INSIDE THE STORM: JESUS, THE CROSS, THE GRAVE, AND OVERWHELMING
VICTORY
“Then
Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of
thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And
said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands….Then came Jesus
forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto
them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him,
they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them,
Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. But they cried out, Away with him, away
with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your
King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he
him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away…”
(John 19:1-16 KJV). “..After this, Jesus
knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be
fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and
they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his
mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost”
(John 19:28-30 KJV).
“…For
I have come down from heaven ... TO DO ...THE WILL of him who
sent me…” (John 6:38 NIV). “…The ... works that I
do, bear
witness of me, that the Father has sent me...” (John 5:36 KJV).
*
SCRIPTURE(S): “...Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands… they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate
saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. But
they cried out, Away
with him, away with him, crucify him...Then delivered he him
therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away…”
(John 19:1-16 KJV).
PURPOSE OR GOAL OF LESSON: TO
LEARN, WHILE IN HUMAN FLESH, JESUS WENT THROUGH TRIBULATIONS AND TROUBLES TOO.
APPLICATION OF
LESSON:
TO SEE YOUR CURRENT TROUBLES AS TEMPORARY AND TO CONFIDENCE THAT GOD’S WILL
GIVE YOU OVERWHELMING VICTORY IN SPITE OF ALL THAT YOU WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE.
TOPIC DISCUSSION: DISCUSS HOW TRIBULATIONS AND
TROUBLES ARE MEANT TO TEST YOUR FAITH. DISCUSS WHAT POSITION OR ATTITUDE IS
BEST WHEN GOING THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE. Jesus
came DOWN from heaven to do God’s will, whatever the cost. “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). Jesus KNEW he would have to go INSIDE a STORM in order to
become the ransom. “…For I have come down
from heaven ...
TO DO .…”
(John 6:38 NIV). “ ...TO GIVE [MY]... LIFE as a ransom for many"
(Matthew 20:28). “...Jesus
explained: "My nourishment (fulfillment) comes from doing the will of God
(serving God's purpose), who sent me, and from finishing his work...” (John
4:34 NLT). Jesus
willingly “became” God’s personal servant, from his heart, INSIDE the STORM. “...Though
he were a Son ...he ...[learned]... obedience by the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). “…The faithful followers of the Lord
… keep their promises even when it hurts…”
(Psalm 15:4 NLT). INSIDE the STORM of his life, Jesus carried a heavy
wooden cross across the city, sweated so heavy it was like drops of blood, had nails
hammered into his hands and feet, hung upon the cross for days, and died a
criminal's death.“... Then
Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of
thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And
said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands…. they cried out,
saying, Crucify
him, crucify him...”
(John 19:28-30 KJV). He
came to earth to give his life a ransom for many.“…to
give
His
life a ransom for
many…” (Matthew
20:28 NIV). “… Christ died
for our sins according to the scriptures…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). Jesus chose to lay down his
life for God’s purpose. “…
I [laid]... down
my life... No one
[took]... it from me, but I [laid]... it down of my own accord (my own choice).
I [was given]... authority to lay it
down and authority to take it up
again. This
command (authority, choice) I received from my Father…” (John 10:17-18 KJV). “ ...he ...[learned]...
obedience by the things he suffered (inside
the storm)…”
(Hebrews 5:8 KJV). “...He was despised and rejected— a man of
sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our
backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised,
and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our
sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be
whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us,
like sheep, have strayed away...Yet the Lord laid on him the
sins of us all...”
(Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT). “…Christ…suffered for us in the flesh …”
(1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV). EVEN THOUGH he was JESUS CHRIST, God, the Holy Spirit’s son, he went INSIDE a STORM. “… [God’s] Son, ... learned ... obedience (to follow God’s instructions) by
the things he suffered
(inside the storm)…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). Jesus suffered inside the storm, yet
he GAVE his LIFE to serve HIM anyway and DO the will of God, the Holy Spirit. “….Christ pleased not himself…” (Romans 15:3
KJV). “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). “….the [reason the]...
Son of Man came ...[was]...TO
GIVE HIS LIFE as a ransom for many..." (Matthew 20:28). Jesus went ALL “IN” to secure your
SALVATION, which was the REASON God sent him to earth.
“... But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him (allow him to go through the storm) and cause
him grief ... his life [was made]... an offering for sin...” (Isaiah
53:10-11 NLT). “…my righteous
servant (Jesus)
...[made] ... it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he [bore]... all their
sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT). It COST Jesus’ EVERYTHING, inside the storm, to become
GOD’S SALVATION PLAN: the atoning sacrifice for mankind’s sin, or an offering
for sin, or a RANSOM for many. “… the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ .. though HE WAS
[spiritually] RICH, yet for your sakes he became [spiritually] poor, that ye through his poverty might be [spiritually] RICH…” (2
Corinthians 8:9 KJV). “... his life [was made]... an offering for sin...” (Isaiah 53:10-11 NLT). “...Christ
Jesus
came into the world to save sinners...” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT). “...Therefore
he is able, once and forever, to save those who
come to God through him...” (Hebrews 7:25 NLT). Jesus came “…to
give
His
life a ransom for
many…” (Matthew
20:28 NIV). God knew Jesus
would willfully choose to go INSIDE the STORM. The bible clearly tells us, he “…spared
not his own Son [from going inside the storm], but delivered him up for us
all…” (Romans 8:32 KJV). Jesus SERVED GOD, the
Holy Spirit, faithfully INSIDE the STORM. A Hebrew word for serve is sharath
and one of its definitions means to become a “personal servant to.” “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). Jesus did “…not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for
many....” (Matthew 20:28 KJV). Jesus was wholeheartedly God’s personal
servant while upon earth. It is clear that INSIDE THE STORM Jesus humbly
submitted to GOD’S PURPOSE. Jesus confidently said, “…The ... works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me...” (John 5:36 KJV). HOW COULD HE BE
SO SURE? “…the
Father... [that DWELT within JESUS]… he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). AND “… Jesus of Nazareth ...went around ... doing good
and healing all (HOW?)...because …God [the invisible holy spirit]… was with him…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV). “…The [invisible Holy] ...Spirit
… anointed [empowered JESUS] to preach the gospel to the poor ... [empowered him] to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV). “…The
... works that I do, bear
witness of me, that the Father has sent me...” (John 5:36 KJV). “...he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). Jesus was God’s personal servant, no
matter the cost. It was INSIDE the STORM, that Jesus became“…a ransom for
many...[by humbly surrendering to God's INSTRUCTIONS and]… [by]
bec[oming] obedient unto death, even the death of the cross...” (Matthew
20:28 & Philippians 2:8 KJV). Jesus went INSIDE the STORM (died upon
the cross and went to the grave). Jesus, while on earth, went about doing good,
but still went INSIDE the STORM. “… Jesus of Nazareth ...went around ... doing good
and healing all. “…” (Acts
10:38 NIV).
