation on the word of God. Isaiah 28:13 shows us how an understanding of the scriptures is developed. “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; Here a little and there a little; that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken.”

According to Isaiah 28:13, God’s word is one unit but needs to be studied as one whole thing. We join one truth here and another there. Over time the whole picture became very clear. Making doctrines or giving interpretations from one verse can easily lead to an error. This point could easily explain why the disciples could now understand the Lord after listening to him over and over again.

I will advise every beginner in the scriptures to be very consistent at reading the scriptures. After developing a broad knowledge of the scriptures you would then link various passages together with ease.

THOUGHT: SCRIPTURAL UNDERSTANDING GROWS BY HAVING A BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isa 28:10 KJV” For precept must be upon precept, except upon precept;line upon line, line upon line;Here a little and there a little:”

2Pet 1:20 KJV” Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

KEY SCRIPTURE 16:28 KJV” I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

The Lord told His disciples, He would be going to His Father from here. He said earlier that He came from the Father and would be going back to the Father from here. My question is where would you go? Everyone who would have to go to God has been born of God. John 3:3 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. To be born again is to be born from above. It also means becoming a son of God. The Lord said, unless a man is born from above, he cannot go to the Father. To be born from above is by God’s grace through your faith in Him.

No one can enter heaven by his or her works. The following verse describes the impossibility of a man without Jesus trying to please God. Rom 7:14 KJV” For we know that the law is spiritual: But I am carnal, sold under the sin.” God’s commandments are spiritual, yet men born by women are carnal and earthly. Let’s consider the struggle of most people, Rom 7:15 Easy English “I do not understand what I do. I do not do the things that I want to do. Instead, I do things that I hate. “There are also many who strive to obey the laws of God who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus. The Bible says such righteousness is like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6. Dear one, you can’t have the peace of God, if you are not born of God.

How can one be born from above? “You can be born from above by believing in the Lord Jesus. Acts 16:31 EasyEnglish ” Paul and Silas said, Believe in the Lord Jesus and then God will save you. He will save you and your family.'” What do you believe in Jesus.? Believe He died for your sins.

Believe that He rose on the third day.

Lastly confess with your lips, that He is the Lord of your life. Rom 10:10 EasyEnglish “We must believe this deep inside ourselves and as a result, God will accept us as right with himself. We must tell people: Jesus is Lord’ and as a result, God will save us.”If you did the above, you would be saved and become a child of God.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for your love. I believe the Lord Jesus died for my sins and rose up after three days. I confess to you that Jesus is my Lord. Amen

THOUGHT: YOU NEED TO BE BORN OF THE FATHER BEFORE YOU CAN GO TO HIM FROM HERE.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:16 ISV “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but has eternal life.”

Eph 2:8 ISV” For by grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; It is the gift of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:28 KJV” I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

Many people live as if this life is the end of everything. What is the general worldview about living? The truth is that most people on this earth do not think there is any life after this earth’s place. The Lord Jesus throughout His teachings, made it absolutely clear that there is life after a man has left this place.  Our study today is to help us see the Lord’s attitude to living on this earth as well as His approach to leaving this earth to enter the afterlife. From our key scripture, we realise the Lord was very enthusiastic when He talked about coming into this life and was equally very enthusiastic when He talked about leaving. He said He would leave to be with the Father.

Many children of God are very apprehensive when we talk about leaving this place for life after here. I think we’ve got to see things from the Lord Jesus’ perspective. He understood life as doing the will of the Father to the letter. When one had finished the assignment that the Father gave Him here to do, he could joyfully go back to the Father. The Lord made sure that throughout His days on this earth, Satan and his cohorts never controlled, manipulated, or dictated His affairs. In the light of this everything that happened to Him was in line with what the Father had determined for Him. Despite the many oppositions Satan raised against Him through the religious leaders, the Lord was never moved. He was always in charge.

We must all study the way, the Lord Jesus led His life and follow His example. He totally trusted in God to live an overcoming life.

