Num 18:20
“Then the Lord said to Aaron: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.”
When Israel entered the land of promise and divided up the land among the tribes, clans, and families of Israel, God commanded them not to give the priests and Levites any land. God said He would be their portion of land and their inheritance. Land during this time was very important to people. It was their means of livelihood, their place of security, their savings program, retirement, and the inheritance for their children for generations to come. In fact, they were not allowed to sell their land. It was the family’s security for generations.
But while everyone else was getting land and security for their family, God did not allow the priests to own land because He was to be their land, their livelihood, their place of security, their savings and retirement plan, and their inheritance for generations to come. Today, we live in perilous times when people are losing their jobs, homes, and pension plans. Our world economy is rocking and reeling, and no one is really sure what the future holds for us. But as the people of this world desperately try to hold on to what they have, God declares over you and me that “I am your portion and your inheritance.”
I Peter 2:9 says “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God has chosen you and me to be His royal priesthood, holy nation, and special people in the world today. We are distinct from the rest of the world because our security is not in our jobs, our land, our homes, our savings, our retirement plan, or inheritance for our children. God Himself is our portion and our inheritance. The God of the universe who rules over all things, who has all power in His hands is our security. The God who clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air is our provider. The God who does not change and is not affected by political and economic climate is our portion.
God has called us to be a distinct people not only to be our inheritance and portion, but that in the midst of this economic and political chaos “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It is in the midst of the darkness, confusion, hopelessness and chaos that we can shine the brightest. But we can only shine if God is truly our portion and our inheritance. As a royal priesthood we represent God to the world, and we intercede for the world before God.
Whatever challenges, uncertainties, or fears you may be facing, make God your portion and your inheritance today. In doing so, may “your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Andy Clark
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Give Me This Mountain
Numbers 14:24“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
In Numbers 14, God brought Israel to the edge of the land of promise to take them into the inheritance He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Israel because of fear and doubt, Isreal failed to enter into and take possession of God’s promise. Caleb “was of a different spirit.” What kind of a spirit did Caleb have that caused God to single him out with a commendation and promise? He had a spirit of faith. While the rest of the children of Israel saw all the problems and challenges of the promise, Caleb and Joshua saw what God saw. He saw a land of great potential and possibilities and believed God’s promise to give it to them. (Joshua 14:7)
God also declared Caleb as His “servant” who followed Him “wholeheartedly.” Caleb was not out doing his own thing or pursuing what he wanted. There is a liberty and reward with being a wholehearted servant of God. Paul in Romans chapter one identified himself as a bond servant of Christ. The picture there in Roman times was of a slave who was given his freedom but chooses to remain a slave for life. He would put his ear to the doorpost of the master’s house, the master would pierce his ear with a punch, and he became a slave for life. It is a total abandonment of one’s self, one’s freedoms and one’s will to the will of the master. It is in wholehearted servanthood to Christ that we come into the fullness of His enablement and the fulfillment of His promises.
There are some other benefits to wholehearted servanthood. Forty-five years later as Israel under Joshua has begun to take possession of the land of promise, Caleb reminds Joshua of God’s promise. “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:11-12)
Out of wholehearted servanthood comes a strength and authority. It is from this place of strength and authority that Caleb declares, “give me this mountain.” Possession of the mountain was not automatically his because God had promised it. It had giants and great fortified cities that had to be conquered. But as a wholehearted servant of God, Caleb knew that He came to conquer by the authority of his Master.
God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4) They are promises that have great potential and great challenges. These promises that can only be fulfilled through servant people who have a different spirit and follow God wholeheartedly or with utter abandonment. May we wholly abandon ourselves to God and His purposes that His glory may be seen in us.
Andy Clark
In Numbers 14, God brought Israel to the edge of the land of promise to take them into the inheritance He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Israel because of fear and doubt, Isreal failed to enter into and take possession of God’s promise. Caleb “was of a different spirit.” What kind of a spirit did Caleb have that caused God to single him out with a commendation and promise? He had a spirit of faith. While the rest of the children of Israel saw all the problems and challenges of the promise, Caleb and Joshua saw what God saw. He saw a land of great potential and possibilities and believed God’s promise to give it to them. (Joshua 14:7)
God also declared Caleb as His “servant” who followed Him “wholeheartedly.” Caleb was not out doing his own thing or pursuing what he wanted. There is a liberty and reward with being a wholehearted servant of God. Paul in Romans chapter one identified himself as a bond servant of Christ. The picture there in Roman times was of a slave who was given his freedom but chooses to remain a slave for life. He would put his ear to the doorpost of the master’s house, the master would pierce his ear with a punch, and he became a slave for life. It is a total abandonment of one’s self, one’s freedoms and one’s will to the will of the master. It is in wholehearted servanthood to Christ that we come into the fullness of His enablement and the fulfillment of His promises.