“... Then Pilate therefore took Jesus,
and scourged him.
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands...” (John
19:28-30 KJV). “…his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human
being and his form marred beyond human likeness—“
(Isaiah 52:14 NIV). “..they cried out,
saying, Crucify
him, crucify him...” (John 19:28-30 KJV).“…When they hurled their insults
at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). “...He was despised and rejected— a man of
sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our
backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised,
and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our
sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be
whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us,
like sheep, have strayed away...Yet the Lord laid on him the
sins of us all...”
(Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT). “…Christ…suffered (INSIDE THE STORM) for us in
the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV). “…Christ
died for [your] sins according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians
15:3-4 KJV). “…they came to Jesus, and
saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs ... one of the soldiers
with a spear pierced his side…” (John 19:31-37 KJV). “…Then took
they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the
manner of the Jews is to bury
... Now in the place where he was crucified there was a
garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they
Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the
sepulchre was nigh at hand…” (John 19:38-42 KJV). THROUGH IT ALL: “… he ENTRUSTED himself to him who judges
justly…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). “…Father,
into thy hands
I commend my spirit…” (Luke 23:46 KJV). Therefore, “..be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world...” (John 16:33 KJV). “...take heart, because I have overcome the world..." (John 16:44 NLT). “...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...”
(John 14:27 KJV). The bible
says “be of good cheer,” “take heart,” and “let your heart not be trouble or afraid,” because, through CHRIST
JESUS, we have ALL overcome the STORMS of LIFE. “...We must [go]...through much tribulation
[to]...enter into the kingdom of God...” (Acts 14:22
KJV). “...despite all these things, overwhelming
victory is ours ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT). He
went through the STORM, but OVERWHELMING VICTORY was also Jesus Christ’s. Jesus
is now “highly exalted” with a “name which is above every name”
(Philippians 2:9). “… He (Jesus) had a
name written, that no man knew … his name is called The Word of God…”
(Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). The WORD which is ABOVE every other WORD! In addition,“…at … the name of
Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven and things in earth, and
things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV).
JESUS CAME TO DIE UPON THE CROSS
1.
WHAT REASON DID JESUS COME TO EARTH? HE CAME TO DO THE “WILL” OF GOD. “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO .…”
(John 6:38 NIV). “ ...TO GIVE [MY]... LIFE as a ransom for many"
(Matthew 20:28). “...Jesus
explained: "My nourishment (fulfillment) comes from doing the will of God
(serving God's purpose), who sent me, and from finishing his work...” (John
4:34 NLT). JESUS CAME DOWN TO DO THE
WILL OF GOD, WAS HE WILLING TO SUFFER IN ORDER TO DO WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO?
YES, HE WAS.
“...Though he were a Son, ...he ...[learned]... obedience by the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). “…The faithful followers of the Lord
… keep their promises even when it hurts…”
(Psalm 15:4 NLT). WHAT WERE SOME
OF THE THINGS JESUS SUFFERED IN ORDER TO DO GOD’S WILL? HE CARRIED A HEAVY WOODEN CROSS ACROSS THE CITY, HE SWEATED SO HEAVY IT
WAS LIKE DROPS OF BLOOD, NAILED WERE HAMMERED INTO HIS HANDS AND FEET, HE HUNG
UPON THE CROSS FOR DAYS, AND HE DIED A CRIMNAL’S DEATH.“... Then Pilate therefore
took Jesus, and scourged
him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head,
and they put on
him a purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands…. they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him...”
(John 19:28-30 KJV). HE CAME “…to
give
His
life a ransom for
many…”
(Matthew 20:28 NIV). “… Christ died
for our sins according to the scriptures…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). WAS JESUS FORCED
TO DO GOD’S WILL OR WAS IT HIS WILLFUL DECISION? IT WAS
HIS WILLFUL DECISION. HE CHOSE TO DO GOD’S WILL. “… I [laid]... down my life... No one [took]... it from me, but I [laid]... it
down of my own accord (my own choice). I [was given]... authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command (authority, choice) I received from my Father…” (John 10:17-18 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
Jesus suffered while upon earth,
but what does the bible say he learned? He learned
obedience. “ ...he ...[learned]...
obedience by the things he suffered (
tribulations or the storms of life)…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). “...He was despised and
rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our
sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be
whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like
sheep, have strayed away...Yet the Lord laid on him the
sins of us all...”
(Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT).“…Christ…suffered for us in the flesh …”
(1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV). “… [God’s] Son, ... learned ... obedience (to follow God’s instructions) by
the things he suffered
(inside the storm)…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). EVEN THOUGH JESUS SUFFERED, WHILE UPON EARTH, DID IT STOP
HIM FROM SERVING GOD OR DOING HIS WILL? NO, HE SAID HE
CAME FROM HEAVEN TO DO GOD’S WILL. “….Christ pleased not himself…” (Romans 15:3
KJV). “…For I
have come down from
heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). “….the [reason the]...
Son of Man came
...[was]...TO GIVE HIS LIFE as a ransom for many..."
(Matthew 20:28). DID JESUS GIVE HIS LIFE AS A LIVING SACRIFICE TO GOD? YES. HOW DO YOU KNOW? THE BIBLE
SAYS HE WILLFULLY SACRIFICED HIS LIFE. “… I [laid]... down my life... No one [took]... it from me, but I [laid]... it
down of my own accord (my own willful choice). I [was given]... authority (permission to choose) to lay it down
and authority (permission to choose) to
take it up again. This command (authority, power to choose) I received from my
Father…” (John 10:17-18 KJV). “...
But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him (allow him to go through the storm) and cause
him grief (tribulation) ... his life [was made to become]... an offering for sin...” (Isaiah
53:10-11 NLT). “…my righteous
servant (Jesus)
...[made] ... it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he [bore]... all their
sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
It cost jesus “everything” to follow
god’s will. What was god’s will for jesus’ life? God’s
will was the plan of salvation. Jesus was meant to be the atoning sacrifice and
the ransom for mankind’s sins. “… the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ .. though HE WAS [spiritually] RICH, yet for your
sakes he became [spiritually] poor,
that ye through his poverty might be
[spiritually] RICH…” (2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV). “...
his life [was made]... an offering for sin...” (Isaiah 53:10-11 NLT). “...Christ
Jesus
came into the world to save sinners...” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT). “...Therefore
he is able, once and forever, to save those who
come to God through him...” (Hebrews 7:25 NLT). Jesus came “…to
give
His
life a ransom for
many…”
(Matthew 20:28 NIV). DID GOD TRY TO STOP JESUS’ SUFFERING? NO. WHY OR WHY NOT? IT WAS HIS
WILL FOR JESUS TO BE DELIVERED OVER FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND. “… [God]....
spared not his own Son [from going through
tribulations of the storms of life], but delivered him up for us all….?”
(Romans 8:32 KJV). WHAT DID JESUS
SAY THAT DEMONSTRATED HE WAS ON EARTH TO SERVE GOD? HE
SAID HE’D COME FROM HEAVEN TO “DO” GOD’S WILL. “…For I have come down from heaven ...
TO DO ...THE
WILL of him who sent me…”
(John 6:38 NIV). Jesus
did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life a ransom for many....” (Matthew 20:28 KJV). JESUS
SERVED GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY WHILE ON EARTH. WHAT DID JESUS SAY WITH CONFIDENCE
ABOUT THE THINGS HE “DID?” HE SAID THE WORKS HE “DID”
WERE A WITNESS THAT GOD SENT HIM.
“…The ... works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me...” (John 5:36 KJV). WHAT ELSE DID THE WORKS JESUS DID, WITNESS? THEY WERE A WITNESS THAT GOD WAS WITH JESUS. “…the Father... [that DWELT within JESUS]… he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “… Jesus of Nazareth ...went around ... doing good
and healing all (HOW?)...because …God [the holy spirit]… was with him…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV).“…The [Holy] ...Spirit … anointed [empowered JESUS] to preach the gospel to the poor ... [empowered him] to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV). “...he (GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT) doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE, LIKE JESUS, ARE DOING HIS WILL, DOES HE
HELP THEM TOO? YES. HOW? HIS INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS THEM TO DO HIS WILL. “…He helps me…”
(Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…God ...does
the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his. …… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS
God’s power THROUGH each of us …… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11
NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). NAME ONE OR TWO
THINGS THE HOLY SPIRIT “HELPED” JESUS DO? HE HELPED
JESUS PREACH HIS WORD, HEAL PEOPLE, DELIVER PEOPLE, DO MIRACLES, WONDERS, AND
SIGNS, AND SET THEM FREE FROM SIN. “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy [Spirit] and WITH POWER…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV). “… Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles
and wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you…” (Acts 2:22 KJV). “…The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …
…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and WITH
POWER: who went about doing
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD WAS WITH
HIM. And we are witnesses of all things which he did …”
(Acts 10:38-39 KJV). “…I do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in [Jesus], he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).“… [The Father] ...anointed
… [Jesus] … to preach the gospel to the poor; he … sent … [him] … to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).“…the Father that
dwelleth in [Jesus], he doeth
the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). HAS GOD CHANGED? NO. WILL HE HELP YOU LIKE HE HELPED JESUS? YES, HE WILL. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi
3:6 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
WHEN JESUS WAS SUFFERING THROUGH
HIS TRIBULATIONS OR STORMS OF LIFE, WHAT IMPORTANT THING DID HE DO? HE ENTRUSTED HIS LIFE TO GOD. “…Christ …entrusted
himself to him who judges justly…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). WHILE ON EARTH,
WHO DOES GOD WANT HIS PEOPLE TO BE LIKE? HE WANTS THEM
TO BE LIKE JESUS. “…be conformed
to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29 KJV). “…LEARN
from me, for
I am gentle and HUMBLE
in heart…” (Matthew 11:29 KJV). Therefore, “… be transformed by the renewing of your mind ….” (Romans 12:2
KJV). “…In this world we are LIKE JESUS…”
(1 John 4:17 NIV). WHAT
WAS JESUS LIKE? JESUS WENT AROUND DOING GOOD AND
HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL. Jesus of Nazareth ...went around ... doing good
and healing all (HOW?)...because …God [the invisible holy spirit]… was with him…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV).“…[JESUS
WAS SENT]... to preach the gospel to the poor
... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the
acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV). HOW ARE GOD’S
PEOPLE EMPOWERED TO DO WHAT GOD CALLED THEM TO DO? THEY
CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS THEM. “…I can do ALL THINGS through Christ …” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). HOW ARE GOD’S
PEOPLE EMPOWERED BY JESUS CHRIST? BY BECOMING NEW
CREATIONS. “…If any man (woman) be in
Christ,
he(she) is a NEW creature …” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “... The old life is gone...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT). “… [because] … all things are … [MADE] … NEW…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…God is not human …”
(Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the
Spirit of God dwell in [new creations who are now God’s people]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
NAME THREE WAYS GOD’S GLORY IS WITNESSED? THROUGH HIS PRESENCE, HIS GOODNESS, AND HIS WORKING POWER.
