4 Understanding The Healing Ministry Of Jesus (2/2)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy G.o.d, I will also forget thy children
Hosea 4:6.
Priests were intermediaries, intercessors and teachers in the Old Testament and though you are New Testament priests if you are born again;
”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”
l pet 2:9
Nevertheless you stand rejected if knowledge- the basis of your acceptable service is rejected. Some others spend much trying to believe the written word they do not relate to the Holy Ghost on a daily basis. The Holy Spirit seeks your communion.
”And I will pray the father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you ever; even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. But the comforter, which is the holy ghost ,whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I said unto you”
John 14:16, 17, 26.
Jesus attributed his work including his healing ministry to the Holy Spirit. He worked in the strength of Holy Spirit. He was so dependent on the Holy Spirit that he claimed he could do nothing without him.
”Then answered Jesus and said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you the son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the father do: for what things so ever he doeth, these also doeth the son likewise”
John 5:19
”but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe that the father in me, and I in him”
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John 10:38.
”Believeth thou not that I am in the father and the father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak unto you I speak not for myself: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”.
John 14:10.
Many years ago when I was in the secular job, I was urgently called upon to teach some masters of Science (Msc.) student at the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). They needed me to help teach two courses that were related to petroleum Geology. As there was little time to pray, I had many materials to read for my use for the lectures. I kept on writing out facts I wanted to use and got so exhausted. I wanted to pray before I would enter another marathon lectures when the Holy Spirit said.
”Why don't you photocopy those papers? Then bring them together for your use at the lectures”
I was shocked that I asked him why he had left me to do it my own way instead of telling me what he was now saying. The Holy Spirit answered
”Did you ask me about this to begins with”?
Many times you behave like me, doing things your own way. The cost of running your life becomes expensive if you build your life on your own strength.
”Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the lord keep the city, the watchman watch but in vain”
Psalm 127:1
Few others are being deceived as they are following voices exclusive of the written word. The written word is your safety belt as you drive through the world of evil.
Paul said
”But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”
Galatians 1:8
Peter in another light also said—
”We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye take heed, as unto a light that s.h.i.+neth in a dark place until the day down, and the day star arise in your hearts”
Peter 1:19
Another reason why some do not know the communion of the Spirit is as a result of their unwillingness to obey the revealed will of G.o.d. G.o.d will not give you a further light when you have not obeyed his previous instruction on the same issue.
But the path of the just is as the s.h.i.+ning light, that s.h.i.+neth more and more unto the perfect day
Proverb 4:18
You should know that the voice that inspired the written word is the same voice that speaks to your recreated human spirit
”The spirit of man is the candle of the lord, searching all the inward part of the belly”
Proverbs 20:27
Obedience is so vital to your spirit walk. There is no alternative to obedience if you will walk like Jesus with the Holy Spirit. You want sustained anointing! The one that takes its abode upon you and only increase by renewal? Then it comes by appointment and obedience.
Hear what wisdom says:
”For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this things commanded I them, saying, obey my voice, and I will be your G.o.d, and ye shall be my people; and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you”
Jeremiah 7:22-23
See what obedience brought to our model – our lord Jesus Christ.
”Thou hast love righteousness, and hated iniquity: therefore G.o.d, even thy G.o.d, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows”
Hebrews 1:9.
And if you will have results like him as you use his exalted name you will submit to changes initiated by the Spirit of G.o.d.
”But we all, with open face beholding as in a gla.s.s the glory of the lord are changed into the same image from glory, even as by the Spirit of the lord”
ll Corinthians 3:18.
Then you can arise and s.h.i.+ne even in the midst of thick darkness as a result of his glory, upon you. The word says
”Arise, s.h.i.+ne; for thy light is come, and the glory of the lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee”
Isaiah 60:1-2
Apart from obedience, Jesus in earthly ministry also moves in the timing of the Holy Spirit.
”To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. He hath made everything beautiful in his time….”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11a
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany the town of Mary and her sister Martha
”Now Jesus love Martha, and her sister and Lazarus”
John 11:5
But see what LOVE did and said
”Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus hears that, he said this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of G.o.d, that the son of G.o.d might be glorified thereby. When he heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was”
John 11:3-4, 6
We cannot truly say we love, until we wait constantly for the marching order of the Holy Spirit, doing only what his word and his Spirit command. The scripture on love in the thirteenth chapter of the book to the Corinthians used to trouble me knowing that the epistle was written not for us but to us. I later learnt that what men call love today is compromise, emotion and sympathy. True love is rooted in the Holy Spirit as you obey the commands of the master.
”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”
l Corinthians 13:3
Many years ago in the ministry I had to give counsels to some of our brethren to avoid the path of some of the disorderly brethren in accordance to the written word.
”Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”
Romans 16:17-18.
Your feeling has nothing to do with G.o.d's instruction. Your love for G.o.d is seen in your obedience. As a senior pastor of a ministry, I would be giving place to the devil if I had allowed human feeling or natural love to over-ride the word of G.o.d. Innocent brethren would have been exposed to wrong flow. G.o.d's words are not suggestions, but they are his commands and his commandments are not grievous.
I have shown you this example to let you know how you should define the love of G.o.d in the context of his written word. You also should define the love of G.o.d in the context of the leading of the Holy Spirit in your daily work with him. in the year 1997, I was in a prayer session with some of our covenant friends. They are ministers of high integrity. At the end of the prayer, prophecies came rolling out. The witness of a prophet is the word of G.o.d and the unction upon him at the period of the prophecy. That is one way the anointing you have teaches you.
Those words said-
”I will expose the evil ministers who have corrupted themselves with covetousness. I will spread my wrath against them. Behold I am coming with my wrath. I am coming to judge the evil ones. Many have gone from the true part. I will come and judge them. My children! Never you go by this road. Many are like clouds without rain. Many are like cloud without water....”
Another one said
”Be bold in my spirit. For people who will be bold to walk in my Spirit will preserve my true move. You receive strength to be bold and walk in my Spirit in the face of all opposition. I send you forth to work in my Spirit for this is not the time to withdraw to your tent. I will open doors in places where I intend to preserve the truth and you shall go forth. The only things that will preserve my move are the true men who will be bold in my Spirit. The magnet of G.o.d is hovering over the earth – learn this move and be wise...”
Those prophecies talk about judgment especially as they came in the midst of an effective intercessor for Nigeria Christians and ministries. You don't have to believe those prophecies but I believed them for the anointing upon me taught me that it was truly his Spirit. I will therefore be walking outside of love if I should ignore what the Spirit was saying at the spur of the moment. That is the primary way to walk in love and in Spirit. G.o.d has programmed his plans and purpose with timing. The scripture speaks of age past, present age and the ages which is to come. This is the day of Divine visitation of the gentiles. The church (the body of Christ) is being formed and perfected to demonstrate the power and wisdom of G.o.d to the devils and the world through his exalted name.
Don't allow anything to stand against the purpose of G.o.d on any issue. G.o.d values his purpose, for is purpose is his wisdom. You must learn to be led by his Spirit. I am still learning. Have you arrived? Life in Christ is not a destination but a journey.
The people of Israel were tempted by the sinfulness of the sons of Samuel to make a choice that would determine their destiny and those of their children. They asked for a king untimely and so walked in G.o.d's permissiveness (l Sam 8:18). When we decide to gamble with our life by walking in G.o.d's permissive will because of impatience, we expose ourselves to the a.s.sault of the enemy of our souls.
Your prayer everyday should be:
Oh G.o.d! Give me an understanding of the time am living. Let me know what is on your mind. Open my eyes to know what the time is saying and I will walk in your will.
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