FREEDOM AND FULFILMENT

“JESUS is perfect theology” is one of my favourite quotes from Bill Johnson, Pastor of Bethel in Redding, California.

Jesus worked as a village carpenter until he began his ministry at the age of 30. He became an itinerant preacher. 

Everywhere he went, he healed the sick and cast out demons. 

• Everywhere his challenging words and his amazing miracles restored broken lives but provoked the indignation of religious leaders. So it is today when men and women of faith dare to believe God and release the miracle power of God. Little has changed.

Acts 10:38 (NASB)   "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 

Jesus was prepared to be misunderstood and hated by religious leaders because he loved people. 

• Some people today are strangely offended by extreme miracles. If God uses a ministry to heal cancer patients and make blind people see, there are always many people who quote the Bible and attack the ministry.

What does God want? 

• First of all, he wants to save you from hell, forgive your sins and give you eternal life.

Jn 3:16 (NASB)  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

So many of us stop there. We want people to be converted and we hope they will join our church. 

But Jesus had a much higher aim. 

• There were some Jews who, according to our standards, were already converted but Jesus did not comfort them but provoked them with a tough challenge.

Jn 8:31 (HCSB)  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

Jesus was not satisfied with converts. He wanted disciples.

We have so many shallow believers today because we just look for people who will say YES to a preacher. 

Jesus wants followers, people who will live as he lived, knowing God for themselves in a deep personal way.

Jesus spent much time alone with the Heavenly Father. Although he himself was God, he lived as a man and he needed guidance from the Spirit of his Father. He talked to God and God talked to him.

So it is with us. Christians who change the world talk to God and God talks to them. 

• This is not a special gift to chosen Christian leaders but the will of God for you and me.

Jn 10:27 (NASB)  "MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME;

• and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.