“ITS UP TO US TO USHER IN HIS KINGDOM”

Sometimes when i hear preachers, its as if Jesus died for our sins, rose again, sat down at the right hand of God and left it all up to us. Basically its the “Jesus is retired” doctrine.  The disciples didn’t go out after the Pentecost and preach a formula they remembered, Jesus went with them and preached through them. He is alive today and doesn’t want us going out and saving the world for Him. He wants to do it through us.

It is possible to get “results” and have a ministry on our own, but we should remember:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.    Matt 7:21-23

They did wonderful works but had no relationship with Jesus.

Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.   Luke 11:35

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.   John 8:12

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.    Jer 9:23-24

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.   John 6:28-29

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.   Hosea 6:1-3

“if we follow on to know the Lord”

the book in the bible New Testament called “the acts of the apostles” might better have been named “the acts of Jesus through the apostles”. He was crucified for our sins, rose again, ascended into heaven and then:

…And the Lord added to the church…   Acts 2:47

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?    Acts 3:12

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:     Acts 3:19-20

(and He shall send: not a doctrine, not a way to stand, not a theology or plan to do good works, but Himself)

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.    Acts 4:29-30

they asked the Lord to stretch forth His hand to heal, they asked Him to do it, not that Jesus would make them able to go off on their own and do it!

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.   Mark 16:20

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.   John 15:4

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.   Acts 6:9-10

Just like Jesus said:

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.    Matt 10:19-20

and:

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.            Luke 21:14-15

Jesus appeared personally to Paul Acts 9:4, and spoke to Ananias in a vision concerning Paul Acts 9:10, the Lord spoke to Philip by angel and Spirit Acts 8:26-29, the Lord personally sent Ananias.

… the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me,….    Acts 9:17

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.   Acts 9:31

the Living God sent a vision to Cornelius, and he sent Peter also.  Acts 10:4-20

when Peter preached Jesus unto the people, he said that God was with Jesus:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  Acts 10:38

We are to walk like Jesus did, we are to let Jesus speak through us:

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.             John 12:49-50

And the hand of the Lord was with them…   Acts 11:21

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.   Acts 11:23

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him…   Acts 12:7-8

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.   Acts 12:11

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison…. Acts 12:17

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.   Acts 12:23

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.   John 5:22-23

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
John 17:9-10

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,… Acts 13:2

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,… Acts 13:4

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.    Acts 13:11

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.  Acts 13:17

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.  But God raised him from the dead:   Acts 13:29-30

Jesus didn’t raise Himself from the dead, His Father did. He relied on His Father every day. We aren’t to go out on our own, but to rely on Jesus every day.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.    John 17:23

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.   Acts 13:41

He works a work, not we work a work.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.   Acts 13:43

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.   John 1:14

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.   Acts 13:52

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.           Acts 14:3

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:      Acts 14:15

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.     Acts 14:23

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.   John 9:35-38

Abide In me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.   John 15:4-5

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.   Acts 15:10-11

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.    Acts 15:17

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Acts 16:6-7

Now the Lord is that Spirit… 2 Cor 3:17

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened…   Acts 16:14

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:    Acts 17:27

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,… Acts 18:9

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Cor 4:19-20

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,…         1 Thess 1:5

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.    Acts 20:21

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;  And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.    Acts 22:17-18

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. Acts 23:11

Perhaps your ministry has had power, and you haven’t felt the need to ask Jesus about every thing you do in the ministry. For instance perhaps you can cast out demons. If you do it outside of Jesus’ immediate will you are only sentencing the man to a worse fate than he already had. If it is Jesus’ timing He often will fill the person with the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants us to walk in love, not just in power…

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.     Luke 11:24-26

There is only One that can baptize with the Holy Ghost.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.            John 1:33-34

Jesus didn’t minister outside of His Fathers directions.

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”    John 12:49

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”   Gal 2:20

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.   Acts 17:24-31

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  Acts 26:18

Good news! Jesus is alive! He is not retired! you don’t have to keep trying to do this on your own anymore. We put our faith in Jesus , not faith in our ability to claim scriptures or repeat them, God does call the things that be not as though they were, occasionally, but do you want to be back in the past looking for all the blind people to put miracle mud on (that you got from the very ground Jesus did!) or do you want to let go of that and follow Him on to raising people from the dead, and eventually, to your cross? Let us turn from dead works to serve the living God.

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.   1 Kings 18:21

when elijah faced the prophets of baal on mt carmel he said of their god:

And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.   1 Kings 18:27

We serve the Living God who is none of those, but very active even today in His works on the earth. Oh servant of God that works so hard to maintain faith and works by your own strength and power, lay it all down and turn again to the Living Jesus. If you take away your formulas, plans, and good ideas, Praise God, there is nothing left for you to do but sit down at the feet of Jesus and hear what He wants you to do today.

Turning from dead works and going back to seeking Jesus is what we need to do, but we shouldnt lose everything out of despair because we went astray. We love to talk about gifts from the Lord, He is so merciful that He gifts us even when we mess up:

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.           Psalms 68:18

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die… Romans 5:7

Here is what david prayed when He messed up:

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.      Psalms 119:176

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Psalms 130:4

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.     Psalms 143:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.   Psalms 51:10-13

Jesus knew that Peter was going to fall, He told him ahead of time. He said:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.   Luke 22:32

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.    2 Cor 3:6

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.     1 Cor 2:1-5

some notes on “the new testament law”

When I was fellow shipping with and copying people who were steeped in trying to follow Jesus by doing little formulas they thought were what the Lord wanted them to be doing, I was actually far away from Jesus but thinking i was doing what He wanted.  I noticed that we often said things like “Praise God!” a lot, everything was “praise the Lord!”. But We did it like it was a vain thing, not like we were actually talking to Him. Not like He was standing right in front us, face to face. Not even like we were talking to Him from down here our words reaching Him up in heaven. We frequently said “covered by the blood of Jesus!” as if it was our mascot or logo or something.

*trigger warning for this next paragraph graphic~

I noted also that people said “covered by the blood of Jesus!” a lot. One time I had a very early stage miscarriage. It was horrible. I felt cramping and I got out of bed and started walking out of my bedroom and lost the child as I walked. There was the blood of my child all over the ground. I felt so much grief and sorrow. When others found out i had lost the baby they said well meaning things like: it was too early anyway, it must have been deformed or something, you can have another.  I felt like no one cared that a human being’s blood was just poured out on the ground. The loss is indescribable, there was no dignity, no mourning from anyone, they basically said just get over it and get on with life.   I prayed about it a lot because it really hurt me, and I think I heard God say, “that’s how it was when My Son’s blood was poured out into the dirt at the foot of the cross, people just walked right over it, like it was nothing.”  Should we be using the term covered by the blood of Jesus as if it were a get out of jail free card or just some object like the keys to our car which we need to drive our favorite car but arent actually that important because we can get a replacement easily?

A little more about how we can fall into the trap of using the scriptures and even use God for things we want instead of what He wants to do-

in 1st samuel 4:5-10 is the story of how the philistines captured the ark of the covenant from the children of israel- the Lord let them take it! This is before the temple was made and the Holy Spirit used to abide in the ark. The philistines didn’t want to be friends with the God of the hebrews, they just wanted the power to win their battles.  1st samuel 5  tells how the philistines set up the ark beside their god dagon and how dagon fell down and was broken. The Lord was against the philistines for all this and He smote them and they returned the ark after many months. God had them send Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit in the ark back to the Israelite’s who had also just been using Him for His power. The philistines sent the ark back with a gift. Lets give Him our lives as a gift, not just keep using Him for what power we can get, but walking up and down in His name by abiding in His beloved Son Jesus.