Words of Spirit and Life

Disciples And Servanthood.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Matthew 10:24-25.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:25-28.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. Matthew 24:45-47.

And when Jesus had come to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way? Read More. “Disciples And Servanthood.”

Blessed Are Those Who Exhibit Mercy.

Our Father Is Merciful.

And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do even the same.  And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:33-36.

Jesus Must Be Our Benchmark.

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Read More. “Blessed Are Those Who Exhibit Mercy.”

Disciples Living In The World.

Jesus Was Hated

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.  He that hates Me hates My Father also. John 15:18-23.

The World Shall Hate Disciples.

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. Read More. “Disciples Living In The World.”

Prayer And Jesus’s Word.

Prayer And The Name Of Jesus.

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.  And whatsoever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14.

And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.  Hitherto have you asked nothing in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16: 23-24.

Prayer And Jesus’s Word.

I am the Vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.  If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.  Read More. “Prayer And Jesus’s Word.”

There Is A Cost In Discipleship.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  Saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Luke 14 :28 -30

Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand Luke  14 :31- 33

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”But Read More. “There Is A Cost In Discipleship.”

Jesus Must Be First And Foremost.

Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10v 32-37

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Read More. “Jesus Must Be First And Foremost.”

The Gospel Of The Kingdom.

Repentance and Kingdom.

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:1-6.

When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death,a light has dawned.”From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Read More. “The Gospel Of The Kingdom.”

The Gospel And Authority.

The Authority Of Jesus As The Son Of Man.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. John 5:25-27.

Jesus Taught With Authority.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it and great was its fall.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Read More. “The Gospel And Authority.”

The Holy Spirit And The Gospel.

Jesus And The Holy Spirit.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But Jesus answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:1-4.

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. And Jesus taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.And Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, Jesus went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Jesus the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, Jesus found the place where it was written. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Read More. “The Holy Spirit And The Gospel.”

The Gospel And Works.

The Works Of The Father.

Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. The night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam”  So the man went and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:1-6.

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade. So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. Read More. “The Gospel And Works.”