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Chapter 69: The Gospel Presented as Three Calls from God

God issues three basic calls to people, each of which resonates deeply in the hearts of those who love him. Each call draws us into a deeper experience of God’s love and to a new level of commitment reflected in three baptisms. Each is tied firmly to God’s eternal purpose to glorify his Son through us, and each is a doorway into personal joy and fulfillment. Each is an integral part of the gospel.

Jesus combined all three calls in one beautiful sentence.

...“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”  Matthew 4:19 (NLT) 

Come… Follow… Fish. Each of the three calls invites us into a deeper relationship with God, and each has a higher personal cost associated with it. Many are called, but few embrace all three.

Come: The Call to Know Jesus as Savior
And you... have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6 (NLT)

The initial call we receive from God is the call to come to him to be loved, forgiven, reconciled, and become part of God’s family through the new birth.

Because sin alienated us from God and broke our spiritual lifeline, before we hear and respond to this call, our biggest problem, deepest fear, and loneliest prospect is a life and an eternity separated from God. We were spiritual orphans in the universe. Here is how Paul put it.

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.  Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)

Father God looked upon our lost condition with great compassion and sent his only Son to suffer the judgment our sins deserved so that we might be fully restored to him.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 (NLT)

God’s loving call to come to Christ the Savior and belong to his family satisfies our deepest longing and answers our identity question, making us children of God.

Becoming part of God’s family through the new birth automatically makes us belong to everyone else in the family, too. The Holy Spirit spiritually baptizes or immerses us into the body of Christ.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT)

Father God must open our spiritual understanding and give us the ability to hear this call. Our Lord personally issued this call to belong to all who can receive it.

...“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

The first and most fundamental call anyone can receive from God is the gospel call to know Jesus as Savior and become sons and daughters of God through the new birth.

When we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, Jesus shares his relationship with Abba Father with us.

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.  Galatians 4:6–7 (NLT)

If you have never done so before, now is the time to respond to the gospel call to become a child of God. Jesus did the hard part on the cross, but we have our own responsibility in the matter. His hand is extended to offer us the gift of life. Our part is to reach out and receive that gift and rest in the knowledge that we are loved.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (ESV)
 
Follow: The Call to Know Jesus as Lord

Being loved and part of God’s family is deeply satisfying but it is not all there is. Jesus knew the joy of doing the things that pleased his Father.

but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.  John 14:31 (NASB95)

The second call from God is the call to love and obey Jesus the Lord. It challenges us to return the love God poured out on us through being faithful and dedicated to his beloved Son.

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”  John 14:21 (NLT)

When we respond to this call to show allegiance to Jesus, it will fulfill another fundamental desire we all have – to experience the joy of doing what pleases God.

We must first discover who we are through the new birth before we can move forward to learning to please God through our thoughts, words, and deeds. As important as resting in God’s love is, our Lord did not create us merely to exist. He also intends for us to properly represent him to the world through doing good works of faith and love.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

We cannot earn God’s approval and favor, which are gifts. Our approval by God is first and foremost based on Christ’s performance on our behalf. He kept the law of God perfectly and served his Abba Father without deviation all the way to the cross. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, his right standing with God and the approval attached to his perfect obedience are credited to our spiritual “bank account”. This is called justification, the judicial act of God’s imputing or crediting Christ’s righteousness to those who believe.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT)

Because we are new creations in Christ, who have been given a right standing with God and his approval, we (super)naturally desire to do good works. The indwelling Holy Spirit inspires and enables us to carry them out.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit works inside us so that we can begin to act in agreement with what he did inside us through justification.

He works to translate our inner identity into outward performance.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

In other words, through what is called sanctification or transformation we start to think and act more like who we are, new creations in Christ. We participate in this process by consecrating, dedicating, or surrendering ourselves to Christ’s lordship and the inner work of God’s Spirit. This is a “work” of faith on our part.

When some of his disciples asked Jesus what works God wanted them to do, here is what our Lord said.

..."This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 6:29 (NASB)

The Greek verb pisteuo, which is translated “believe,” also carries the fundamental idea of allegiance. It is a lot more than mere agreement with a set of doctrines or belief that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Faith or belief in Jesus that does not include faithfulness or allegiance to him and his Word is mere lip service and is not biblical faith. Jesus’ call to follow him is a call to show allegiance to him above all else.

This requires us to surrender our will to him.

The Holy Spirit helps us to enter an experience of Christ’s allegiance to his heavenly Father.

By coming into alignment with Christ’s obedience through the Spirit’s help, we gain a deeper experience of God’s approval that previously was simply a gift to us. In other words, God imputes (credits to our account) Christ’s righteousness, but he also wants us to experience living out that righteousness. Some say this is when what was imputed becomes imparted.

Our allegiance to Christ is also demonstrated when we declare his lordship publicly before others.

Following Jesus means we attach ourselves to him personally and follow his teachings. It means we seek to be continually “led by the Spirit.” It means we no longer belong to ourselves: we belong to God.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.  1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NLT)

This is much different from merely being a “Christian” or a “church goer.” It means we seriously commit ourselves to Christ and are not ashamed to be known as one of his disciples.

Water baptism is a formal public declaration of allegiance to Jesus. In it we lay aside our past self-directed way of living and launch ourselves into a life on mission.

Receiving Jesus as Savior can be done privately, but the call to follow requires a public identification with our Lord. He wants us to unashamedly declare our allegiance to him.

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9  But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. Luke 12:8-9 (NLT)

Water baptism is the perfect setting for us to do this. We should encourage any new convert to publicly declare allegiance to Christ by being baptized in water.

Fish: The Call to Know Jesus as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit

No matter what our mission or job in life has been up to this point, Jesus gives his followers a new one – fishing for people.

Jesus’ mission was multi-faceted. He was and is the perfect representation of what Father God is like. He lived in an exemplary way to illustrate what a God-directed and God-glorifying life looks like. He also came to die for our sins as God’s Lamb and to rise again as the exalted Lord of Lords. Finally, as the ascended Lord of the harvest, his continuing mission is to add large numbers of people to God’s family through the church’s preaching the gospel message and making new disciples. He accomplishes this by pouring out his Spirit upon his people and sending us to keep working at what he began until the day he returns as the glorious Son of Man, who will judge the world in righteousness.

Responding to God’s first two calls, receiving our Savior’s love and demonstrating our love for him by surrendering to his lordship, propels us into the mission to love those who are currently outside of God’s family.

When we respond to the call to know Jesus as Savior, we experience what it means to belong to God and his family. When we obey the call to serve Jesus the Lord, we experience the joy of acknowledging him publicly and serving him wholeheartedly.

The call to become fishers of men is a call to experience the joy of being an important and significant representative of Christ.

When God the Father told people to listen to Jesus, he let everyone know that his Son is supremely significant. We participate in Christ’s significance through being actively on mission with him.

God created Adam and Eve to love him and fellowship with him and gave them a job to do – to be fruitful and multiply and rule over his creation. The church has the same mandate. Our mission is not simply to go to church and eventually get to heaven. In between being born again and the death of our bodies, we have a responsibility – to go and make disciples.

Most missional activity takes place outside the church building and is a 24/7 calling.

The call to make disciples provokes us to look on our neighbors and community with new eyes, those of a compassionate shepherd.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”  Matthew 9:36–38 (NLT)

Being on mission challenges us to be alert to the prompting of the Spirit, who is always on mission, and the needs of those living around us, in the expectation that God will open doors of opportunity for us to meet and influence people toward God’s kingdom every day. God gave us new life so we can join him in his worldwide mission to fish for, catch, and disciple people.

Jesus formally announced the call to mission just before he ascended into heaven, when he gave his disciples and us what we now call the Great Commission.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

The call to belong to God’s family is relatively pain free for us, but it cost Jesus everything. For us, it is mainly about discovering how much God loves us. The greatest number of people who call themselves Christians respond to this call. The call to loyally follow Christ introduces the cost associated with identifying with our Lord publicly and keeping his commandments, and fewer accept this call. It is an invitation to die to ourselves and live for our Lord and God’s glory. There usually are more people who identify themselves as Christians than as loyal followers of Christ.

The call to mission is the costliest of all, and fewer still embrace a Great Commission lifestyle. The call to mission invites us to expend ourselves for others for Jesus’ sake, those who are currently God’s enemies in many cases. It is also our call to have great and lasting significance.

Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.  Daniel 12:3 (NLT)

Because Jesus was God’s own son, and because he always did what pleased his Father, he was most significant. His words are to be heeded, just as the Father said when he spoke from heaven.

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (ESV)

When we share the good news of the Gospel, we become extremely significant, too. People should listen to us because we speak for God.

The devil will resist our responding to the gospel’s call to belong because he wants you and me to be eternally lost. He will also resist our responding to the call to surrender our lives to Jesus’ lordship because he knows that will make us dangerous people with respect to his kingdom of darkness. He most firmly and fiercely resists any person or group who commits to being on mission because he knows that such a commitment will bring many others into the kingdom of God.

One of the first steps to embracing the call to mission is to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which equips and empowers us to proclaim the Gospel boldly with signs following.

…he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5  John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ... 8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NLT)

If you have never asked for this gift, right now is the perfect time. Like all of God’s gifts, it is received by faith. It is for all his children, and its purpose is to enable and empower us to fulfill the Great Commission. When we share the gospel, we should tell our hearers that as disciples they are called to be on mission and invite them to receive the baptism in the Spirit.

Calling for a Proper Response

As any good salesman knows, closing is critical. A great presentation means nothing without a sale.

We should never try to coerce or manipulate our hearers into a response, but we should give them an opportunity to make one.

It is a good idea to communicate the urgency to respond since no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. Procrastination could decide their eternity in a very negative way. Paul said that today is the right time to respond to the gospel.

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.  2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

We should remind our hearers that one day we will all stand in judgment before God. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be safe and not suffer God’s wrath against the world’s sinful rebellion against his rule.

And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:15 (NLT)

We should urge them to save themselves from this perverse generation that is hurtling toward the abyss. In conclusion, let’s give our hearers specific steps to take, just as Peter did on Pentecost when he said the following.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NASB)
  • Repent – The Spirit works in us to convict us of our root sin of trying to be the lord of our own lives. True repentance takes place when we acknowledge our sins, turn away from them, ask for and receive forgiveness, and surrender to Christ’s lordship. Faith is required for us to repent. We are not simply sorry for our sins. Rather we receive God’s amazing provision for us in Christ and commit to a lifetime of service to his Lordship.
  • Be Water Baptized – Water baptism is a public demonstration of our repentance, faith, surrender to Christ, and our commitment to serve him for the rest of our lives.
  • Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit – This baptism equips Christ’s followers to fulfill the Great Commission. We cannot adequately serve the Lord of the harvest without it.
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Chapter 68: Gospel Paradigms

There are as many ways to present the good news about Jesus as there are unique individuals with their own specific needs. The more adept we become at sharing the gospel, the better we will be able to adapt it to any situation.

Our goal is to present the gospel in such a way that our hearers understand that Jesus is the One for whom they are searching.

One paradigm for describing Christ’s finished work is viewing our Lord as “Christ the Victor.” He defeated Satan and his evil powers, sin, death, sickness, and every other form of bondage and evil. Even though we do not see his victory fully displayed yet, it is real and can be experienced by those who put their faith and allegiance in him.

Victory over Guilt and Judgment

The gospel paradigm with which we in the West are most familiar contrasts our guilt versus God’s righteousness. In this way of looking at things, we understand that all people will one day stand before God to be judged for our thoughts, words, and deeds. Our lives will be weighed on the scales of God’s holy standard. God imposed that way of thinking by giving Moses the Law, which is a detailed list of requirements by which God demands that we live. The inherent problem with the Law is that we are incapable of keeping it. If therefore someone takes God’s Law seriously, he or she may labor under a heavy sense of condemnation.

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”  Romans 3:10–12 (NLT)

God uses the Law to expose our utter helplessness so that we will conclude that we desperately need a Savior.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.  Galatians 3:10–14 (NLT)

The genius of God is revealed in his sending his Son Jesus to become the embodiment of a new covenant which is completely different from the covenant based on Law.

If God kept us under the Law, we would all be doomed to be judged for our sins and cast into the lake of fire. The only way out for us was for God to send a substitute who would take our place in judgment after completing a life of perfect dependence upon and obedience to God.

A great exchange took place upon the cross and at the resurrection. By a great miracle that C.S. Lewis calls “deep magic” in his classic book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Father God placed us in his son when he was crucified and rose again. That means that when he died, so did we, and when he rose, so did we. Theologians call this identification. Therefore, we are already dead to sin and alive forevermore in righteousness. As Jesus put it, we have passed from death to life.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.  John 5:24 (NASB95)

The New Covenant provides us with Christ’s righteousness so that we no longer must worry about somehow being good enough to merit God’s love and blessing.

We have been given a right standing with God and included in his forever family as a gift.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 (NASB95)

Using this paradigm, we call people to believe that Jesus has given us a new way to relate to God based on faith in his perfect work of redemption.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.  Galatians 2:20–21 (NLT)

We call people to accept their freely given right standing with God by faith in what Christ has already accomplished for them.

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”  Romans 1:17 (NLT)

We also explain that faith includes giving our allegiance to the risen Lord.

Victory over Fear, Powerlessness, and Death

Fear is a universal problem, and for some people deliverance from it is their greatest felt need. People are afraid of all sorts of things – the devil, evil, change, the unknown, the unseen, people they view as powerful enemies, judgment, sickness, pain, death, and even God before they find out how loving and kind he is.

Jesus came to deliver us from fear and give us peace.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.  John 14:27 (NASB95)

Our Lord absorbed our fears on the cross. All our guilt, shame, and condemnation fell upon him as he took the judgment and punishment that we rightly deserved. Part of that judgment was death, since that is what our sins earned. By submitting to death and afterward rising again, Jesus set us free from the power of the fear of death and eternal separation from God.

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, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.  Hebrews 2:14–15 (NASB95)

Many people who have been abused in some fashion suffer from a deep sense of powerlessness, which leaves them fearful. Death is the ultimate form of powerlessness. At death, we lose all ability to defend or save ourselves and are cast completely upon the mercy of God. Because Jesus absorbed our sentence of death on the cross, we have life eternal. By so doing, he rendered the devil powerless to harm us.

If we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, we have nothing to fear regarding death or Satan’s evil power.

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”  Luke 10:19–20 (NLT)

If we use this paradigm for sharing the gospel, we are able call the hearer to believe in and receive for themselves Christ’s victory over fear through his finished work on the cross and his subsequent glorious resurrection. We encourage them to make themselves available to serve our magnificent Lord.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9 (NLT)
 
Victory over Shame and Spiritual Uncleanness

For people who grow up in a culture or religion that majors on ritual cleanness, such as Islam and strict Judaism, fear of being cut off from God because of uncleanness is a major issue.

We can present Jesus as the one whose touch makes the unclean pure again.

There are several examples of this in the Bible, such as when Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood and the leper. Jesus touched a dead body and raised it to life again without being himself defiled. This is because he absorbed and conquered our uncleanness and shame on the cross.

And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.  Mark 1:40–42 (NASB95)

Since the Holy Spirit indwells us, as Christ’s representatives, we too can also minister healing and restoration without fear of being contaminated.

Sin brings shame, and certain types of sin, such as sexual perversion, tend to make people feel dirty inside. When Jesus forgives and restores us, the dirtiness is removed along with the shame. Jesus did this for the woman caught in adultery in John Chapter 8.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”  John 8:10–11 (NLT)

The general verse we can use to show can God cleanses us is the following.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NASB95)

We can lead our hearers to admit and repent of their sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing for the Lord.

Demons oppress people and seek to make us unclean, self-destructive, and shameful. That is why Jesus sometimes called them “unclean” spirits. When Jesus and we drive them out, it allows people to experience God’s cleansing and restorative power. In place of the unclean spirit, God offers to indwell us with his pure Holy Spirit if we place our faith and allegiance in the Lord Jesus. When God sets us free from shame and defilement, our natural response should be gratefulness and a desire to follow Christ and tell others about what he has done. This is what took place with a man whom Jesus set free from demonic oppression.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed [demonized] begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.  Mark 5:18–20 (NLT)
 
Victory over the Slavery of Addiction

Sin enslaves people and leads to all sorts of addictions.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.  John 8:34 (NASB95)

Jesus came to redeem us, which means to buy back from slavery and set free.

Our redemption includes our Lord’s victory over sin and all other forms of enslaving addiction.

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  John 8:36 (NLT)

Jesus promised that if we continue to live according to his word, we will be set free.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31–32 (NLT)

Paul taught that putting our faith and allegiance in Christ will result in our being set free from all forms of enslavement over which self-effort and religion have no power.

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.  Acts 13:38–39 (NASB95)

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would set the captives free.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”  Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)

When we share the good news of Christ the liberator who sets the captives free, we invite people to believe in his victory and receive it for themselves.

We should encourage them to surrender themselves to Christ so he can use them to help free others.

Victory over Striving to Be Good Enough

Many suffer from a chronic sense of worthlessness or invalidation, which is different from guilt for specific sins.

A sense of worthlessness is a deeply rooted lie that strikes at the very essence of our being. It hinders our ability to receive God’s love and his blessings.

Some have been invalidated through hurtful words of key people in their lives and have internalized them. A child may have heard his parents say, “You’ll never amount to anything.” “You’re stupid.” “I never wanted you.” These words tend to go deep into the psyche and become lie-based strongholds that carry over into adulthood and influence how we see ourselves and relate to others. Depending on our personality, we will handle invalidation differently. Some will accept these words and give up on ever overcoming them. Others will fight to prove them wrong. If the Lord does not set us free with his loving truth, however, we will still be affected by this stronghold of lies.

People who have this stronghold in their minds may give themselves over to all sorts of self-destructive behavior, thinking they are unworthy of anything else. Others strive for perfection, believing that is the only way for them to be accepted.

Perfectionism is built on a lie that our worth is based on our performance or what other people think about us.

It produces an intolerable burden that eventually wears us out. We can only keep up the façade for so long before it cracks.

When Jesus calls us to himself, it is the highest form of validation.

God himself declares that we are worthwhile. The value of a thing is based on what someone would pay for it, and Jesus paid his own priceless blood to purchase us and restore us to God’s family. God the Father adopted us to be his beloved children. There is no higher measure of worth than that.

When we encounter a person who suffers from invalidation, we can tell them that Jesus took our worthlessness upon himself when he hung on the cross all alone with his detractors and enemies gloating over his demise. He died for us because he loved us and wanted us to be part of God’s family, the highest honor.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him  Ephesians 1:3–9 (NASB95)

When we understand that we have nothing more to prove, no standard to which we must achieve, we can enjoy the rest provided by God.

For this kind of person, our gospel presentation can center around Jesus’ invitation to all of us to come to him and receive his promised rest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

This rest is a source of joy to us and motivates us to tell others.

Victory over Hopelessness and Confusion

Many people suffer from a deep sense of hopelessness. This can stem from feeling powerless to change negatives in our lives. It can also stem from confusion, not knowing what to do or if there is anything to be done. People who are born into deep poverty often have no role models to show them how to move into greater prosperity. People who are surrounded by temptation, crime, and the degradation brought by sinful life choices, sometimes feel there is no way out. People who lose loved ones sometimes believe life no longer has purpose or meaning.

In such cases, we can present Jesus as the one who imparts direction to the confused, meaning to life, and hope to the hopeless.

Our Lord told us that he is the Way.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  John 14:6 (NASB95)

We do not need to understand everything to escape confusion. We were never meant to know everything. We only need to know our Lord and trust him to guide us each step of our way.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB95)

The devil wants to paralyze us with confusion and fear. The way out is to let these things go and surrender our lives and future to the one we can safely trust to guide and care for us.

If powerlessness is the main issue, Jesus promised us that all authority belongs to him and Satan and his servants cannot ultimately harm us.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Luke 10:19 (NASB95)

If we surrender to the Good Shepherd who has all authority and power, we are safe in his hands, and no one can snatch us away.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  John 10:27–29 (NASB95)

One of my favorite titles for the Lord is “Keeper.” He is our protector who never sleeps or fails to maintain careful watch over our lives.