We must do the same. As Jesus did, life was about pleasing God. He had a very great life, since He did not live to please himself, but lived to please the Father. We would also lead a great and successful life if we do not live to please ourselves. If living is for the course of Christ, then death or departing would be gain as Paul said. Phil 1:21 KJV” For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” When one lives this way Satan or his angels do not determine the turn of events for you. Apostle Paul conquered all that Satan threw against him. He finished his course. He said, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:( 2nd Timothy 4:7. He added that a crown of righteousness awaited him. He was no more worried about leaving but rather excited to meet the Lord in glory. We would meet the Lord after here, yet our commitment to him here is what determines whether we would be joyful to meet Him in glory or not.

THOUGHT: LIVING FOR GOD, MAKES MEETING HIM A JOY

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 1:23 KJV” For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

1 John 4:17 KJV Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:27 KJV” For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”

The last line of the key scripture throws some light on the true identity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It said He came out from the Father. What on earth could come out of a person? Your words of course. This perfectly agrees with the scripture  in John 1:1, that says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He came out of the Father as the word of God. From these verses, we see Jesus is not created as some attempt to teach. He is the word of God, who has always lived in the blossom of the Father. We all know that no man created His words. You exist with your words and are always one with your words.

According to the word of God, this Word which is a person became flesh. In actual fact, He was sent by the Father to come into this life as a man and lead a righteous life, or fulfill all the demands of the law and ultimately took up the full punishment that every man should have borne. Isaiah 52:14 KJV” As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:” This was Jesus who took our place and became our substitute. God our Father laid the punishment of our peace upon Him and by His stripes, we were healed. Jesus was originally the word of God, yet for our deliverance, peace, and forgiveness He became the lamb of God and died in our place.

Today, Jesus has received the glory that He originally had with the Father John 17:5. He is glorified. He is now the God of heaven and earth. He will one day appear as the Lord of glory to judge all men.2Co 5:10 KJV” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Jesus is God, yet came as the word of God.

THOUGHT: JESUS IS THE WORD, PUT THE WORD IN YOUR HEART AND YOU WOULD HAVE GOD IN YOUR HEART

FURTHER STUDIES

John 6:63 KJV” It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Heb 4:12 KJV “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:27 KJV” For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”

God our Father loves you. This is a truth that goes for everyone but there is another encounter with God’s love that God demonstrates to those who love the Son.1Corinth 2:9 KJV” But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” God loves all men, yet it is only those who have learned to walk in God’s love that experiences it. 1 Corinth 2:9 states that, there is an unimaginable wealth of blessings that God has for those who love Him.

Our key scripture tells us that God loves all those who love His Son. These are the people that 1 Corinth 2:9 describes. People who love the Lord dearly do not stay in their error. Like David, they quickly admit their faults and turn to the Lord. Loving God does not mean, that an individual may not err. He quickly turns to the Lord and accepts whatever corrections God may have for Him. King Saul loved himself so much that, he was always focused on His personal advantages.

1Sam 15:30 KJV “Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God…”

Saul was not thinking about the God he had offended, but his good image before the people. Sadly, Saul lived in misery throughout the final moments of his reign.

David murdered and took someone’s wife, yet because he loved the Lord, he was ready to humble himself before God and accept his terms. God forgave him, preserved him on the throne, and even saw his successor. The Lord described David as a man after his own heart. Would you go after the heart of the Lord so The Father would likewise show you His unqualified love, or walk in the path of Saul, who pursued his selfish agenda to his own destruction?

THOUGHT: LOVE FOR THE LORD IS THE DOOR TO GOD’S OVERWHELMING BLESSINGS.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Kings 3:3,5 KJV And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

Psalms 45:7 KJV “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:24 KJV” Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

The Lord is always good. He says that we must ask the Father all that we desire in His name and the Father will do it for us, so that our joy may be full. The Lord Jesus came so that men would know joy and be fulfilled in their lives. Throughout the scriptures, it has been the desire of God to see that all men are joyful. This is what the Lord is talking about. He says ask and receive so that your joy may be full. There are many Christians who are wondering whether God still answers prayers. Some even wonder whether the Lord is that predictable. Well, the Lord is predictable.

God has given out His words on various matters. If one acts according to the word He would respond just as He said, He would do. The Lord says His ears are opened to the cries of the righteous. What are His terms for answering prayers?

1. He says we must ask in the name of our Lord Jesus. John 16:23

2. When you ask believe that He has given it Mark 11:24

3. Receive your answer by faith. Mark 11:24

4. Thank Him for giving you your answer.1 Thess 5:18

If you would not doubt His faithfulness to answer your request and stand on His word, you would surely see His goodness unto you.

Dear brother or sister God wants you very happy and living a very victorious life. Get testimonies of those who experienced God’s blessings and listen to how they made it. Always remember that the same God overall is rich unto all that call upon Him. Rom 10:12. Remember also that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His faithfulness is unto all generations and will do for you just as He has done for them. Now take the steps of faith as they did, trusting the Lord to honour His word. God is good all the time, and you would soon experience His power in your life as well.

THOUGHT: GOD’S LOVE, POWER, AND FAITHFULNESS, MAKE HIM VERY DEPENDABLE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 13:7 KJV” Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”

Rom 10:12 KJV” For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:23 KJV “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”

The Lord Jesus asked His disciples to ask the Father in His name. This is one of the strongest provisions in the Christian faith. To pray in Jesus’ name is very different from praying through Jesus Christ. To pray through our Lord Jesus makes Him a medium. Praying through Him gives no significant authority that Jesus wields. The Lord has a name higher than every other name and, in His name, every knee bows, and no authority whatsoever will challenge that name. Praying in His name gives one to access the authority in His name.

Asking the Father in Jesus’ name is just as Jesus Himself asking the Father. The Father gives us the full audience as a result of that. The two main challenges to prayer are

1. Unbelief in the heart of the one making the request

2. Satanic interferences When a request is made.

Praying in Jesus’ name answers both challenges

In Jesus’ name, no power or dominion can interfere with the request. Secondly, when a request is made in Jesus’ name, you do not worry about trying to believe, because before God it is the Lord Jesus Himself making that request. With this understanding being assured of the answer becomes a matter of cause.

Dear one in the Lord, be very confident about the results of praying in Jesus’ name. It is l like the Lord Himself standing on your behalf to make that request. There is no need to worry about receiving an answer or not. So long as the prayer was a legitimate request, that is not of a carnal motive, the Father would answer it because it was made in Jesus’ name. Many use the name of Jesus as a full stop to their prayers. This is a misunderstanding of praying in His name. Others also see it as a normal thing to do when praying without knowing its true implications. Let’s consider the following illustration. This can be compared to the American ambassador making a request from the president of Ghana, in the name of the president of America. The ambassador need not worry at all about the outcome. So long as he made the request in the name of their country’s president, it is just like the president of that nation herself making the request.

THOUGHT: A PRAYER IN JESUS NAME OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED ANSWERED

FURTHER STUDIES

John 11:41 KJV “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”

Acts 3:16 KJV” And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:20 KJV “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.’

The Lord started telling His disciples that, in a little while they will not see Him, yet after some moments, they would see Him. This made the disciples ask among themselves what He meant. The Lord then explained further that they will be in sorrow whiles the world will rejoice, yet at the end they would be rejoicing. Psalm 30:5 captures this point so vividly “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  Life events may not be pleasant and cause sorrow, but in the end, it will be to God’s praise and your blessing.

The Lord’s death was for the redemption of all. His death was for our offenses and was a great substitution work, yet these men did not know about any of these and so they were sorrowful. Every event that may come to the child of God, either with pain, a loss, or a challenge of any kind is working something out for your good. James 1:2 says “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” Whatever may come your way is been allowed for your good.

Do not allow the challenge to depress you because you would surely come out of it a stronger person. The Lord says in the end you would be rejoicing.

In conclusion, do not focus on the loss, or the pain, and do not give in to so much sorrow, but let the word of God be your solace in such moments. The scriptures say that those who put their trust in Him will not be put to shame. Make sure your faith in God and His word does not waver. In certain cases, time will heal the situation, yet in most of the challenges, you need to use your faith to make all things work out for your good. Turn to what God says and do not let His word depart from your mouth. Meditate on the word and keep speaking the word boldly. According to Mark 11: 23, you would surely have what you say. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven and thy faithfulness is unto all generations. He would do for you just as He did for the many in the past who trusted Him.

THOUGHT: GOD WILL ALWAYS DO AS HE DID FOR OTHERS IF WE DO WHAT THEY DID.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 119:89,90 KJV LAMED. Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Rom 10:11 KJV “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:14 KJV “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.”

We continue with the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Our key scripture says the Spirit comes to glorify Jesus. The Spirit does not just help us to glorify the master but joins us. Just as He joins with us to fight various challenges. In actual fact, He works through us to achieve this. Why did He not say, the Spirit has come to glorify the Father? This is so because Jesus is the current revelation of God to save all mankind. Acts 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” From the days of the patriarchs and in Moses times God revealed Himself by a number of names. In these moments of grace, Jehovah or YHWH has revealed Himself as the Saviour of men.

The next work of the Spirit is to show the things that are for the Lord Jesus to us. The Lord did not say He will tell us, but He will show those supernatural things to us. This means a higher level of knowledge. Jesus said to the woman at the well, in John 4:22 KJV Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” As the Lord said to the woman, many worship God, yet they do not know Him. From the Lord’s own lips, He wants us to see or know the deep things of the Spirit that seem to be hidden from us.

What are some of the things that belong to Jesus that the Spirit would show to the people of God?

Deep insight into the scriptures is one of the things that the Spirit will bring to us.

Understanding the dynamics of ministering to the sick, oppressed, and those who may need help.

There are certain decisions concerning ourselves, our church, and even the nation in which you are, that the Lord would want His people to know. Remember, the Lord had to tell Abraham, what He had planned for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Come to know and manifest the fullness of Jesus Christ. Eph 4:13 KJV Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Unfortunately, many children of God are blind to a lot of issues of the Spirit. Why is this so? The following are some of the reasons.

1. Lack of fellowship with the Spirit, in moments of prayer, and the study of God’s word.

2. A lack of desire for the things of the Spirit.

3. Worldliness. You can’t be worldly and receive anything of the Spirit.

4 Those who say whatever comes to their minds cannot have mysteries of the Spirit

THOUGHT: JESUS WANTS YOU HAVE WHATEVER HE IS, COOPERATE WITH THE SPIRIT

FURTHER STUDIES

1Co 2:10 KJV” But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

1Co 12:8 KJV “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:13 KJV “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit came into our lives to play a special role. He came to guide us into the truth. The following verse also says Joh 16:14 KJV” He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Considering all that the Lord is revealing about the Spirit, His main work is to focus on Jesus. Jesus is the centrality of life. He is the way; He is the truth and He is the life.

Let’s consider the various roles of the Spirit, and how it relates to Jesus. The Lord said, He would guide us into all truth. What is truth?  Jesus is the truth. To guide to the truth is to focus everything about Jesus since He is the truth. Error is when the teachings focus on other things, persons and not on Jesus Christ. In the revelations given to Paul, Jesus is our salvation, our justification, our wisdom and everything (1Co 1:30 KJV But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Every glory must go to Jesus. The Holy Spirit came to manifest the Jesus lifestyle. If the lifestyle of any so-called child of God, is not like Jesus or honouring Jesus, then it is not controlled by the Spirit. What is the Jesus lifestyle? This is a life of true love, selfless love that truly values all persons. He also said the Spirit will receive from Him and give it to those who love Him. The following statements would help us know whether one operating any power is under the influence of the Holy Spirit, or something else

1. Anyone who has received from Jesus never promotes himself. He attributes every glory to Jesus.

2. He also rallies men to go about bringing others to Jesus. Anyone who claims he has his grace from Jesus and does not encourage others to go about evangelising about Jesus, has not received from Jesus.

3. Every one who has received from the Lord unites the body of Christ, those who have not received from Jesus speak wrongly about every other preacher, but projects themselves. Let this guide you against wolves in sheep clothes.

THOUGHT: THE MAIN ROLE OF THE SPIRIT IS TO EXALT JESUS IN EVERY WAY.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Col 1:18 KJV And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Col 2:8, 9 KJV” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”