'Last Sermon of Jesus'
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
This was the last sentence our Lord spoke to His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion. How comforting and encouraging it is for every one of us today who has problems in overcoming the world and the things therein? Because Jesus has overcome the world, He will help godly Christians by giving the Spirit of Christ to dwell in them, so that they too can overcome the world.
Rom 8:9-11 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him (Antichrist) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
The Spirit of Christ displayed the victorious life of Jesus while He was on earth, so that all those with the Spirit of Christ will be able to overcome the world and the deception of Satan.
1. The Blood of the Lamb - our Lord Jesus offered Himself to be the sacrificial Lamb of God, as the propitiation of our sins.
Note - At our salvation when we have believed Jesus the Messiah has cleansed us of all our sins, our Lord gave us the Holy Spirit as the seal of Redemption.
2. Word of testimonies - Jesus walked on earth by obeying the Father's instructions and commands. It revealed His faithfulness to His words and promises.
Note - When we obey His words and commandments, He will give (baptize) us with the Spirit of truth to guide us into all truths so that we are free from all bondages. (Baptism of the Holy Spirit of truth)
3. Love not their Lives - Jesus rejoiced for being able to lay down His life for the salvation of all mankind.
Note - With the Spirit of Christ in us, we will be able to accept perils, sufferings, persecutions, torture, hunger, imprisonment and even laying down our lives for our brethren just as Jesus had laid down His life for us. (Baptism with fire)
The Peace of Jesus
John 14:26-27 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
After the Helper has taught us all things and has brought to our remembrance all things that our Lord had told us, then we will have complete understanding of His words. So when we meet any persecution, disaster, problem and illness, and with the foreknowledge or understanding that this chastisement is out of His love in refining us, we will gladly accept them. Having this faith in God that He is in complete control of the situation, our Lord Jesus will give us His peace which is beyond all understanding.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Brethren, our Lord has poured out all His love to us, and when we respond to this love by obeying His words and commandments, more grace will be given to perfect our love.