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.  Psalm 121:2–4 (NASB95)

Confusion and powerlessness often create a sense of hopelessness that can be very dangerous. Hopeless people sometimes do crazy things because their lives can seem pointless, and their anger may escalate to violence. Jesus came to give hope to the hopeless.

The biblical meaning of hope is confident expectation. The Holy Spirit imparts faith to those whose hearts are open and helps us understand and receive God’s promises found in the Bible. No matter how difficult our current situation may be, God has given us the promise of better things ahead.

When Jesus began his public ministry, things were very dark in the world. The Jewish people were in a difficult situation and the rest of the world had no hope at all. Jesus began to shine as the light of the world.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12 (NASB95)

Paul said that we Gentiles were without hope before we believe the gospel.

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:12–13 (NLT)

Those who put their faith in Christ have a reason to live and a reason to expect a glorious future. This gives us hope to live in the present with a sense of purpose and joy. We should encourage our listener to release their sense of confusion, powerlessness, and hopelessness to the Lord and receive him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

I hope these examples of various ways to present the gospel depending on the greatest felt need of our hearer will inspire you to think of how you can present Jesus to those who desperately need a saving encounter with his love and mercy.

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Disunity Can Be a Sign that God Is at Work

 

 

 

 

 

Unity is important in the church, family, nation, or really any group, but disunity often, maybe always, accompanies any important new activity or truth coming from God.

When Jesus presented himself to Israel as their long awaited Messiah, he attracted the malevolent criticism of those who held power and benefited from maintaining the status quo. He polarized the community by forcing people to make a decision to be either for him or against him.

There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” John 7:12 (NLT)


So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. John 7:43 (NASB95)

Those who tried to hold to a “middle ground” to avoid being caught up in the controversy were either uninformed, uncaring, or cowardly.

Whenever God is doing something important, it brings about a crisis of faith in those who witness it.

Those whose hearts are open receive God’s truth with joy. The devil hates God and truth with a passion, and anyone who is still under his influence will offer vehement resistance. The “lukewarm” will not care because they refuse to be players on the grand stage of life. Every great movement is carried out by a relatively small percentage of people who passionately believe. They will be resisted by those who ardently disbelieve, while the uninvolved watch the drama unfold.

The psalmist taught that unity carries a blessing.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NASB95)

Jesus taught on its importance, too.

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:22–23 (NASB95)

Our unity as believers is based on what God has done for his church in Christ.

He has taken Jew and Gentile, men and women, slave and free, and rich and poor from all races and nations and fashioned us into “one new man.” (Ephesians 2:15) We who believe are now part of the body of Christ. Our unity in the Spirit is already accomplished. Our challenge is to believe and act in accordance with this great truth.

However, unity in the Spirit does not mean we must refrain from proclaiming truth that some find divisive.

Jesus and truth have always produced contention because not everyone is willing to receive them. The gospel is often passionately rejected by some who later become believers. That was certainly the case with the apostle Paul. Others never see the light and remain opposed for life. The early church was wracked with disunity from the start in the matter of grace versus the Law. The Judaizers insisted that Gentile believers keep the Law of Moses including circumcision, but Paul and company stood their ground insisting the opposite in the face of great hostility. Though the matter was officially settled in the Jerusalem conference, this controversy still exists.

Truth will always be resisted by those who do not understand or receive it.

When God restored the truth regarding believer’s baptism during the Reformation, both Catholics and Protestants violently opposed the Anabaptists who held to this “new” and “divisive” doctrine. Some of those brave men and women died rather than be moved away from this revelation from God. Today almost everyone in the churches with whom I fellowship believe this doctrine. The baptism in the Spirit was restored in the early 20th century, but not without controversy that still exists. When I was first baptized in the Spirit in 1971, the dominant campus ministry where I attended university opposed our little charismatic group’s meeting by ourselves. They wanted us to join them to preserve unity, but at what cost to what God was doing in our midst? We were trying to grow in our experience and use of the gifts of the Spirit, but, if we only met with the larger group, the Spirit would be quenched by those who disbelieved.

Many times a call to unity is an attempt to silence and control the opposition. Unity between opposing factions cannot happen unless liberty of belief and practice is granted.

When my Dad launched his home meeting in the early 1970s, many Catholics attended, including nuns. After a while, the local Catholic Church tried to “rein in” what he was doing by insisting that the meeting had to be accompanied by a Mass. My father refused to comply with this attempt to quench the freedom of the Spirit. Eventually we departed from the Catholic Church in pursuit of freedom to practice the truth of God’s Word.

Where there is no unity regarding truth, there can be no unity in practice or assemblage.

Interestingly, Paul wrote that disunity is sometimes God’s way of revealing those who are approved by God.

For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19 (NASB95)

Martin Luther did not set out to depart from the Catholic Church. His intention was to reform it, but that was not possible because the Catholic leaders wanted none of it. They wanted to quash the “revolt” and kill its leader. This is exactly what our Lord’s enemies tried to do with him, but they failed as did Luther’s opponents.

Satan and unredeemed humanity will always rebel against and try to subvert what God is doing.

Sometimes even God’s people push back because of our natural human propensity to resist change. The old established way of seeing and doing things always seems better. Sadly, any new move of God is usually resisted by those who experienced the previous one. Jesus said it like this.

“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’ ” Luke 5:38–39 (NASB95)

St. Augustine is credited with saying, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Our Lord does not want us to allow our stand for truth to snuff out our love for those in opposition.

Jesus said to love our enemies, including those who oppose God and truth. However, we are never to back down from our stand for truth because of push back from those who do not understand or receive it. If the truth in question is “non-essential” to salvation, we can agree to disagree, but we cannot abandon our convictions for the sake of a false kind of unity.

Any call to unity that asks us to lay down strongly held convictions is just a veiled form of oppression.

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Have You Been Born Again?

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Jesus, we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born again.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5 (NLT)

Many commentators understand that Jesus’ phrase “being born of water” refers to our natural birth. Those who are only born physically only have ordinary human understanding. We remain blind and insufficient to comprehend the things of the Spirit of God.

We must be born again to become aware of God’s kingdom.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NLT)

It is only after the “wind” of the Spirit blows upon us and causes our spirits to come alive that we are able to see and experience the realities of God’s kingdom. The Hebrew and Greek words for “spirit” also can mean breath and wind.

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NLT)

God breathed upon Adam imparting spirit to his lifeless body causing him to become a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

The Holy Spirit “blows” or “breathes” upon us when we are born again, reconnecting our dead spirits to God from whom we receive his never ending life.

After experiencing this divine wind or breath from God, our eyes are opened to the things of God. We see who Jesus is more clearly. We begin to grasp some of the beauties and glories of God. It is not uncommon for people to say that everything seemed new and different after being born again. It certainly was for me.

The new birth is the gateway into the path of a lifelong journey of learning to follow Christ.

This new birth is not anything that we can accomplish on our own. It comes from God in a most mysterious way. Jesus said that we cannot explain how it happens any more than we can control the wind. We cannot make it happen for ourselves or anyone else. We can only lead them to God with whom that heavenly transaction must take place. It is out of our hands; yet we can make ourselves available. Jesus said that if we seek God, we will find him. If the Spirit is nudging you to seek God, by all means obey, as King David did.

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

Jesus promised that he will not turn away anyone who seeks him.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT)

Those who are merely born the natural way will die twice. The first death is the natural end to physical life that we must all experience. The second death is the lake of fire, God’s punishment for those who rebel against him.

Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14–15 (NLT)

Those who are born twice, naturally and from heaven, will only die once. We escape the fiery wrath of God when we put our faith and loyalty in Jesus, who paid the price for our sins already and promised that we will never come into judgment again.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. John 3:16–18 (NLT)

If you are not sure if you have been born again, it is a good chance that you have not.

If what I have written in this article seems foreign to your experience, it means that God has so much more for you if you will seek him with all your heart. Don’t let the day go by without inviting Jesus into your life and receiving all he has to give. In exchange he asks for all that you are. It’s called the New Covenant, the great exchange in which we give him ourselves, complete with our sin and guilt, and receive all that he is, including his right standing with God the Father and eternal life!

Prayer

Jesus, I don’t think I have been born again. You said we cannot enter your kingdom without this happening. You also said you will never reject anyone who comes to you. I come to you now. I want this new birth. I want to have my spiritual eyes opened to see your kingdom. I want to be part of the family of God. I ask you to come into my life and forgive all my sins. I give you myself and acknowledge that you are my Lord. Come, Holy Spirit, do your unseen work inside of me. Amen.

If you prayed this sincerely, hold on to your hat! God is going to do something amazing in your life. Wait for it. It is on the way.

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Has Jesus Called You?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus personally calls every disciple, just as he called Philip.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” John 1:43 (NLT)

In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote these encouraging words.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:29–30 (NLT)

Christianity is not a religion devised by men as a way to reach God. It is a relationship initiated by God who came looking for us. God knows each of us by name and has personally called us to belong to his family.

I recently attended a funeral of a dear friend at which a song was played that touched the hearts of many there. The chorus was repeated over and over again: “God is watching us from a distance.” It seemed to bring comfort to those present, probably because it is nice to consider that God cares, but its theology was poor. If God is watching us from a distance, it is because we don’t know him.

God is not distant. He is very much present in the lives of those he called.

One of the most recurrent phrases in the Bible is God’s telling us, “I am with you.” One the titles given to our Lord by the angel who appeared to Mary was Immanuel, which means God with us.

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” Matthew 1:23 (NASB95)

But God is not with everyone. He remains at a distance from those who do not acknowledge him. He does not know them in a saving way at all. Jesus uttered these sobering words about the last judgment when he will separate those who know him from those who do not.

But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:23 (NLT)

How do we move from the “not known” into the group with whom God dwells and knows by name? We must be called by God and then respond to that call. Those who respond prove that they are among the chosen. Jesus said that many are called, but few are chosen.

Many hear the gospel message, but few respond by asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

Have you heard the Lord calling you to become his follower, or are you content to know him from a distance, which amounts to not knowing him at all?

Prayer

Jesus, I want to be among those who know you and are known by you. I feel the tug of the Holy Spirit upon my heart; so, I come to you now, asking you to come into my life and reveal yourself to me. Open the eyes of my heart that I might see you for who you truly are. I want to be your follower. I want to hear you call my name, just as Philip did. Forgive my sins and send your Holy Spirit to live inside of me. Thank you that you said you will never turn away anyone who comes to you. Amen.

Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. John 6:37 (NET)
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Revelation Goes Both Ways

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation not only opens our eyes to Jesus’ true identity but also gives us the amazing realization that God knows who we are, too. Many people believe they are insignificant blips on God’s radar. They think he is much too busy governing the universe to take any notice of them and their unremarkable daily routine.

When we are confronted with the astounding revelation that God knows us intimately and cares about even the smallest details in our lives, it has a life-changing effect.

When Jesus met Nathanael, he told that man things about himself that only God would know, which moved him from skepticism to faith.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:47–49 (NASB95)

I have a friend whose wife had just gotten a terrible diagnosis and prognosis regarding cancer. He heard God say, “I know about this.” He told me that when he heard the Lord say that, his faith in a good outcome went through the roof. In fact, God completely healed her of stage four cancer afterward. Knowing that God knows us and our situation is transformative.

When Jesus met Peter, he let him know that God knew all about him, too.

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). John 1:40–42 (NASB95)

When Jesus spoke prophetically to Peter, it was not some “parlor trick” designed to awe him into being a disciple. God does not do things that way. The words Jesus told Peter were important at the moment and would be in the future. By changing his name, Jesus altered his destiny. He would become a rock of faith eventually, which was important for him to know later. When God tells us who we are, it supersedes every other thing ever told us.

Only God has the right to tell us who we are because only he truly knows us.

When the Holy Spirit reveals Christ’s identity to us, it not only transforms us through what is called the new birth, but it also marks us as one of God’s chosen ones.. When Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, this is what Jesus told him.

And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17–19 (NASB95)

Jesus looked for those who would respond in faith to his message and identity. He knew that his heavenly Father had chosen certain ones to belong to him. When our Lord saw faith spring forth in a person, he recognized them to be part of that group his Father gave to him.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27–29 (NASB95)

Revelation therefore reveals Christ to us and shows who we are, too.

Any blind person who came to Jesus requesting that his eyes be opened received what he requested. Should we think God would do any less for us? If you have yet to see Jesus in a way that opens your eyes to his true identity and makes you want to worship and serve him, you can ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes. That is what I did over fifty years ago. God revealed Jesus to me in a life transforming way. He will do the same for you.

Prayer

Jesus, I want to know you as John the Baptist and Peter did. I ask you to open the eyes of my understanding so that I can truly see Jesus. Holy Spirit, come into my life and change me on the inside, Make me a follower of Jesus. I surrender my life to you. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and meant it, God will surely do his part to open your spiritually blind eyes. Please let me know when this happens for you.

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 (NLT)

 

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There Are Two Kinds of People

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are only two kinds of people in the world – those who acknowledge and love God and those who refuse to do so.

The essence of sin is when we try to live independently from God. We try to create for ourselves a world without God. This is what the media does continually in its many movies and TV shows. The actors generally portray life without any reference to God at all. This is a fantasy with enormous consequences.

Ayn Rand said that we can ignore reality but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.

John Chapter One makes an insightful comment about this condition of mankind in general that wants nothing to do with God.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10–13 (NASB95)

Before Jesus was born to a virgin to fulfill an ancient prophecy, he existed as the eternal Logos, or Word of God, through whom everything that exists was created. He was and is the source of life, and everything that lives owes its existence and sustenance to him. But Adam and Eve made a fateful choice to turn their backs on their Creator which implanted in the human soul an antipathy toward God. Their descendants, which include us, are born into this world with a default condition called a hardened heart that produces spiritual blindness and deafness.

In spite of there being abundant evidence of the Creator all around us, we refuse to recognize or honor him. Instead we live with an inborn hostility toward God.

Why would God care about such rebellious inhabitants of the world that had been so beautiful in every way when he first created it? It is quite impossible to fathom the depths of love that motivated our Creator to send his only Son to come into this world as a human and give away his life to provide forgiveness for our sins and reconciliation to God.

When the Creator in human form arrived on the planet, only a very few recognized and honored him. The same is true today. Those who through revelation from God see him for who he is and surrender their hearts and lives to him will receive eternal life. Those who refuse him remain in a perilous condition of spiritual blindness and are hurtling toward an eternity without God, which is called hell. There will be no one in hell who did not choose to go there. Those who opt to live without God here on earth will be sentenced to do so forever. The big difference will be that before going there they will finally understand the truth. There is a God who made it possible for us to know and love him and to live forever in the joy of his presence. This understanding will no doubt make hell unbearable, a continual gnawing at the soul.

The choice is ours, an eternity of joy or one of painful regret.

Perhaps you are like I was. I did not know God, but I wanted to know him if he were really there. I asked this supposed God to come into my life and reveal himself to me, if he were real. Amazingly, he did just that. That happened over fifty years ago, and I have never regretted becoming a follower of Christ. There is nothing more important than knowing, loving, and serving God. Ask yourself to which group of people do I belong? If you are still among those who are trying to live without any reference to your Creator, isn’t it time to turn this ship around? Here is a sample prayer you can use right now.

Prayer

God, I have tried to live without you long enough. Forgive me for being a rebellious sinner. I come to you now, Jesus, and ask you to come into my life and reveal yourself to me. I want to know you. I want to be forgiven. I want to be in right relationship with Father God. I want the Holy Spirit to live inside me. I want to know what it is like to experience the joy of your presence and the kind of peace that passes understanding. I give you my life in return. I choose to live the rest of my days for you. Amen.

Here is a verse from the Bible with which you are no doubt familiar. Think about its significance for you now that you have asked Jesus into your life.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)
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Chapter 67: The Gospel’s Old Covenant Context

This lesson will help you understand how to present the gospel in the context of God’s promises to Israel. One of the best ways to study the key components of a good gospel presentation is to examine how the first apostles preached. Paul opened his letter to the church in Rome with the following paragraph that briefly summarizes the gospel.

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2  God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3  The Good News is about his Son, Jesus. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4  and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5  Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. Romans 1:1-5 (NLT) 

Due to attempts to streamline and mass-market the message, we run the risk of reducing the Gospel to a stripped-down presentation of what some call the “plan of salvation,” or “The Four Spiritual Laws,” or perhaps the “Roman Road.” None of these are “bad,” and many people have come to faith in Christ through their use, but we should not confuse them with the full gospel.

The gospel is a magnificent true story about Jesus that is rooted in the history of God’s interactions with Israel.

He is the eternal Son of God, the Logos, the Son of Man, the Messiah King, Lamb of God, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and the Coming Judge.

If we reduce the gospel to a mere explanation of how our sins can be forgiven and we can be restored to fellowship with God, we shortchange our listeners by turning the glorious Jesus story into a consumer-oriented promotion.

When Paul preached to the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia in Acts Chapter 13, he gave a classic presentation of the Gospel. I have copied it below.

Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18 “For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 “When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20 “After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24 after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 “And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 “For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28 “And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29 “When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30 “But God raised Him from the dead; 31 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32 “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today i have begotten You.’ 34 “As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ 36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’ ” 42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.  Acts 13:16–43 (NASB95) —

I am going to break the gospel into three parts, the first of which is covered in this lesson – the Old Covenant context, the New Covenant fulfillment, and the closing, in which we seek to drive home the significance of the gospel and what it demands from its hearers.

After being asked to share a word of encouragement with the congregation, Paul began his speech by reviewing the history of God’s dealings with Israel. Why did he do this?

Paul knew that the Gospel can only be properly understood by framing it in the context of God’s historical relationship with Abraham and his descendants.

He chose to begin with the exodus from Egypt because he knew his Jewish audience would immediately identify and find common ground with this recollection of their history. It is always a good idea to try to find some sort of common ground with our listeners.

We should seek to present Jesus as the answer to people’s deepest spiritual desires. Every person is a little different. If the Holy Spirit shows us the key to a person’s heart, it will enable us to tailor the gospel message to touch them deeply.

Jesus is not some New Age guru that suddenly appeared out of nowhere giving us mystical metaphysical insights. He was firmly rooted in the history of Israel and the promises God made to his people, beginning in the garden of Eden. The most significant ones were made to Abraham and King David, as far as the gospel is concerned, but many others can be included. It depends how much time we have and how well versed in the Scriptures we are.

John the Baptist presented Jesus to Israel by telling his listeners that he was the Lamb of God, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and someone Great (the Lord and Messiah). These titles only make sense if we understand something about the history of Israel’s relationship with God.

Jesus did not come in a vacuum. He arrived as the fulfillment of specific promises that God made to Abraham and his descendants.

Therefore, it is always a good idea to include some sort of historical context to make the Gospel’s claims understandable.

At Pisidian Antioch, Paul’s goal was to recount Israel’s history to get to King David, because from this man God promised to raise up the Messiah, a ruler who would sit on David’s throne for eternity. Since he spoke to Jews, he presumed they fully understood this claim and needed no Scripture reference. When we share the Gospel, however, most of our listeners will need to hear a reference, and the following will do nicely.

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (NASB)

This passage is acknowledged to be a Messianic promise. David’s son, Solomon, despite being a great and glorious king, eventually died. Neither he nor his kingdom endured forever. Therefore, for this promise to be fulfilled, another king must arise, one whose kingdom will last forever. Only one person fills the bill – Jesus, the glorious Son of Man, whose kingdom will destroy every other and endure forever!

I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.  Daniel 7:13–14 (NASB95)

It is significant that Jesus referenced this passage during his unjust trial before the Sanhedrin, enabling us to make a definite link between the promise to David, the prophecy of Daniel, and our Lord Jesus.

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;  Matthew 26:63–65 (NASB95)

Jesus left no doubt as to his identity. He made sure that he was crucified for the right reason, his claim to be the Messiah King and coming Son of Man.

Other verses can be used, such as God’s promise to Abraham that through his “seed” – our Lord Jesus – all the earth will be blessed.

And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3 (NASB95) —

We can also reference God’s promise to Moses that God would raise up a prophet like him to whom the nation would be accountable. Here is how the apostle Peter referenced this promise from Deuteronomy 18:18-19.

“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. 23 ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25 “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”  Acts 3:22–26 (NASB95) —

The prophets can also be used to give background for understanding who Jesus is. Matthew referenced Isaiah 7:14 in the following passage that we too can use when we share the gospel.

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:20–23 (NASB95) —

Each Gospel writer starts at a different place. Matthew begins with Abraham. Mark starts with a prophecy from Isaiah. Luke launches with an account of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus before giving us Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam. John hits a home run by taking us all the way back to the creation of the universe by the eternal Logos, who became a human being named Jesus!

Each gospel narrative uses some form of an historical context to inform the reader who Jesus is.

These writings are called “gospels,” and they are our template for understanding and presenting the good news properly. Any disciple of Jesus, who wants to be able to share a strong biblical version of the Gospel, should familiarize himself or herself with the Old Covenant scriptural context of the good news about Jesus in order to properly show how he came as the fulfillment of God’s specific promises to provide a Savior and Messiah King. In the next lesson, we will see how Jesus, the historical person, fulfilled several Old Covenant promises and sacrificed his own blood for us. He died and rose again, in fulfillment of the scriptures.

For further study, I recommend The King Jesus Gospel by Scott McKnight.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Does it make sense that a proper presentation of the gospel benefits from our providing the historical context of God’s relationship with and promises to Israel?
  • Can you think of any potential hazards of presenting the gospel without giving any historical context?
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Chapter 66: The Great Commission

What is the church’s top priority? The answer could be love. It might be faith. Perhaps preaching the gospel would be a fine answer. The last thing Jesus commanded the church before his ascension into heaven was what we call the Great Commission, which reveals God’s missionary heart. Simply put, we are commissioned to go and make disciples, to teach others to be Christ followers and fishers of men who will teach others to do the same. Notwithstanding the importance of the above mentioned things, I believe God’s mission, the Great Commission, must be our top priority.

God wants us to extend his kingdom by reproducing ourselves in others.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

It is easy to substitute any number of good things for the mission. We can make great preaching and teaching our highest priority. If you ask average churchgoers why they like their churches, many will say that it is because of the great preaching, the wonderful worship, the kids’ programs, etc. Many churches opt for prioritizing community service, potlucks, worship, prayer, Bible studies, fellowship, you name it… anything but sharing the gospel and making disciples. Nothing makes the devil and religious churchgoers as angry as prioritizing the Great Commission.

Generally, we balk at leaving the comfortable confines of our church culture to pursue those who do not yet know Christ. It takes a deliberate focus and commitment to mission for it to happen.

It is not enough to simply adopt mission as a “value” or a subset of the church’s activity and effort. It must become the engine that pulls the train.

Otherwise, being on mission will tend to be an option instead of our priority. The Genesis command to be fruitful and multiply has not been rescinded.

The “Go” of the Great Commission

It is only natural to want to stay put and enjoy the benefits of being part of a local church, which are many. The fellowship is wonderful. There is a comfort in knowing that the people around us are like-minded servants of Jesus. It is great to be enveloped in a culture that fosters sound biblical thinking and values. We like to keep ourselves and those we love in a “safe” environment.

Many of us adopt a fortress mentality in which we try to wall out the world and its negative influences. In this scenario, the mission devolves into inviting people to enter the fort and become part of the enclave.

But this is not obedience to the first part of the Great Commission, which is “Go.” Jesus told his disciples that he was sending them.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV)

The “go” part of the Great Commission asks us to leave our comfort and safety zones and venture into the world of those who do not know Christ.

If we are recently born again, this is not too formidable, but for those who have been believers a long time, it may be.

For Abraham it meant leaving land, family, friends, culture, and familiar “gods” to serve the one true God in a liminal and yet unknown place. It meant taking steps of faith without the benefit of a well-thought-out plan or end game. All he had was the command to go coupled with a promise, and he went.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.  Hebrews 11:8 (NLT)

Jesus emphasized the “go” when he taught the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the one lost one. He emphasized the “go” when he prayed that Father God would send laborers into the harvest.

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”  Matthew 9:37–38 (NLT)

Then why do we find it so difficult to go?

Going requires sacrifice, courage, faith, and a willingness to suffer and endure uncertainty, inevitable disappointment and setbacks, heartbreak, loss, and enormous challenges. Some of the people we “go” to will not appreciate us at all. However, some will be forever grateful, which makes it all worthwhile. More importantly, Jesus will be pleased and honored, and we will accrue eternal reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The going of mission is both the most rewarding thing we will ever do and potentially the most costly.

That is why many of us shy away from obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus called shrinking from obedience “falling away.”

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17 (ESV)

If we fall away from obedience to the mission in times of peace, what will happen to us when persecution arrives? In fact, the proper preaching of the gospel and obedience to the Great Commission invites persecution. Paul wrote:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

Perhaps the lack of persecution in our nation today betrays a lack of commitment to the Great Commission. However, God’s grace is sufficient to help us become committed disciplemakers.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.  Hebrews 10:35–36 (NLT)
Making Disciples

The second part of the Great Commission is making disciples. There is a huge difference between a disciple and a mere churchgoer; although, disciples have a strong commitment to church attendance (Hebrews 10:25).

Attending church meetings costs relatively little but being a disciple challenges us to make a strong commitment to Christ and his mission.

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (ESV) 

Jesus violated just about every church growth principle in this passage. He came across rather negatively, repeating the phrase, “cannot be my disciple,” three times. It is as if he were trying to weed out anyone who would not make the commitment.

The leaven of partial commitment is contagious.

He did not encourage his followers to simply join his movement and face the decision of making a stronger commitment later. He set the bar high from the beginning. Although we generally move toward greater and greater commitment over a lifetime, the reverse is often the case.

People “backslide” from their initial devotion because the cost becomes greater than what we are willing to pay.

Being a disciple means that we commit to Jesus our Lord as a person. We submit to his rule in our lives through obedience to his teachings and to the prompting of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Spirit will lead us to obey the Great Commission, the task of teaching others to be disciples who will also make disciples.

To create a missional culture in a local church, a commitment must be made to develop disciple-making disciples. In other words, church leaders and church members must prioritize duplicating themselves in the lives of others. Churches that commit to making disciples will need to examine their values, priorities, programs… everything… in light of whether or not it advances disciple making.

Disciple making is much more than giving lectures at church meetings. It involves one-on-one and one-on-few instruction and mentoring. It includes a demonstration of how to do ministry, followed by giving the disciple the opportunity to put into practice what was learned with follow-up instruction as needed.

The goal of discipleship is to produce a practitioner, not a mere theologian, churchgoer, or moral paragon.

Churches that commit to creating a missional culture will devote their energy, talent, and resources to pursuing the Great Commission.

 
 Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Did anyone ever mentor or disciple you in teaching and practice?
  • Were you informed that you were to go and do the same?
  • Discipleship training includes growing in Bible understanding, in sharing the gospel, in ministry skills, and in leadership, if appropriate. Is there any area in which you would like to be mentored, besides the first, which we are doing here?
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Chapter 65: How Do I Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

It does little good to know all about a subject and never personally receive or experience it. It is one thing to generally believe that God’s promises are real and true and quite another to personally receive one. Many believe that God heals, but fewer have received a supernatural healing. Many, even the devil, believe that Jesus died to save sinners, but fewer receive that salvation personally by faith.

If we keep truth at arm’s length and make it purely objective, we may be able to safely distance ourselves from the costs associated with obedience, but we will also rob ourselves of the joy of receiving something from God.

Faith is like breathing. It must be “inhaled” or received and “exhaled” or acted upon. God wants us to believe his promises are true, receive them for ourselves, and then act out our faith. For example, when Jesus told the centurion that his servant had been healed, that man believed Jesus’ words and acted appropriately by returning home.

And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.  Matthew 8:13 (NASB95) —

What we do after saying that we believe reveals whether we were just spouting empty words or truly believed in our hearts.

To receive the baptism in the Spirit requires that we accept the truth of God’s Word, receive his promise by faith, and act as if we believe he gave it to us.

Can I Be Sure This Promise Is for Me Today?

In the first sermon recorded after the initial outpouring of the Spirit, the apostle Peter made it clear that the baptism in the Spirit is for all God’s children for all time.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NASB)

A contextual reading of this section of Acts makes it plain that the “promise” means the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Peter explained what their speaking in tongues meant: it evidenced the outpouring or baptism in the Spirit, which was prophesied by Joel and later promised by John the Baptist and Jesus himself. Peter made it clear that God makes the baptism in the Spirit available to every person who would ever come to Christ – those present with Peter, their children, the Gentiles (those “far off”), and everyone else throughout time who will respond to the Gospel (“as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”).

Jesus also made it clear that every child of God can receive this gift. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask him.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:13 (NASB)

Jesus died as the Lamb of God to provide us with forgiveness and reconciliation to the Father. He rose and ascended to heaven to become the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and pour out the Spirit upon his church. Because of this, we can be sure this amazing gift is for us.

Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.  Acts 2:33 (NASB95)

If we believe what is written above is true, we are faced with a decision. Will I receive this promise for myself by faith or not?

Will I value what Jesus died to give me or remain fearful or indifferent? I hope each of us will treasure and pursue what cost our Lord so much to provide for us!

Steps to Receive

Since the baptism in the Spirit is received by faith, we must be convinced that God has given it to us, receive it, and act as if we believe he has. That is how faith works. Paul asked the Galatian church the following telling question.

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2 (NASB)

The answer of course is that we must receive all of God’s promises by faith. We can never earn them. Here are four easy steps to receive the baptism in the Spirit.

  1. Believe that God will do what he says.

If we grasp that God has provided all believers with the privilege of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the next step is for us to believe that God is always faithful to his promises.

God’s complete trustworthiness is the foundation of all faith.

This is a simple concept; yet many people get hung up at this point. They may think, maybe it is not for me? God will bless everyone else, but not me. Such thinking is sinful unbelief from which we must repent. Cast that lie away and start believing God.

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 (NASB)
  1. Ask and receive with simple faith as a child.
"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11  "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12  "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:10-13 (NASB)

Children do not suspect devious motives in the giver or concoct complicated reasons a promise might not come true. When an adult makes a promise, a child expects it to happen. To God, we are all little children. We may have been disappointed many times by people who did not keep their promises to us, but God is not like that. If as a child we experienced adults lying to us and failing to follow through on their word, we must not let those memories and any attached lies about God to block us from trusting our heavenly Father.

As a child, believe, ask, and receive.

If something in our minds whispers that this is not going to happen for me, repent of that unbelief.

...You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 (NASB)

If I extend my hand to offer someone a hundred-dollar bill, what will that person need to do? Would it be enough to say thank you without making any effort to come forward to receive it? If we want the money, we will act. Similarly, we receive the baptism in the Spirit by asking the Lord to baptize us and then by actively receiving.

Faith receives before it sees any outward visible evidence. Faith depends on the promises and character of God alone. It knows that God will keep his word and that his promises are true.

Faith does not doubt. It does not struggle with wondering if God will keep his end of the deal. It receives and moves on, just as when the Roman Centurion believed Jesus healed his servant and returned home. (Luke 7:10)

  1. Give thanks.

After receiving a gift, grateful people say, “Thank you.” After we ask for and receive the baptism in the Spirit by faith, we should begin to thank and praise God.

Thanksgiving demonstrates faith.

The opposite is either silent passivity or doubtful complaining. Some people refuse to believe before seeing because they are afraid of getting their hopes up, only to be let down. Should we only praise God after he “comes through” for us or when we grasp that he is always faithful to his promises and will surely do what he said? Real faith acts before it ever sees the confirmation or fulfillment of what it believes because it is convinced that God is true.

The kind of praise and worship that gives God the most honor is what comes from people who exalt God’s faithfulness before they ever see the fulfillment of what was promised.

Faith knows and overflows. Only faith filled (faithful) people give thanks. Let’s show our faith by our praise.

  1. Speak in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is a supernatural overflow of the Spirit. Our mouths speak out of the abundance of the Spirit’s filling of our hearts. The sure evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues. At this point the one wishing to experience this confirming gift should take a step of faith and begin speaking, trusting that the Holy Spirit will give the words.

Who Baptizes Us?

The Bible teaches us that baptizing people in the Holy Spirit is the personal ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist announced this ministry to the world.

As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Matthew 3:11 (NASB95)

Our Lord often uses the agency of people laying hands on us to accomplish this baptism because Jesus desires for us to share in his ministry. The apostles often laid hands on individuals prior to their receiving this baptism.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.  Acts 8:14–17 (NASB95)

At other times, the Spirit fell upon people without human agency, such as at Pentecost and when Peter preached to Cornelius.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,  Acts 10:44–46 (NASB95)
Prayer to Receive the Baptism in the Spirit

Jesus, I believe you died and rose again to save me and baptize me in the Spirit. You said that if we ask, you will certainly give us this wonderful promise. I ask you right now to baptize me in the Spirit and fill me to overflowing. I receive this promise by faith and give you thanks for your faithfulness to keep your promises. Holy Spirit, fill me up. Help me now to pray in tongues. I will open my mouth to speak with the expectation that you will give me the words. Amen.

Prayer to Minister the Baptism in the Spirit

Jesus, I believe you died and rose again to save us and baptize us in the Spirit. You said that if we ask, you will certainly give us this wonderful promise. I ask you right now to baptize all those present in the Spirit and fill them to overflowing. We receive this promise by faith and give you thanks for your faithfulness to keep your promises. Holy Spirit, fill them up. Help them now to pray in tongues. Let them open their mouths to speak with the expectation that you will give them the words. Amen.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Do you have any questions?
  • Are you ready to receive?

 

Want to know more? I have written a book on this very topic, which is available on Amazon. Click here to find out more.
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