ARE GOD’S PEOPLE MEANT TO BE A WITNESS OF HIS GLORY? YES. “…Stephen,
a man full of God’s
grace and POWER
(God’s GLORY or his indwelling Holy Spirit), performed great wonders and signs among the people…”
(Acts 6:8 NIV). “…God did extraordinary MIRACLES (God’s GLORY or by the indwelling Holy
Spirit) through Paul…”
(Acts 19:11 NIV). “…I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs,
wonders and MIRACLES (God’s GLORY or the WORK of the Holy Spirit)…” (2
Corinthians 12:12 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in [HIS PEOPLE], he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). It is “…God who does the
work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us ……
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). . “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). WHERE DOES GOD SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT? INTO THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE. WHAT DOES HIS HOLY
SPIRIT DO FOR GOD’S PEOPLE? THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS THEM
WITH EVERYTHING GOOD, EMPOWERS THEM TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE, AND TO DO THE
THINGS PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT. “…God
… sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” OUR HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…It is God who
works in you to will (to want
to do it) and to act (to actually do it) in order to
fulfill his good purpose...” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may
the God of peace, … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with
everything good for doing his will, and may
he work in us what is pleasing to him, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory (God’s presence, power, and goodness) for
ever and ever. Amen...” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. WHY DID JESUS SUFFER THROUGH HUMAN EXPERIENCES?
BECAUSE OF HIS LIKENESS TO HUMAN FLESH. Jesus took on “the likeness of
sinful flesh…” (Romans 8:3 KJV). WHAT
DID JESUS DO THAT OTHERS HUMANS MAY DO WHEN SUFFERING THROUGH TRIBULATIONS OR
THE STORMS OF LIFE? HE PRAYED AND CRIED. “ … In the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was
able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered; And being
made
perfect (spiritually mature), he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV). JESUS LEARNED OBEDIENCE, DURING HIS DAYS OF SUFFERING. JESUS
DID NOT LIKE GO THROUGH TRIBULATIONS OR THE STORMS OF LIFE EITHER, BUT WHAT WAS
HIS ULTIMATE ATTITUDE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES? THAT IT
WASN’T HIS WILL, BUT GOD’S WILL THAT MATTERED. “… He withdrew about a stone's
throw beyond them and knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take
this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done..."
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “ … he ...offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears ... and was heard in that he feared…”
(Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV). “…take
this cup from Me..." (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
“...We do not have a high
priest who is unable to empathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted (in tribulations or
the storms of life) in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin...”
(Hebrews 4:15 NIV). “…not My will, but
Yours be done..." (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8.
Will the indwelling holy spirit do the work
“in” and “through” you like he did jesus? Yes. When
the holy spirit is working “in” and “through” you, is god helping you? yes.
“…It is God who WORKS IN YOU…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…He helps me…”
(Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord helps them, …” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “…You
are my helper and my
savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
JESUS’ OVERWHELMING VICTORY
9.
Jesus went suffered through tribulations or the storms of
life from being mistreated, dying upon the cross, and was buried in a borrowed
grave. What did jesus do on earth in spite of his troubles? He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed
by the devil.“… Jesus of Nazareth ...went around ... doing good
and healing all. “…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV). HOW WAS JESUS MISTREATED? HE WAS BEATEN SO BAD HE WAS
UNRECONIZABLE.“... Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands...”
(John 19:28-30 KJV).“…his appearance was
so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred
beyond human likeness—“ (Isaiah 52:14 NIV). WHAT
DID THE CROWD WHAT HEROD TO DO TO JESUS? THEY WANTED
HIM TO CRUCIFY HIM. WHAT
DID THE CROWD DO TO JESUS? THEY INSULTED HIM.
“..they cried out, saying, Crucify him,
crucify him...” (John 19:28-30 KJV).“…When they hurled their insults
at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). WHY
DID JESUS SUFFER THROUGH SUCH MISTREATMENT? HE DID IT
FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND. “...He was despised
and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our
sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be
whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us,
like sheep, have strayed away...Yet the Lord laid on him the
sins of us all...”
(Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT). “…Christ…suffered (INSIDE THE STORM) for us in
the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV).“…Christ
died for [your] sins according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians
15:3-4 KJV). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. WHO DID JESUS
COMPLETELY ENTRUST HIS LIFE TO? HE
ENTRUSTED HIS LIFE TO GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO JUDGES JUSTLY. “… he ENTRUSTED himself to him who judges
justly…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). “…Father,
into thy hands
I commend my spirit…” (Luke 23:46 KJV). How did jesus
overcome (GET THE VICTORY OVER) the world? HE
OVERCAME THE WORDLD BY CONQUERING THE POWER OF SIN AND DEATH WHEN HE DIED UPON
THE CROSS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD. HE DISARMED, STRIPPED, AND TRIUMPHED OVER THE
RULERS AND AUTHORITES OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND WICKEDNESS THROUGH THE CROSS
TOO.
“..be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world...” (John 16:33 KJV). “...take
heart, because I have overcome the
world..."
(John 16:44 NLT).“...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid...” (John 14:27 KJV). “...When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He
made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him...”
(Colossians 2:15 NASB). “...Therefore,
since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook
of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power
of death, that is, the devil...” (Hebrews 2:14 NASB). “...Since ...[HIS]... children are made of flesh
and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to
rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the
Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of
death...” (Hebrews 2:14 MSG). WHY
SHOULD GOD’S PEOPLE BE THANKFUL THAT JESUS OVERCAME THE WORLD? BECAUSE OF JESUS, HIS PEOPLE
HAVE VICTORY (SAME AS OVERCOME) THROUGH HIM. The bible says “be
of good cheer,” “take heart,” and
“let your heart not be trouble or afraid,”
because, through CHRIST JESUS, we have ALL overcome TRIBULATIONS or the STORMS
of LIFE. “...We must [go]...through much tribulation [to]...enter into the
kingdom of God..” (Acts 14:22 KJV). “...despite
all these things, overwhelming victory is ours ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT). “...thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory (HELPS US OVERCOME TOO) through our Lord
Jesus Christ...”
(1 Corinthians 15:57 NASB). WHAT WAS THE
RESULT OF JESUS’ OVERCOMING THE WORLD? GOD “HIGHLY
EXALTED” HIM AND “GIVE HIM A NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES.”
“...God
highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on
Him the name which is above every name...” (Philippians 2:9). “...Because of that obedience, God lifted him high
and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all
created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will
bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the
Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father...”
(Philippians 2:9-11 MSG).
WHAT IS JESUS OTHER NAME? THE WORD OF GOD.“…
He (Jesus) had a name written, that no man
knew … his name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). WHAT WILL “EVERY
KNEE” DO, ONE DAY, AT “THAT” NAME? EVERY WILL BOW. “…at … the name of Jesus EVERY
KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the
earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV). GOING THROUGH TRIBULATIONS OR THE STORMS OF LIFE WILL BE A
STRUGGLE, BUT IF GOD’S PEOPLE ENTRUST THEMSELVES TO HIM, WHAT WILL GOD DO “IN”
AND “THROUGH” THEM? HE WILL EMPOWER THEM TO DO THE WORKS THEY WERE
CALLED TO DO AND THE WORKS THAT WITNESS HIS GLORY.“…The
... works that I do, bear
witness of me, that the Father has sent me...” (John 5:36 KJV). “...he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). WHAT
WAS JESUS SENT TO EARTH TO BECOME? HE WAS SENT TO
BECOME A RANSOM FOR LOST SOULS.
Jesus
did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many...”
(Matthew 20:28 KJV). “…my righteous
servant (Jesus)
will make it possible for many to be counted righteous…”
(Isaiah 53:11 NLT). THE DEVIL INTENDED FOR THE TRIBULATIONS
AND STORMS OF LIFE TO BE SO BAD AND HORRIBLE FOR JESUS, HE WOULD GIVE UP. WHAT
DID GOD INTEND TO DO? JESUS TRIBULATIONS OR STORMS OF LIFE WERE “NOT” GOOD, BUT GOD WORKED
THEM TOGETHER FOR GOOD AND JESUS SAVES AND HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES.
“...ALL THINGS work together for good …” (ROMANS
8:28 KJV). “…God
intended...[JESUS’ TRIBULATIONS OR STORMS OF LIFE]... for good to accomplish
what is now being done, the saving of many lives...”
Genesis 50:20 NIV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. MANY TRIBULATIONS AND STORMS ARE USED TO DISCIPLINE, TRAIN,
AND PREPARE GOD’S PEOPLE FOR A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, OBEDIENCE, AND DIVINE
PURPOSE. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GOD’S CHASTENING (DISCIPLINS, TRAINING,
ETC.)? IT SAYS HIS CHASTENING IS NOT PLEASANT, BUT
GRIEVOUS, BUT IT WILL PRODUCE GOD’S HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN HIS
PEOPLE. “No
chastening (training, preparation, etc.) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable FRUIT of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby...”
(Hebrews 12:11 KJV). “… [God allows training and preparation]…for our
profit, that [you] might be partakers
(participants) of his holiness...” (Hebrews 12:10
KJV). WHY MIGHT GOD BE “LESS”
CONCERNED WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING “TO”
YOU THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING “WITHIN” YOU? BECAUSE GOD’S IS
LOOKING AT THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE.
“…The LORD LOOKS
AT THE HEART…” (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “….[It is] from WITHIN,
out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts … wickedness, deceit, … pride, and
foolishness. All these vile things come from WITHIN; they are what
defile you…” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT). “... I [am]
…a slave to the … [sin]... that is … WITHIN
me …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). DOES
GOD KNOW THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE? YES, GOD KNOWS THE
HEART OF HIS PEOPLE. God
SEES the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “…No one needed… to tell him about human nature, for he knew
what was in each person’s heart…”
(John 2:24-25 NLT). “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about
me. You know everything I do…” (Psalms 139:1-6
NLT). GOD KNOWS THE HEARTS OF HIS
PEOPLE. WHEN HE ALLOWS THEM TO GO THROUGH TRIBULATIONS OR THE STORMS OF LIFE,
WHAT WILL IT REVEAL TO THEM? IT WILL REVEAL, TO THEM,
WHAT IS IN THE “OWN” HEARTS TOO. “….what was in [their OWN]…heart…”
(Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV). “…My
people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted,
following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts.
They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
“...But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will
continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil
desires...” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12. DO
GOD’S PEOPLE STILL HAVE SOME WICKED WAYS? YES.
WHAT SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO ABOUT THOSE WICKED WAYS? THEY
SHOULD CHOOSE TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES, PRAY, SEEK GOD, AND TURN FROM THOSE WICKED
WAYS. “…If
My people which are called by My
name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their
wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV). GOD
WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO “LIVE” FREE FROM SIN, ITS PRACTICES, ITS INFLUENCE, AND ITS
BONDAGE; LIKE HIM. DOES GOD MAKE EXCEPTION FOR THOSE WHO PRACTICE SIN? NO. WHY OR WHY NOT? HE WANTS
HIS PEOPLE TO BECOME HOLY AS HE IS HOLY. “…Be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16
KJV). “... EVERYONE (NO
EXCEPTIONS) who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...
the one who practices
sin is of the devil ... No one who is born of God practices
sin, because His seed abides (WORD/WORDS ABIDE) in him; and he cannot sin,
because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the
devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD..” (1
John 3:7-10 NASB). WHAT DOES A PERSON BECOME WHEN THEY OBEY THE DICTATES OF
THEIR SINFUL NATURE? THEY BECOME A “SLAVE” TO THOSE
DICTATES. “…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV).
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS? THEY WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
“... Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NASB).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. IN
ORDER TO GROW SPIRITUALLY AND BECOME “MORE” CHRIST LIKE, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN? THE FLESH MAN OR WOMAN NEEDS TO BECOME LESS AND LESS. “He must become greater and
greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30 NLT). THE SINFUL NATURE NEEDS TO BECOME LESS AND LESS IN CONTROL.
WHAT IS THE PROOF THAT THE SINFUL NATURE IS BECMONG LESS AND LESS? OBEDIENCE. LISTIENING TO AND KEEPING YOUR COMMANDMENTS. “…My people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following
the stubborn desires of their evil hearts...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...the people
replied … We will continue to
live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH
18:12 NLT). “…for thy heart is not right in the
sight of God…” (Acts 8:21 KJV). WHAT
DISTINCTION DOES GOD GIVE “HIS” PEOPLE SO OTHERS WILL “KNOW” THE CHILDREN OF
GOD FROM THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL? YOU WILL KNOW GOD’S
CHILDREN BY THEIR SPIRITUAL FRUIT. “...we can tell who are children
of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone
(NO EXCEPTIONS) who does not live righteously ... does not belong to God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT). “…Ye shall know
[God’s people]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “...For
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...” (Matthew 15:19 KJV). “… [It
is] from WITHIN, out of a person’s
heart, come evil thoughts …
wickedness, deceit, …[evil desires, lusts,]... pride, and foolishness. All
these vile things come from WITHIN; they are what defile you (make you
unclean physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.)…” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT). WHERE DOES GOD SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT? INTO THE HEART OF MANKIND.
“…[God]…sent His Son...” (1
John 4:10 KJV). “…He loved
us and
sent his Son …” (1 John 4:10 NIV). “…you
[are my children], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts...”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). "…I will put My Spirit
within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be
careful to observe My ordinances…” (Ezekiel 36:27 NASB). “…HE (God, the HOLY SPIRIT) WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN
YOU (through HIS indwelling SPIRIT) WILL “PERFORM” IT until the day of Jesus Christ…”
(Philippians 1:6 KJV). “…it is God who worketh in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). WHAT
IS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT “PROOF” OF? THAT GOD’S
SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN HIS PEOPLE THROUGH JESUS, HIS LIVING WORD. “…God has given [HIS
PEOLE] HIS Spirit as PROOF that … he [dwells]…in [THEM]…” (1 John 4:13 NLT). “…Jesus Christ is in ...[them]…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). IS JESUS PLANTED
IN THE HEART LIKE A SEED? YES. HOW DO YOU MAKE A
SEED GROW? BY WATERING IT. “…… THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…[like
a seed]...” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV). “…God is
Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). God, the Holy Spirit represents a type of
water and refers to himself as “...spring
of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). The bible says,
“....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY
SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto
you, they ARE SPIRIT (living water)…” (John
6:63 KJV). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord … [the SEED begins to GROW] …” (Psalms
33:6 NASB). WHAT KIND OF FRUIT DOES THE SEED BEGIN TO GROW? THE SPIRITUAL FRUIT OF LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, ETC. “…The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The....[indwelling]... Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [his people’s] ...lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…Ye shall know [his people]… by their fruits…”
(Matthew 7:16 KJV). "…“[His
people[...bear much fruit,
and .. PROVE to
be...[HIS]... disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- BEFORE THE PLANTS CAN GROW, A GARDENER WILL PREPARE THE GROUND IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A GOOD CROP. WHAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT CAN BEGIN TO PRODUCE SPIRITUAL FRUIT WITHIN THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE? THE HEART NEEDS TO BE CLEANED. HOW? THE WORD OF GOD CLEANS THE HEART. “...[The hearts of God’s people]... are clean through the WORD which I (God, the Holy Spirit) have spoken unto [them]...” (John 15:1-10 KJV). AS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS TO CLEAN “INSIDE” THE HEART, THROUGH THE WORD, WHAT STARTS TO COME THROUGH HIS PEOPLE? THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT BEGINS TO BE DISPLAYED “THROUGH” THEM. “...The...[HOLY SPIRIT]... does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The [Holy] Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV). GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOT TRANSFORMED BY EXCHANGING OR RENEWING ONE BEHAVIOR FOR ANOTHER, BUT THEY ARE TRANSFORMED BY RENEWING THEIR MIND OR THEIR “WHAT?” THEIR HEARTS. “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (HEARTS)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).“...For from within, out of the heart of man (woman), proceed evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV). “…Create in me a clean heart, O God…” (Psalms 51:10 KJV). “...out of the HEART (information center) comes evil THOUGHTS(command center)...” THE HEART INFORMS THE MIND AND THE MIND COMMANDS BEHAVIOR. WHEN THE HEART AND MIND IS RENEWED IT EMPOWERS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT TO DO WHAT? DISPLAY GOD’S GLORY “IN” AND “THROUGH” HIS PEOPLE. “…It is God who works in you…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “...The...[HOLY SPIRIT]... does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep … work[s] in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip[s] you with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “… [God] grant[s]… [HIS PEOPLE]… to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15. WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE
CLAIM TO KNOW GOD VERBALLY, BUT DISPLAY “NO” SPIRITUAL FRUIT, WHAT DOES THE
BIBLE SAY ABOUT THEM? IT SAYS THEY CLAIM TO KNOW HIM,
BUT HAVE NO SPIRITUAL FRUIT TO PROVE IT. THEY ARE LYING, ARE HYPOCRITES, AND
THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM GOD.“…If
someone claims,
“I know God,”
but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person IS A LIAR and is not living in the
truth…” (1 John 2:4 NLT). “…If we “SAY” that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN
DARKNESS (without the show of spiritual fruit), WE LIE,
and DO NOT THE TRUTH…” (1 John 1:6 KJV). “ … the deeds of the flesh are evident…” (Galatians 5:20-22 NASB). “…He answered and said unto
them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written,
This people honoureth me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6 KJV). “...the LORD looks at the heart…” (1 Samuel 16:7). “…Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity…” (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV).“…The flesh profiteth nothing…” (John 6:63 KJV).