There are some other benefits to wholehearted servanthood. Forty-five years later as Israel under Joshua has begun to take possession of the land of promise, Caleb reminds Joshua of God’s promise. “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:11-12)
Out of wholehearted servanthood comes a strength and authority. It is from this place of strength and authority that Caleb declares, “give me this mountain.” Possession of the mountain was not automatically his because God had promised it. It had giants and great fortified cities that had to be conquered. But as a wholehearted servant of God, Caleb knew that He came to conquer by the authority of his Master.
God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4) They are promises that have great potential and great challenges. These promises that can only be fulfilled through servant people who have a different spirit and follow God wholeheartedly or with utter abandonment. May we wholly abandon ourselves to God and His purposes that His glory may be seen in us.
Andy Clark
Monday, July 12, 2010
Living with Purpose
These days in which we are living, I believe God is calling us to live life with a greater sense of purpose. So often we get caught up in the routine of life, whether it is in ministry, our job, marriage, or family. God is calling us to be more intentional in serving Him, loving our wife and family, serving our church, at work, or in our community.
To enter the promises of God we need to live intentionally. We need to intentionally hear God’s voice in the small daily decisions and activities of our life. We need to purposefully take ownership or act on the prompting of God’s Spirit. We need to purposefully meditate on God’s Word and allow it to shape our character, values, decisions, and lifestyle. We need to live on the edge, where the supernatural happens in our marriage, family, church and career. Supernatural -- such that God invades these areas and does things beyond our capabilities and we begin to see that supernatural wisdom and favor of God in our daily lives.
I like the way Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
“Run in such a way.” There is an art to running correctly to enhance speed and endurance. There is an art to swinging a golf club. Every aspect of the swing must be intentional to be able to hit the ball right where you want it. You can not excel without first developing your skill in whatever you do and doing it God’s way. He is prepared to coach us by His Spirit.
“Strict training.” This is the discipline to achieve the goal or purpose. The New Kings James uses the word “temperate,” which has the sense of balance in what you do. We tend often to succumb to the tyranny of the urgent and fail to do that which is most important.
“Running aimlessly and beating the air.” In the midst of the endless distractions in life we have to keep focused on the purposes of God in our lives, whether immediate or long term. Satan loves to get us caught up in daily, small challenges and activities that take our eyes and our efforts off of God’s purposes.
Let us endeavor not to run aimlessly or beat the air, but to run with God’s purposes, both daily and long term, so that we may enter into His promises for us.
Andy Clark
To enter the promises of God we need to live intentionally. We need to intentionally hear God’s voice in the small daily decisions and activities of our life. We need to purposefully take ownership or act on the prompting of God’s Spirit. We need to purposefully meditate on God’s Word and allow it to shape our character, values, decisions, and lifestyle. We need to live on the edge, where the supernatural happens in our marriage, family, church and career. Supernatural -- such that God invades these areas and does things beyond our capabilities and we begin to see that supernatural wisdom and favor of God in our daily lives.
I like the way Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
“Run in such a way.” There is an art to running correctly to enhance speed and endurance. There is an art to swinging a golf club. Every aspect of the swing must be intentional to be able to hit the ball right where you want it. You can not excel without first developing your skill in whatever you do and doing it God’s way. He is prepared to coach us by His Spirit.
“Strict training.” This is the discipline to achieve the goal or purpose. The New Kings James uses the word “temperate,” which has the sense of balance in what you do. We tend often to succumb to the tyranny of the urgent and fail to do that which is most important.
“Running aimlessly and beating the air.” In the midst of the endless distractions in life we have to keep focused on the purposes of God in our lives, whether immediate or long term. Satan loves to get us caught up in daily, small challenges and activities that take our eyes and our efforts off of God’s purposes.
Let us endeavor not to run aimlessly or beat the air, but to run with God’s purposes, both daily and long term, so that we may enter into His promises for us.
Andy Clark
Monday, July 5, 2010
Embracing God
In Genesis 32:22-28 we read the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob is returning from his years with Laban to the land of promise. But as he approaches, he hears that his brother Esau is coming with an armed band of 400 men. Jacob sends some gifts of peace ahead of him to Esau and then splits his family and possession into two groups in hopes than one group will escape Esau. Finally, he does that which is most important, he pulls away from everything to spend time with God.
