"Out of His Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (continued)
"Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise"
Now, most of us may wonder, and even despair at times, at the seeming impossibility of our being "filled up to the measure of all the Fullness of God." But God in His mercy has given us the Holy Spirit, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit "to fill us up to the measure of all the fullness of God." In Ephesians 1:13 and 14 we are told that, "after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed [in Christ], you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise, Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory".
Thus, when we believe in Christ, when we are saved by His grace, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This seal not only assures us of our full redemption in Christ, but this seal is also God's pledge of our inheritance in Christ - and as His Church, our inheritance is to become the fullness of Christ. The Word says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise; let us remember, the Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the Eternal Promise of the Father to the Son, was given upon the Day of Pentecost after Christ was glorified. The Holy Spirit of Promise was given in order that the Church be empowered to become the Fullness of Him. Therefore, God has given the Holy Spirit to each one of us as His seal, His pledge, His guarantee that we each have our portion in the Fullness of Christ.
John 1:12-16 tells us that each believer in Christ is given a portion, a measure, of the Fullness of Christ: "And of His Fullness, out of His Fullness, have all we received, and grace for grace" - grace in place of grace; new grace, continuous, and unintermitted. Ever fresh grace according to the need. These glorious words indicate that through God's ever-increasing grace, our measure of Christ's fullness, along with all the other measures of His fullness, will be forever increasing; for God's fullness in Christ is limitless - boundless - endless - fathomless - exhaustless - measureless.
So each of us receive a measure of His fullness when we are saved by His grace; and it is the Holy Spirit's work to bring forth the increase of each and every measure, in each and every Christian, "unto all the fullness of God." This is the preeminent meaning of our Lord giving each one of us this command: "... be filled in the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) - be being filled, be filled up, be fulfilled, be made complete in the Spirit.
There is a sense of urgency in this command of the Lord, and this urgency emphasizes that being filled in the Spirit is essential if we are to fulfill our part in the Full Purpose of God in Christ. So, beloved, since the Lord commands us to "be filled in the Spirit," then we must willingly commit our life to His command. We must willingly choose to allow the Holy Spirit to do His Work in our lives. In Ephesians 5:18, the Holy Spirit's use of the word "filled" (pleroo in the Greek) is by Divine Design; for the word "filled" is from a family of words which, especially in Ephesians, relate to Christ's fullness.
"That in the dispensation of the fullness (pleroma) of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him" (Ephesians 1:10).
"And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness (pleroma) of Him that filleth (pleroo) all in all" (Ephesians 1:22, 23).
"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled (pleroo) with all the fullness (pleroma) of God" (Ephesians 3:19).
"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill (pleroo) all things" (Ephesians 4:10)
Till we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness (pleroma) of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
"... but be filled (pleroo) in the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
Fullness. The Fullness of God! The Fullness of Christ! The Fullness of God in Christ! The Fullness of God in Christ in the Church, the Body of Christ! Oh, beloved, the Fullness of God in Christ in the Church has always been God's Desire, God's Will, God's Determined Purpose.
Therefore, the Fullness of Christ is the purpose and goal of the Holy Spirit as He works in each of our lives. So we are commanded to "be filled in the Spirit." We are commanded to be immersed into the Realm of the Holy Spirit where He is always bringing forth a greater increase of Christ's Fullness.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 24 - "I Was In the Spirit ... And Heard")
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Gaining the Victory
We live in a society of addictions, of bondage to so many things. Maybe you are in bondage to cigarettes, or alcohol, or pornography, or anger, or any number of other things.
Whatever the condition that has you in bondage today, God's hand and God's arm can lift you up and untangle you and set you free. In Psalm 98:1 we are told,
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
We find repeatedly throughout the Old Testament how, through God's mighty hand and His outstretched arm, He redeemed His people out of slavery and out of bondage.
Now here is the question. Does it just sort of randomly happen? Do we have to wait and see if we are one of the lucky ones God will choose to extend His mighty arm to help? Or, is there anything that we can do to cooperate with God to see His arm extended in our behalf?
The answer is yes, we can, and we must cooperate with God.
In Isaiah 51:5 God tells us,
"My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands will wait upon Me, and on My arm they will trust."
The way we cooperate with God is to trust in His arm; not in our own arm, but in His. If you want to see God's mighty arm move on your behalf, then trust Him alone! Do not trust your intelligence, your ingenuity, your education, your status in life, your wealth, or any other thing.
Trust in God alone. And you will have the victory.
~Bayless Conley~
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 22
"Out of His Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (continued)
Christ Glorified - The Holy Spirit Given
So now we have the answer to the question that we asked before: what does it mean in John 7:39, when the scripture says, "The Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified ...?" We have the answer because we know that Christ has been glorified! The hour has come! The Father has glorified the Son! His Cross, His resurrection, and His ascension is now, and forevermore, l living reality. Beloved, the Holy Spirit has been given because Christ has been glorified! The Holy Spirit has been poured forth because of the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ! The day of Pentecost has fully come! The Promise of the Father has been given to the Son; and the Church, which is the Body of Christ, has been baptized, immersed, in the Spirit - The Church has been empowered to become the Fullness of Christ.
Now, it is true that the whole Church was baptized in the Spirit upon the Day of Pentecost; but it is also true that each one of us, each member of the many-membered Body of Christ, must be baptized in the Spirit, must be "filled in the Spirit," if our portion of the Fullness of Christ is to become a reality. It is at this point that the majority of the confusion about the Holy Spirit in Christianity has taken place: some believe that we receive all of the Holy Spirit that we need when we are saved; some believe that we must be baptized in the Spirit after we are saved; and there are many other beliefs about the gifts, and power, and ministry. Most of these different beliefs are based on the scripture. But the trouble is that most of us have not seen the Fullness of the Holy Spirit's Word in God's Eternal Purpose in Christ. Most of us see only a part of what it means to be "filled with and by and in the Spirit." Most of us see only a measure of that great realm of the Holy Spirit, the realm in which the Holy Spirit's Eternal Goal is to fill up all the redeemed unto ALL the Fullness of Christ.
Beloved, whatever our belief about the in-filling of the Holy Spirit, as long as it is truly based upon the Holy Scripture, we can all agree that we; each one of us, are not yet truly "filled unto all the Fullness of God." We can all agree that we are not yet "filled up to the measure of all the Fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19). We can also agree that the Church His Body is not yet "the fullness of Him (of Christ) that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:23). And we are sure we can all agree that we do not yet "Pray at all times - on every occasion, in every season - in the Spirit with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty" (Eph. 6:18).
Therefore, no matter how mature or immature we may be in the Lord, we must also agree that each of us must heed the direct command of our Lord: "... be filled in [the] Spirit." Below, we have quoted Bishop H. C. G. Moule's paraphrase of our Lord's command. So let us read this as our prayer for a fresh in-filling of God's Holy Spirit:
But be filled, with a fullness habitual, normal, always supplied and always received, in the Spirit. Let the Holy One, Your Sealer and Sanctifier, so surround and possess you that you shall be as it were vessels immersed in His pure flood, and then, yielding your hearts without reserve to Him, you shall be vessels not only immersed but open; "in Him", and "filled" in Him, as He, continually welcomed, continually occupies all departments of your life. Amen and Amen.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 23 - "Sealed With the Holy Spirit of Promise")
Christ Glorified - The Holy Spirit Given
So now we have the answer to the question that we asked before: what does it mean in John 7:39, when the scripture says, "The Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified ...?" We have the answer because we know that Christ has been glorified! The hour has come! The Father has glorified the Son! His Cross, His resurrection, and His ascension is now, and forevermore, l living reality. Beloved, the Holy Spirit has been given because Christ has been glorified! The Holy Spirit has been poured forth because of the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ! The day of Pentecost has fully come! The Promise of the Father has been given to the Son; and the Church, which is the Body of Christ, has been baptized, immersed, in the Spirit - The Church has been empowered to become the Fullness of Christ.
Now, it is true that the whole Church was baptized in the Spirit upon the Day of Pentecost; but it is also true that each one of us, each member of the many-membered Body of Christ, must be baptized in the Spirit, must be "filled in the Spirit," if our portion of the Fullness of Christ is to become a reality. It is at this point that the majority of the confusion about the Holy Spirit in Christianity has taken place: some believe that we receive all of the Holy Spirit that we need when we are saved; some believe that we must be baptized in the Spirit after we are saved; and there are many other beliefs about the gifts, and power, and ministry. Most of these different beliefs are based on the scripture. But the trouble is that most of us have not seen the Fullness of the Holy Spirit's Word in God's Eternal Purpose in Christ. Most of us see only a part of what it means to be "filled with and by and in the Spirit." Most of us see only a measure of that great realm of the Holy Spirit, the realm in which the Holy Spirit's Eternal Goal is to fill up all the redeemed unto ALL the Fullness of Christ.
Beloved, whatever our belief about the in-filling of the Holy Spirit, as long as it is truly based upon the Holy Scripture, we can all agree that we; each one of us, are not yet truly "filled unto all the Fullness of God." We can all agree that we are not yet "filled up to the measure of all the Fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19). We can also agree that the Church His Body is not yet "the fullness of Him (of Christ) that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:23). And we are sure we can all agree that we do not yet "Pray at all times - on every occasion, in every season - in the Spirit with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty" (Eph. 6:18).
Therefore, no matter how mature or immature we may be in the Lord, we must also agree that each of us must heed the direct command of our Lord: "... be filled in [the] Spirit." Below, we have quoted Bishop H. C. G. Moule's paraphrase of our Lord's command. So let us read this as our prayer for a fresh in-filling of God's Holy Spirit:
But be filled, with a fullness habitual, normal, always supplied and always received, in the Spirit. Let the Holy One, Your Sealer and Sanctifier, so surround and possess you that you shall be as it were vessels immersed in His pure flood, and then, yielding your hearts without reserve to Him, you shall be vessels not only immersed but open; "in Him", and "filled" in Him, as He, continually welcomed, continually occupies all departments of your life. Amen and Amen.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 23 - "Sealed With the Holy Spirit of Promise")
Isaiah 36:5
Now on whom dost thou trust?
Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's
answer, and see if it is yours. "On whom dost thou trust?" "I trust," says the Christian, "in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that He has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust Him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to His own house where the many mansions are. I trust the Son. Very God of very God is He-the man Christ Jesus. I trust in Him to take away all my sins by His own sacrifice, and to adorn me with His perfect righteousness. I trust Him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before His Father's throne, and I trust Him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust Him for what He is, for what He has done, and for what He has promised yet to do. And I trust the Holy Spirit-He has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust Him to drive them all out; I trust Him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness; I trust Him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light for ever." Oh, blessed trust! To trust Him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplussed, and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution! Happy art thou, reader, if this trust is thine! So trusting, thou shalt enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter, and the foundation of thy trust shall never be removed.
~Charles Spurgeon~
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Tuesday, November 5, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 21
"Out of His Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (continued)
The mighty power and glory of God was manifested when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, and because of this, many of the Jews believed in Him. Nevertheless, the ultimate result of Lazarus being raised from the dead was the Cross, the Crucifixion of Christ. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard what Jesus had done, they were greatly disturbed. They feared that all men would believe on Him and that they would loose their religious and political positions. So they called a council, and they decided that they must kill this Jesus as soon as possible. Now the instigator of this wicked gathering was satan himself. The raising of Lazarus from the dead brought the hostility of satan against Christ to a climax, for his evil claim to the power of death was threatened. Hence, through these religious leaders of the Jews, satan set his final strategy into motion, a strategy that would result in the crucifixion of Christ, a strategy that satan believed would place Christ under his power of death. The Word of God makes it quite clear that satan, the devil, had tried over and over again to stop The Christ, The Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), through the power of death - Abel, Joseph, Baby Moses, Israel at the Red Sea, David and his seed, the whole nation in Esther's time, etc.
So in a little town called Bethany, about one and three fourths miles from Jerusalem, the greatest battle of the ages was in process. He that is the Resurrection, and the Life, met him that had the power of death! And this battle would find both its end and triumph upon the Cross of Christ. Through the raising of Lazarus from the dead, God was revealing one of the greatest principles in His New Creation in Christ, Life out of death = Resurrection Life.
Therefore, as Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, suffered under the throes of the power of death, Jesus said: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Let us note the preposition, "for," in the phrase, "for the Glory of God"; because, in this instance, the word "for", has the underlying sense of "a sacrifice in behalf of". Therefore this sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, but it was a sacrifice in behalf of the Glory of God.
God did not cause Lazarus to be sick - this was the work of him that had the power of death, the devil. But God, through His Omniscient Foreknowledge, knew what would take place in that little village of Bethany, not many days before His Son would lay down His Life. And so, before He laid the foundation of the world, He planned that the sickness of Lazarus would not be unto death, it would not be a victory for him who had the power of death, but it would be for "the glory of God" in order that "the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Behind Lazarus' sickness was the glory of God's sacrifice of His Son - and through the sacrifice of His Son, through the Son laying down His Life for the Father and for ALL that His Father had purposed, the Son would be glorified - His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension would become an Eternal Living Reality!
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 22 - "Christ Glorified - The Holy Spirit Given")
The mighty power and glory of God was manifested when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, and because of this, many of the Jews believed in Him. Nevertheless, the ultimate result of Lazarus being raised from the dead was the Cross, the Crucifixion of Christ. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard what Jesus had done, they were greatly disturbed. They feared that all men would believe on Him and that they would loose their religious and political positions. So they called a council, and they decided that they must kill this Jesus as soon as possible. Now the instigator of this wicked gathering was satan himself. The raising of Lazarus from the dead brought the hostility of satan against Christ to a climax, for his evil claim to the power of death was threatened. Hence, through these religious leaders of the Jews, satan set his final strategy into motion, a strategy that would result in the crucifixion of Christ, a strategy that satan believed would place Christ under his power of death. The Word of God makes it quite clear that satan, the devil, had tried over and over again to stop The Christ, The Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), through the power of death - Abel, Joseph, Baby Moses, Israel at the Red Sea, David and his seed, the whole nation in Esther's time, etc.
So in a little town called Bethany, about one and three fourths miles from Jerusalem, the greatest battle of the ages was in process. He that is the Resurrection, and the Life, met him that had the power of death! And this battle would find both its end and triumph upon the Cross of Christ. Through the raising of Lazarus from the dead, God was revealing one of the greatest principles in His New Creation in Christ, Life out of death = Resurrection Life.
Therefore, as Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, suffered under the throes of the power of death, Jesus said: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Let us note the preposition, "for," in the phrase, "for the Glory of God"; because, in this instance, the word "for", has the underlying sense of "a sacrifice in behalf of". Therefore this sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, but it was a sacrifice in behalf of the Glory of God.
God did not cause Lazarus to be sick - this was the work of him that had the power of death, the devil. But God, through His Omniscient Foreknowledge, knew what would take place in that little village of Bethany, not many days before His Son would lay down His Life. And so, before He laid the foundation of the world, He planned that the sickness of Lazarus would not be unto death, it would not be a victory for him who had the power of death, but it would be for "the glory of God" in order that "the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Behind Lazarus' sickness was the glory of God's sacrifice of His Son - and through the sacrifice of His Son, through the Son laying down His Life for the Father and for ALL that His Father had purposed, the Son would be glorified - His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension would become an Eternal Living Reality!
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 22 - "Christ Glorified - The Holy Spirit Given")
Obey Him
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him… Hebrews 5:8-9
Obedience to God is the heartbeat of Jesus. He learned and modeled obedience, and suffering was the incubator in which His obedience grew. The best lessons we learn seem to come out of suffering. Anyone can obey when it is easy, but in the fire of adversity and pain, our obedience is put to the test. Will we obey even when it hurts, even when it costs us dearly, even when we don’t want to, even when we are uncertain of the outcome? Obedience’s tests unmask our motives; untested obedience may just be the result of convenience.
So, be prepared to obey, just because you know it is the right thing to do, when no one else but God will ever know. He is watching to see if we will obey Him when no one else knows. Jesus knows from first-hand experience that obedience is what makes us more like Him. We experience Him in our acts of obedience; He assures us in our obedience; He loves us in our obedience; He empowers us in our obedience; God shows up in the middle of our obedience. It is so important to Him, that He makes it a priority to bless our obedience. His blessing may not be recognized immediately. It may take months or years before we enjoy the fruit of our obedience to pray.
This is especially true when things are going well. It seems like we don’t need God when we are fine. We unwisely drop our prayer guard and are exposed to a punch in the face by our adversary, Satan. The reality is that success and prosperity need to propel us to pray more. Progress demands prayer. How can we maintain this level of achievement or move forward to conqueror new horizons without obedience in prayer? Success reveals a different type of suffering. We suffer from isolation, greed, and pride. Without obediently seeking Him, we fail where it matters most. God smiled on our efforts and brought success. He is the author of progress by His providence. Therefore, we obey Him with our prayers. We obediently point our prayers toward heaven, often and aggressively.
When you passed from death to life, from darkness to light, you became a new creation in Christ. Your name changed from self to selfless, you went from control to trust, from disobedient to obedient. As Jesus-followers, you represent heaven on earth; you are the face of your heavenly Father. You obey Him because there is a higher purpose in life. You are ambassadors for Almighty God, hosts for heaven, and greeters for God. Therefore, even in hypocrisy you obey, so you obey your way to obedience. You obey because you are His, you learn obedience from what you suffer. Obedience is God’s ointment for living. The Bible says, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). You obey Him because you are His.
So, be prepared to obey, just because you know it is the right thing to do, when no one else but God will ever know. He is watching to see if we will obey Him when no one else knows. Jesus knows from first-hand experience that obedience is what makes us more like Him. We experience Him in our acts of obedience; He assures us in our obedience; He loves us in our obedience; He empowers us in our obedience; God shows up in the middle of our obedience. It is so important to Him, that He makes it a priority to bless our obedience. His blessing may not be recognized immediately. It may take months or years before we enjoy the fruit of our obedience to pray.
This is especially true when things are going well. It seems like we don’t need God when we are fine. We unwisely drop our prayer guard and are exposed to a punch in the face by our adversary, Satan. The reality is that success and prosperity need to propel us to pray more. Progress demands prayer. How can we maintain this level of achievement or move forward to conqueror new horizons without obedience in prayer? Success reveals a different type of suffering. We suffer from isolation, greed, and pride. Without obediently seeking Him, we fail where it matters most. God smiled on our efforts and brought success. He is the author of progress by His providence. Therefore, we obey Him with our prayers. We obediently point our prayers toward heaven, often and aggressively.
When you passed from death to life, from darkness to light, you became a new creation in Christ. Your name changed from self to selfless, you went from control to trust, from disobedient to obedient. As Jesus-followers, you represent heaven on earth; you are the face of your heavenly Father. You obey Him because there is a higher purpose in life. You are ambassadors for Almighty God, hosts for heaven, and greeters for God. Therefore, even in hypocrisy you obey, so you obey your way to obedience. You obey because you are His, you learn obedience from what you suffer. Obedience is God’s ointment for living. The Bible says, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). You obey Him because you are His.
~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~
Monday, November 4, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 20
"Out of his Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (continued)
However, John 7:37-39 tells us that when Christ spoke these Words on the last day of the feast, Christ was not yet glorified. The Lord Jesus Christ was the glory of God, but He Himself was to be glorified by God. We shall see that this glorification of Christ is one intricate whole that includes His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension. Out of His Cross, out of His suffering and death came His triumph over death, His resurrection. Out of His Resurrection came His Ascension, His Victory over principalities and powers as He ascended far above all the Heavens and was seated at the Right Hand of God, which is the Realm of the Throne - THE REALM OF ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY, THE REALM OF ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY. Out of this Realm the Lord Jesus poured forth the Holy Spirit - out of His Belly, out of His Innermost Being, flowed rivers of Living Waters unto and into and out of those who believe.
Now we want to examine this closely because John 7:37-39 tells us that the Glorification of Christ, through His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension, is the ground upon which we who believe receive the Spirit. The Glorification of Christ is the ground on which we, the Church His Body, receive the power, the enabling "Power from on High," to become the Fullness of Christ.
In the Gospel of John, the Word of God declares:
The Father Glorifies Christ (John 8:54)
and Christ Glorifies the Father (John 17:4):
and The Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ:
"for He [he Holy Spirit shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine [of ALL That Christ is], and shall disclose it to you [to all who believe]" (John 16:14).
In John 8:54, we are told that it is the Father Who glorified Christ: "Jesus answered, 'If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father Who glorifies Me' ". It is My Father Who Extols, Who Exalts, Who Honors, Who Magnifies All that I AM. Hence, in John 12:23, we find Jesus saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified." And it is clear from the context of these Scriptures, that this "Hour," that this Eternal Hour in God's Purpose, includes the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus said: "I lay down My Life, that I might take it again ... I have power (authority) to lay it down, and I have power (authority) to take it again ..." (John 10:17, 18). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, 'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit' " (John 12:24).
Beloved, even the betrayal of Judas speaks of the sacrifice, and the power, and the authority of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. For after "satan entered into him (into Judas)," the Lord commanded Judas, which means that He commanded satan, "That thou doest, do quickly" (John 13:27-31). It was the Lord Jesus Who was in command of the situation, not satan. It was the Lord Jesus Who had power to lay down His Life, and power to take it again. Therefore, when Judas "was gone out" to betray Him, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man Glorified, and God is Glorified in Him."
It had always been the Father's plan that His Son would be glorified through His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension: - Life out of death had always been God's Way of Reaching His End. In John, chapter eleven, this Divine Principle of Life out of death is especially brought to our attention when the Lord Jesus Christ raised Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, from the dead. The Word tells us that Jesus loved (agape) Martha, and her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus very much. It also indicates that He had a special brother to brother love (phileo) for Lazarus (John 11:3-5). So why, even He heard that Lazarus was sick, did He not go to them at once instead of waiting two days? The Lord Jesus Himself answers our question. "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany ... but when Jesus heard of it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it' " (John 11:1-4). The Lord Jesus was saying, "This sickness is not unto death, death will not be victorious here, for I AM the Resurrection and the Life." We know that Lazarus died, but we also know that death could not hold Lazarus because Christ raised Lazarus from the dead.
~T.Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 21)
However, John 7:37-39 tells us that when Christ spoke these Words on the last day of the feast, Christ was not yet glorified. The Lord Jesus Christ was the glory of God, but He Himself was to be glorified by God. We shall see that this glorification of Christ is one intricate whole that includes His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension. Out of His Cross, out of His suffering and death came His triumph over death, His resurrection. Out of His Resurrection came His Ascension, His Victory over principalities and powers as He ascended far above all the Heavens and was seated at the Right Hand of God, which is the Realm of the Throne - THE REALM OF ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY, THE REALM OF ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY. Out of this Realm the Lord Jesus poured forth the Holy Spirit - out of His Belly, out of His Innermost Being, flowed rivers of Living Waters unto and into and out of those who believe.
Now we want to examine this closely because John 7:37-39 tells us that the Glorification of Christ, through His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension, is the ground upon which we who believe receive the Spirit. The Glorification of Christ is the ground on which we, the Church His Body, receive the power, the enabling "Power from on High," to become the Fullness of Christ.
In the Gospel of John, the Word of God declares:
The Father Glorifies Christ (John 8:54)
and Christ Glorifies the Father (John 17:4):
and The Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ:
"for He [he Holy Spirit shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine [of ALL That Christ is], and shall disclose it to you [to all who believe]" (John 16:14).
In John 8:54, we are told that it is the Father Who glorified Christ: "Jesus answered, 'If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father Who glorifies Me' ". It is My Father Who Extols, Who Exalts, Who Honors, Who Magnifies All that I AM. Hence, in John 12:23, we find Jesus saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified." And it is clear from the context of these Scriptures, that this "Hour," that this Eternal Hour in God's Purpose, includes the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus said: "I lay down My Life, that I might take it again ... I have power (authority) to lay it down, and I have power (authority) to take it again ..." (John 10:17, 18). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, 'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit' " (John 12:24).
Beloved, even the betrayal of Judas speaks of the sacrifice, and the power, and the authority of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. For after "satan entered into him (into Judas)," the Lord commanded Judas, which means that He commanded satan, "That thou doest, do quickly" (John 13:27-31). It was the Lord Jesus Who was in command of the situation, not satan. It was the Lord Jesus Who had power to lay down His Life, and power to take it again. Therefore, when Judas "was gone out" to betray Him, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man Glorified, and God is Glorified in Him."
It had always been the Father's plan that His Son would be glorified through His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension: - Life out of death had always been God's Way of Reaching His End. In John, chapter eleven, this Divine Principle of Life out of death is especially brought to our attention when the Lord Jesus Christ raised Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, from the dead. The Word tells us that Jesus loved (agape) Martha, and her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus very much. It also indicates that He had a special brother to brother love (phileo) for Lazarus (John 11:3-5). So why, even He heard that Lazarus was sick, did He not go to them at once instead of waiting two days? The Lord Jesus Himself answers our question. "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany ... but when Jesus heard of it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it' " (John 11:1-4). The Lord Jesus was saying, "This sickness is not unto death, death will not be victorious here, for I AM the Resurrection and the Life." We know that Lazarus died, but we also know that death could not hold Lazarus because Christ raised Lazarus from the dead.
~T.Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 21)
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