“…And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it
profiteth me NOTHING...” (1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV). WILL
THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWER GOD’S PEOPLE TO DISPLAY SPIRITUAL FRUIT? YES. DOES THE INDWELLING SPIRIT ALSO PRODUCE THIS
SPIRITUAL FRUIT? YES. “...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”
(Galatians 5 NLT). “...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…”
(Galatians 5 NLT). WHO IS “ACTUALLY” DOING THE “WORK” OF
PRODUCING SPIRITUAL FRUIT IN THE LIVES OF “HIS” PEOPLE? GOD IS DOING THE WORK “IN” THEM AND “THROUGH” THEM. “…God … does
the work IN and THROUGH all
of us who are his. … (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…
God … work[s] … in … [you] … what
is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). “…The [invisible] …
HOLY SPIRIT …does the work (of producing spiritual fruit) IN and THROUGH [his
people]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “...The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to enable spiritual
fruit) THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16. FAITH EMPOWERS
GOD’S PEOPLE TRUST IN AND DEPEND UPON HIS WORD. HOPE EMPOWERS THEM TO “EXPECT”
HIM TO DO WHAT HE SAYS “HIS WORD” WILL DO. WHAT DOES IT MEANS THAT ABRAHAM KEPT
HOPING AND BELIEVING? IT MEANS ABRAHAM KEPT TRUSTING
AND DEPENDING UPON GOD TO DO WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO. HE ALSO KEPT EXPECTING
HIM TO DO IT AS WELL. “…Even
when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept
hoping (EXPECTING)—believing (TRUSTING, DEPENDING)…!"
(Romans 4:18 NLT). “…you will abound in HOPE (EXPECTANCY) by the power
of the...[indwelling]... Holy Spirit…” (Romans
15:13 NASB). “…God, the source of HOPE (EXPECTANCY), will fill you
completely.... Then you will overflow with confident
HOPE (EXPECTANCY) through the power
of the [indwelling] ...Holy Spirit…”
(Romans 15:13 NLT). “…Trust in the Lord (the indwelling holy spirit) with
all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…You will abound in HOPE
(EXPECTATION) by the power of the Holy
Spirit…” (Romans 15:13 NASB). “…God, the source of HOPE (EXPECTANCY), will fill you
completely.... Then you will overflow with confident
HOPE (EXPECTANCY) through the power
of the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 15:13 NLT).
The FRUIT of“…FAITH COMETH BY HEARING,
and hearing by the word of God…” (Roman 10:17 KJV). “...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives...[faith]…”
(Galatians 5 NLT). AND “…you will abound in HOPE (EXPECTANCY) by the
power of the...[indwelling]... Holy Spirit…[TOO]...” (Romans 15:13 NASB).
17. GOD’S PEOPLE
SURRENDING TO FAITH AND HOPE INSIDE THEIR TRIBULATIONS AND STORMS OF LIFE,
BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT ABOUT GOD? NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD AND NOTHING IS
IMPOSSIBLE. “…The things
which are impossible with men are possible with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “…[GOD].. is able TO DO
exceeding
abundantly ABOVE all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah
32:27 KJV). “…I
(Jesus, even said, “I) do nothing of myself…”
(John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father
that dwelleth in me (Jesus), he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). Jesus says to God’s people: “…abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me…” (John 15:4 KJV). “…Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [God’s people cannot]... do
nothing [they cannot produce spiritual fruit or characteristics LIKE God, the
Holy Spirit]…” (John 15:5 NIV). SO, “… In all thy ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “...ALL THINGS (sickness, divorce, death,
disappointments, pain, heartbreak, etc.) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…”
(ROMANS 8:28 KJV). “...despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
18. DOES IT MATTER
HOW LONG THE TRIBULATINS OR STORMS HAVE BEEN? NO.
