Wednesday, February 22, 2017

I Am The Life (LS08)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:6  "Jesus said to him, " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

The Way - Baptism of Water
    Whoever sincerely believes our Lord Jesus, he is a child of God and a born again Christian (born of Spirit) with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the seal of redemption. His sins are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. His water baptism signifies his acceptance of Jesus Christ as His Saviour. Whenever he is filled with the Holy Spirit, he will operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as healing, tongues, faith, prophecies, etc.
    Brethren, we cannot stay as a child, but move on to maturity through the knowledge of Jesus (below)
Eph 4:11-15  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

The Truth - Baptism of the Holy Spirit      
    Whoever obeys Jesus is purified by the truth of His word or pure water (born of water). Jesus will then baptize him with the Holy Spirit by completely immersing his spirit in the Holy Spirit, who will then be able to guide and lead him into all truth. (Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God)   
1 Pet 1:22-23  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
    Having crucified the flesh (old man) we are now born again not only of the Spirit but also of water.

The Life - Baptism of Fire
    The abundant life given by our Lord is joyful and exciting, for we always experience His presence during our testing and trials. His peace and joy, comfort us and His powers and miracles surround and protect us, but our final testing is His baptism of fire.

Mark 9:49-50  "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."
    We rejoice, though we suffer great pains by helping and loving others, so that we can live in peace with them by forgiving their persecutions, reviling, etc.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
      When we are offered as a living sacrifice by fire (pains caused by persecution, deceptions, lies, hatred, sickness, poverty, imprisonment, torture, martyrdom, betrayal, rejection) let our sacrifices be holy and acceptable (out of love for one another). Let us also glorify Him by joyfully accepting His painful will for us, just like our Lord Jesus joyfully endured the cross.
Heb 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.