The Man whom Jacob encounters in verse 24 is believed to be a Theofony, an appearance of Christ in the OT. In verse 28 it says, “you have struggled with God …. and have prevailed.” The struggle Jacob had with God was not a wrestling match, but more accurately an embrace. Basically, Jacob wrapped his arms around God and would not let him go. Even after God touched his hip socket, his place of strength, Jacob would not let go until God blessed him with a new identity. Instead of Jacob the “deceiver,” he became Israel “Prince with God” or “He Strives with God.” Jacob would not settle for anything less than his full inheritance.
Why could God not get free from Jacob? How can a mortal man wrestle with God and prevail? THE KEY! God cannot break the embrace of faith. Jacob’s promise of blessing was established by God in Genesis 25:23 and declared by Jacob’s father, Isaac, in Genesis 27:27-29. Esau, who represents the flesh, was coming to take Jacob’s blessing. Jacob did not fight or wrestle with Esau, the flesh, natural man, circumstances, (we do not wrestle with flesh and blood) but Jacob embraced God, the true source of the blessing, and did not let go of God until the promise was confirmed and established.
2 Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Like Jacob, we have been given exceeding great and precious promises. These promises allow us to escape the hold the world has on us so that we can be partakers of the divine nature. We can only enter into this divine nature and promises by embracing God and not letting go until his promises have been fulfilled in us.
“And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 22:28) Whatever challenges you are facing today, turn aside to embrace God in love and faith. As you do, He will change your nature, deliver you from your affliction, and fulfill His promises to you.
Andy Clark
Monday, June 21, 2010
Conquering the Darkness
Only one thing conquers and dispels darkness, and that is light. Isaiah declared, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Likewise, John stated, “The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).
Light represents understanding. When we say, “I see the light,” we’re saying, “Now I understand.” The Lord is about to open our eyes to receive new revelation of the greatness of God and what He is doing in the world today. We can not focus on what governments, the media and the world say, for they are in darkness and do not comprehend the light. We are people of the light. We should see things as God sees things and come into His understanding. We should not be influenced by the world, but we should be influencing the world.
1 John 1:5-7 says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ---If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In the midst of a darkening world God wants to reveal Himself in a new way to us. He calls us not to focus on the darkness of this world, but on the glorious revelation of Himself. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” God desires to dispel the darkness out of our lives. He wants to remove the darkness of fear, anxiety, doubt, discouragement and apathy, and replace it with the light of faith, hope and love.
It was during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel that Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) It was when the Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, that the servant’s eyes were opened and he saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 16:7) Paul prayed for us that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
It is only as the light of the revelation of Christ permeates our very being, expelling the darkness in us, that we can begin to bring light to the world. For it is the light of Christ in us that conquers the darkness. It was only after the revelation of the greatness of God that Isaiah said “here am I, send me!” Isaiah was saying, “Lord send me into the darkness of Israel to shine forth the revelation knowledge of yourself.” Later, Isaiah would pen these prophetic words, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Light always conquers darkness! May you receive a greater revelation of the glory of the Lord in you, and may it begin to affect those around you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Light represents understanding. When we say, “I see the light,” we’re saying, “Now I understand.” The Lord is about to open our eyes to receive new revelation of the greatness of God and what He is doing in the world today. We can not focus on what governments, the media and the world say, for they are in darkness and do not comprehend the light. We are people of the light. We should see things as God sees things and come into His understanding. We should not be influenced by the world, but we should be influencing the world.
1 John 1:5-7 says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ---If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In the midst of a darkening world God wants to reveal Himself in a new way to us. He calls us not to focus on the darkness of this world, but on the glorious revelation of Himself. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” God desires to dispel the darkness out of our lives. He wants to remove the darkness of fear, anxiety, doubt, discouragement and apathy, and replace it with the light of faith, hope and love.
It was during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel that Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) It was when the Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, that the servant’s eyes were opened and he saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 16:7) Paul prayed for us that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
It is only as the light of the revelation of Christ permeates our very being, expelling the darkness in us, that we can begin to bring light to the world. For it is the light of Christ in us that conquers the darkness. It was only after the revelation of the greatness of God that Isaiah said “here am I, send me!” Isaiah was saying, “Lord send me into the darkness of Israel to shine forth the revelation knowledge of yourself.” Later, Isaiah would pen these prophetic words, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Light always conquers darkness! May you receive a greater revelation of the glory of the Lord in you, and may it begin to affect those around you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Monday, June 14, 2010
Four Keys
We are going to look at four keys to receiving the promises of God from Joshua 1:1-9.
The first key to entering God’s promise is to hear from God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:” (Joshua 1:1) When David and his men arrived at their home, Ziklag, and found it had been burned by fire, their wives and children taken captive, and possessions stolen, the men talked about stoning David. And the Bible says “David inquired of the Lord.” (I Samuel 30:8) To whom do you inquire for guidance and information? The Bible says Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. (Exodus 3:3) God by His Spirit is calling us to turn aside from our daily activities and to seek His face and hear His voice. When He turned aside, Moses’ life was radically changed and God used him to deliver a nation in a demonstration of power. Just that word from God raises faith in our hearts to believe God for the impossible.
The second key to entering God’s promise is to take ownership of the promise.
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “Moses my servant is dead.” God is saying, “Joshua, this is not about Moses but about you.” For forty years Joshua had been walking under Moses. God spoke to Moses, and Joshua did what Moses told him to do. But now God wanted to renew his covenant with Joshua. Joshua could not enter the land of promise based upon what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua needed to hear the promise for himself. He by faith had to lay claim or take possession of the promise. You may hear a great sermon, receive a prophetic word, receive godly counsel but until it becomes alive in you, it is just a word from someone else.
The third key to entering God’s promise is that you have to know and live by the Book.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8-9) We can hear the voice of God, by faith lay claim to what he has promised, but fail to succeed because we haven’t done it by the Book. So often we use worldly methods to try to achieve godly results. God’s ways are so different than our ways. His kingdom is not of this world. He calls us to give, lay down our lives, love our enemies, be the servant of all, and die to ourselves. He must increase and we must decrease.
The fourth key to entering God’s promises is to realize that only God can fulfill His promises.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Before Joshua lay the land of promise, filled with giants, massive armies and walled cities. The people whom God had called him to lead and possess the land were bedouins living in tents with families and herds of sheep and goats. The task was overwhelming and by man’s standards impossible. God’s promises are always impossible to fulfill with our resources. God is the only one who can fulfill His promises. He calls us simply to launch out into the deep and to believe and obey.
We serve an awesome God with awesome promises. May you discover Him anew today.
Andy Clark
The first key to entering God’s promise is to hear from God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:” (Joshua 1:1) When David and his men arrived at their home, Ziklag, and found it had been burned by fire, their wives and children taken captive, and possessions stolen, the men talked about stoning David. And the Bible says “David inquired of the Lord.” (I Samuel 30:8) To whom do you inquire for guidance and information? The Bible says Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. (Exodus 3:3) God by His Spirit is calling us to turn aside from our daily activities and to seek His face and hear His voice. When He turned aside, Moses’ life was radically changed and God used him to deliver a nation in a demonstration of power. Just that word from God raises faith in our hearts to believe God for the impossible.
The second key to entering God’s promise is to take ownership of the promise.
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “Moses my servant is dead.” God is saying, “Joshua, this is not about Moses but about you.” For forty years Joshua had been walking under Moses. God spoke to Moses, and Joshua did what Moses told him to do. But now God wanted to renew his covenant with Joshua. Joshua could not enter the land of promise based upon what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua needed to hear the promise for himself. He by faith had to lay claim or take possession of the promise. You may hear a great sermon, receive a prophetic word, receive godly counsel but until it becomes alive in you, it is just a word from someone else.
The third key to entering God’s promise is that you have to know and live by the Book.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8-9) We can hear the voice of God, by faith lay claim to what he has promised, but fail to succeed because we haven’t done it by the Book. So often we use worldly methods to try to achieve godly results. God’s ways are so different than our ways. His kingdom is not of this world. He calls us to give, lay down our lives, love our enemies, be the servant of all, and die to ourselves. He must increase and we must decrease.
The fourth key to entering God’s promises is to realize that only God can fulfill His promises.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Before Joshua lay the land of promise, filled with giants, massive armies and walled cities. The people whom God had called him to lead and possess the land were bedouins living in tents with families and herds of sheep and goats. The task was overwhelming and by man’s standards impossible. God’s promises are always impossible to fulfill with our resources. God is the only one who can fulfill His promises. He calls us simply to launch out into the deep and to believe and obey.
We serve an awesome God with awesome promises. May you discover Him anew today.
Andy Clark
Monday, June 7, 2010
Greater Works
John 14:12-14
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
I read this wonderful promise we are all familiar with in my daily Bible reading. Usually when we read this promise we focus on the faith aspect, “he who believes in Me.” Faith has been a huge teaching in the church in recent history and tends to catch our attention when reading the promise of God. While faith is a key element in receiving from God, there are two other important elements in this Scripture portion.
The second element to doing greater works that Jesus gives is “because I go to My Father.” He goes on to say in verses 15-17 that He is going to send the “Helper, the Spirit of Truth.” These two names that Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit are key to being able to “do greater works,” and to “ask anything in My name.” Our ability to do greater works, that is greater than we can do ourselves in our own power, talents or ability, depends on the Helper. Without Him we can do nothing of eternal consequence. Faith without the Helper has no value.
Jesus also calls Him the “Spirit of Truth,” for He will lead us into all truth. Jesus said of His own ministry that He could only say what the Father said and could only do what the Father showed him to do. (John 5:9) It is only out of revelation knowledge or Rhema word that we can truly ask in faith and see God work on our behalf. I am finding more and more in my ministry that God is simply asking me to be obedient to the prompting of the Spirit. In our busy world filled with information, programs and activities, we need to quiet our spirits to hear the Spirit, who wants to reveal to us the will of God, so that we can do the great works that He has for us.
The third element of doing great works is that “the Father may be glorified.” We need to develop a lifestyle in which we honor God in everything that we do. Jesus, whole focus in life and ministry was to glorify the Father. Honoring God is not something we do - it is a lifestyle that permeates every part of our being and waking moment. It is our all-consuming passion to glorify the Father. It is not about us, our organization, our church, our program or our plans. It is not about ourselves, our family or our friends. It is in Him we live and move and have our being. Greater works will follow when He is our everything.
As hard as it may be to wrap our mind around, Jesus wants to do greater works in us than He did. He wants to give us anything we ask in His name that the Father may be glorified. In the midst of the growing darkness that envelopes our world today, God wants to be glorified. But to do so, we have to get beyond ourselves, our ideas, our programs into the limitlessness of God through the same Spirit that enabled Christ to operate beyond his human limitations.
May you hear His voice today and respond in faith to the prompting of His Spirit and see His glory in your life and ministry.
Andy Clark
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
I read this wonderful promise we are all familiar with in my daily Bible reading. Usually when we read this promise we focus on the faith aspect, “he who believes in Me.” Faith has been a huge teaching in the church in recent history and tends to catch our attention when reading the promise of God. While faith is a key element in receiving from God, there are two other important elements in this Scripture portion.
The second element to doing greater works that Jesus gives is “because I go to My Father.” He goes on to say in verses 15-17 that He is going to send the “Helper, the Spirit of Truth.” These two names that Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit are key to being able to “do greater works,” and to “ask anything in My name.” Our ability to do greater works, that is greater than we can do ourselves in our own power, talents or ability, depends on the Helper. Without Him we can do nothing of eternal consequence. Faith without the Helper has no value.
Jesus also calls Him the “Spirit of Truth,” for He will lead us into all truth. Jesus said of His own ministry that He could only say what the Father said and could only do what the Father showed him to do. (John 5:9) It is only out of revelation knowledge or Rhema word that we can truly ask in faith and see God work on our behalf. I am finding more and more in my ministry that God is simply asking me to be obedient to the prompting of the Spirit. In our busy world filled with information, programs and activities, we need to quiet our spirits to hear the Spirit, who wants to reveal to us the will of God, so that we can do the great works that He has for us.
The third element of doing great works is that “the Father may be glorified.” We need to develop a lifestyle in which we honor God in everything that we do. Jesus, whole focus in life and ministry was to glorify the Father. Honoring God is not something we do - it is a lifestyle that permeates every part of our being and waking moment. It is our all-consuming passion to glorify the Father. It is not about us, our organization, our church, our program or our plans. It is not about ourselves, our family or our friends. It is in Him we live and move and have our being. Greater works will follow when He is our everything.
As hard as it may be to wrap our mind around, Jesus wants to do greater works in us than He did. He wants to give us anything we ask in His name that the Father may be glorified. In the midst of the growing darkness that envelopes our world today, God wants to be glorified. But to do so, we have to get beyond ourselves, our ideas, our programs into the limitlessness of God through the same Spirit that enabled Christ to operate beyond his human limitations.
May you hear His voice today and respond in faith to the prompting of His Spirit and see His glory in your life and ministry.
Andy Clark
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