Will god’s people still experience victory? Yes, they
will. “...despite all these things (including time), overwhelming
victory is ours ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT). “…[God, the Holy Spirit, can] do
far more abundantly beyond all that [you]… ask or think,
according to the power that works within [you]…” (Ephesians 3:20 NASB). “…Only
believe…” (Mark 5:36 KJV). “…The things which are impossible
with men are possible with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “...“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the
things which God hath prepared for those who love Him…” (1
Corinthians 2:9 KJV). IN THE MOMENTS
OF TRIBULATIONS OR STORMS OF LIFE, WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING CRITICAL,
HUMAN WEAKNESSES SUCH AS FEAR, DEEP SADNESS, HEARTBREAK, TERROR, TEMPTATIONS,
ETC, WHAT SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO? SURRENDER TO GOD’S
LOVE AND CARE BY SURRENDING TO HIS WILL. “…"Father … not My will, but Yours be done"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “…If the Lord will,
[I] shall live, and do this, or that...” (James 4:16 KJV). “...Casting all your
care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “….all things [will] work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose…” (Romans
8:28 KJV). “...He (Jesus) gave (entrusted) Himself over to Him (God, the
father, the Holy Spirit, etc.) ...” (1 Peter 2:23 KJV). HOW DEEP DID
JESUS FAITH AND HOPE IN GOD GO? IT WENT SO DEEP, JESUS’
FAITH AND EXPECTANCY IN GOD TOOK HIM WILLING TO DEATH AND THE GRAVE; KNOWING
GOD WOULD RAISE HIM UP AGAIN AS “HIS WORD” PROMISED.“...I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore..” (Revelation 1:18 KJV). “...he
is risen...” (Matthew 28:6 KJV). “...We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him...” (Romans 6:9 NLT). “... it
is written, [that]... Christ... [would suffer and]....rise from the dead the third day...” (Luke 24:46 KJV). “...After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed
both the Scriptures and what Jesus (the living WORD) had said...” (John 2:22 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19. HOW CAN GOD’S
PEOPLE HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH AND EXPECTANCY IN GOD, LIKE JESUS DID? BY THEN ENABLING POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…He helps me…”
(Psalms 28:7 NLT). “...despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us...” (Romans 8:37 NLT). “…The things which are impossible
with men ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD
FOR ME?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…NOW
UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or THINK, according to the
power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). WITH ALL THIS HELP FROM GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHAT ROLE DOES
GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR VICTORY? THEY ARE TO STAND
FIRM IN FAITH AND EXPECTANCY. THEY CHOOSE TO WEAR THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD AND
KNOW THAT GOD WON’T LEAVE THEM. THEY ARE TO BE COURAGEOUS, BECAUSE “NO WEAPON”
FORMED AGAINST THEM WILL PROSPER. THE BATTLE IS GOD’S AND SO IS THE VICTORY. “...Therefore
[INSIDE the STORMS]... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of
evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand. Stand
firm...” (Ephesians 6:13-14 NIV). “... Put on all of God’s armor so that you
will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil...” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT). “…HE (the indwelling Holy Spirit) “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG
to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “…God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly
quote, God is there, ready to help...” (Hebrews 13:5 MSG). “…He said, … Do not be afraid or discouraged ...the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT). “…No weapon that is formed against
[YOU]… shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17
KJV). “…the battle is not yours, but God’s. …...”
(2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT). “…you will not even need to fight...” (2
Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT). “…Take your positions; then stand still..”
(2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).“…watch the Lord’s victory...” (2
Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20. WHAT HAPPENED TO
JESUS DURING HIS TRIBULATIONS OR STORMS OF LIFE ON EARTH? HE WAS HORRIBLY MISTREATED AND DIED UPON A CROSS LIKE A
CRIMINAL. INSIDE JESUS’ STORM: “... Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands...”
(John 19:28-30 KJV).“…his appearance was
so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred
beyond human likeness—“ (Isaiah 52:14 NIV). “..they cried out, saying, Crucify him,
crucify him...” (John 19:28-30 KJV). …When they hurled their insults
at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). “...He was despised
and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our
sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be
whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us,
like sheep, have strayed away...Yet the Lord laid on him the
sins of us all...”
(Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT). “…Christ…suffered (INSIDE THE STORM) for us in
the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV). “…Christ
died for [your] sins according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4
KJV). “…they came to Jesus, and
saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs ... one of the soldiers
with a spear pierced his side…” (John 19:31-37 KJV). “…Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen
clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury ... Now in the place where
he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never
man yet laid. There
laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for
the sepulchre was nigh at hand…” (John 19:38-42 KJV). THROUGH
IT ALL. WHAT DID JESUS DO? HE ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO GOD.
“… he ENTRUSTED himself to him who judges
justly…” (1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV). “…Father,
into thy hands
I commend my spirit…” (Luke 23:46 KJV). EVEN THOUGH GOD
PROMISED JESUS HE WOULD RISE AGAIN, DID HE STILL HAVE TO DIE? YES, HE DIED AND WAS BURIED. “...[Jesus]... was
buried,
and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). ACCORDING TO PHILIPPIANS 2:9, WHAT IS
JESUS NOW? JESUS
IS HIGHLY EXALTED WITH A NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. Jesus is now “highly
exalted”
with a “name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). WHAT IS JESUS’ OTHER NAME? THE WORD
OF GOD. “… He (Jesus) had a name written, that no man
knew … his name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT “THAT” NAME ONE DAY? EVERY KNEE WILL BOW.
“…at … the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven and
things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV). WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD’S WORKS? THEY ARE MARVELLOUS AND WONDERUL. “...he (God,
the Holy Spirit)...hath done marvellous
things…” ( Psalms 98:1 KJV). “… Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast
done …” (Psalms 40:5 KJV). THE BIBLE SAYS YOU (GOD’S PEOPLE) WILL HAVE
TRIBULATIONS AND TROUBLE ON EARTH, BUT LIKE JESUS, WHAT WILL BE YOUR OUTCOME? GOD PROMISES, HIS PEOPLE, OVERWHELMING VICTORY THROUGH JESUS.“...In the world ye shall
have tribulation...” (John 16:33 KJV).
YET “...overwhelming victory is ours ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment