Be HIS Witness

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:7-8

This was Jesus’ response after His resurrection to the disciples.  What was the question you ask? “Are you restoring the Kingdom to Israel at this time?”  Jesus pretty much tells them look God in His own authority has periods and times set and these times and periods won’t always be something you will know or should know etc.  God has times and periods already in motion from the beginning of time to the end of time.  What is my role and function in this?? Jesus tells them after His initial response--- your role and place in God’s times and periods is to be a witness, and for this you will receive some help—my Holy Spirit. This might seem very Christianity 101 but how come it’s so hard to do that one thing? Be a witness. 

I’ve been pondering upon this for about three weeks now. I think sometimes too much knowledge of theology or the Word gets in the way of the supernatural pure power of the Holy Spirit. We want to explain everything by the theories and interpretations of the Bible. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying we need to put aside the pure gospel. What I am saying is sometimes like the Bible says; too much knowledge puffs up.  Too much theology gets in the way of me walking in the pureness of God’s spirit and simply being a witness.  On my way to work this morning something spoke to my spirit: “be my witness.”  Just that…and then it kept ringing in my ears—“you will be my witness.”  Sunday at church we heard pastora say “forget about representing the church, REPRESENT JESUS!” This is very true.  We are not called to be Jesus’ attorney and defend Him, he can do that on His own. We are called to be a witness.  It’s so true how easy it is to play church and just attend a church meeting and use only that meeting time to worship God in song and raising of my hands.  Nothing wrong with this—not at all, but God and Jesus His Son called me to something big— that as I do that something, I’m worshiping, investing in the Kingdom, and touching heaven!! Jesus’ answer is clear to all of us---the Kingdom isn’t just for Israel the Kingdom is for everyone and when you are a witness you are taking the Kingdom to the ends of the earth and to mankind. “Be my witness”  Jesus says.  He says this every day and until He returns.  That’s my calling---to be His witness. That’s the reason to fill myself with Holy Spirit power to—Be His Witness.

Remember, until we fulfill the purposes of God  we will be truly at peace with ourselves and our life.  The main purpose we are here is to be His witness. When we tap into this I promise we’ll find the answer to our questions.  And we’ll be at peace and rejoice that we’re a part of that question and answer Jesus had with His disciples thousands of years ago.

So go now and BE HIS WITNESS….

Chasing the Mysteries of the Kingdom.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”—Matt 13:10-11 NKJV

In this chapter Jesus is on a roll telling parables especially to explain what the Kingdom is like…the disciples are there and hearing these parables.  Obviously they ask Jesus why He spoke to the crowds in parables?? Jesus’ answer is pretty much; ‘you all have the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and they don’t’---now from this phrase we can conclude Jesus considered the disciples people either in the Kingdom or well on their way to being a part of it---the funny thing is this---in vs. 36 after Jesus has told about 4 parables about the Kingdom the disciples come to Him and pretty much say “ok, can you explain yourself?”  I love that Jesus goes right into the explanation—what I love even more is after He explains the first parables He goes on to tell them 2 more parables and then asks them, “Have you understood all these things?” (vs 51)  This is where the disciples were given the mysteries Jesus spoke about—not during the parables part but during the extra time spent afterwards explaining them!! You see Jesus didn’t speak and then BAM they got it!! They had to spend extra time with Him, walk with Him in order to GET it! DO YOU GET IT????  Is it clicking now?? Many a times I was the kind of Christian that thought I would grow in knowledge and mysteries of God and the supernatural by just attending church and/or a one hour prayer meeting.  These things aren’t wrong and they definately help in our growth but that’s not where most of my knowledge of the Kingdom will come from---it will come from Jesus Himself.  Jesus revealing His plans, ideas, thoughts, lessons etc.  It will happen in time spent outside of the regular “preaching/teaching” time. 

The disciples already had the promise of knowing the mysteries, but they had to go after the mysteries.  The mysteries didn’t come to them and land on their laps.  If they had decided to keep, the doubts/confusion to themselves about the parables, there would be no knowledge released…notice their questioning of Jesus wasn’t so they could prove something about Him.  They questioned to learn and grow.  Once He answered, they received and believed…it’s not like one question led to 10 more questions.  Sometimes our questions come out of a place of doubt or criticism of what God is doing---and in that case, they don’t honor God.  When Job and God went at it, God’s reply to Job was pretty much who are you that you need to be throwing all these questions at me??  I am God and that is that---now this won’t always be the case but we must make sure our questions are coming from a place of humble submission and a burning desire to grow. 

So today I ask myself, Am I chasing after the mysteries of Jesus?? Am I going into a session with Him expecting to come out with insider knowledge? I have to admit sometimes I do and other times I don’t—other times I do just to meet my devo obligation.  Nothing worst then spending an hour reading your Bible and coming out with nothing mysterious or revealed and just head knowledge---Jesus is ready and willing to release the mysteries…they are ours for the taking.

One thing is for sure once Jesus explained Himself He told more parables to test them.  He wanted to see if they got it.  I believe we are and will be tested even while in Kingdom to see what we know and if we’re really listening etc.  Jesus wanted to make sure these folks got His message about the Kingdom.  The Kingdom is so important to Jesus He spent most of His parables on it!

Adelante---

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Thinking Like Jesus

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;--Phil 2:5-6 NIV

This morning I was able to make a situation better by simply being humble---I didn’t realize it until later in the day it worked to my own advantage.  When I read the passage above I realized,  “hey, these type of outcomes are Biblical—it happened to Jesus.” Humbling himself and being equal to humans worked to “his own advantage.”  Who would have thought? The one thing we oppose and rebel against so much—humbling ourselves all the time, making ourselves equal to NOTHING, and not feeling we’re owed something---this will all work to our advantage and if it works to our advantage will work to God’s advantage. If something is God’s advantage then its mine too J

The verses after the ones above go on to tell us how far Jesus went in His humbling himself.  Even to death!! Wow…how far can I go?? Till death!! “Till death to us part” says the wedding vows.  Death is the ultimate ending and sacrifice.  It’s something we won’t do for just anyone---but Jesus did---why? Not only out of obedience but Humble Obedience!! WOW!!  In dealing with each other it says, “have the same mindset of Jesus…”  If my mind isn’t on board with Jesus and humility my actions won’t be on board.  If in my thoughts I don’t think others better than me I won’t treat them as that---if in my mind I don’t think myself equal to everyone (including those who don’t like me or are against me) I won’t treat them the way Jesus treated His enemies: with love and forgiveness.  What I think about others is made evident in my treatment of them, in my way of speaking about them, in my forgiveness of them, in my investing time and money with them.  Jesus didn’t just say I love these people He showed it.  My problem in the past is I only say things and then come action time I fall short of God’s glory in this area.

I was reading a blog today about how single women can start being the Prov 31 woman in the way we serve.  Being a servant!! This isn’t just to find a husband but this is the Jesus model.  He made Himself a servant. We know this, we read this---but let’s embrace and embody it!! Not just one day but every day---quite the challenge right?? For me it is! J  But the best thing about this is this works out to my own advantage---like Jesus in me doing this others come to know God the Father.  Just like with Jesus.  In having humility be to His own advantage it meant more miracles, more open hearts, more salvations, more people knowing the Father!! God is not unjust---He won’t allow us to serve in vain. I’m sure there’s also things and blessings He has in store when we use the key of servant hood and humble obedience. 

Vs 9 says because He humbled and lowered Himself God exalted Him.  “Therefore,” I love that word.  Because He did this God did that.  Basic Bible Math!!  Why is it so hard to humble myself? Why is it so hard to change my thoughts to servant ones?? Because my flesh doesn’t want to honor God in this area---but my flesh isn’t in charge of me—the Spirit of God is—and therefore I am “more than conquerors.”

Conquer this area everyday by having the same mindset of Christ!!

Push to be a NOBODY for JESUS!

Bea Z

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai