Our Example!
Thank you for joining me today. I pray the Lord will bless you as you continue to seek Him and gain knowledge of His will and purpose for your life. Eric
As believers in Christ, we are members of the body of Christ or, the church, and a such, we have been commissioned to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’. (Mark 16:15). This word is not a suggestion, nor an encouragement. It is a command.
Does this mean that each of us has to go to the far reaches of the world as missionaries? No. However, it does mean that each one of us needs to be willing and eager to share the good news about what Jesus has done for us regarding our salvation, with those we encounter daily.
Jesus has reconciled us to God, the Father, from the separation caused by sin. He has translated us from the Kingdom of death and darkness into the Kingdom of life and light. Definitely something worth sharing!
We read in 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV), “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.” Who are we to be an ambassador to? Once again, anyone we come in contact with: neighbors, relatives, co-workers, friends, enemies, etcetera. An ‘ambassador,’ in the Greek, means, a representative. It necessitates spiritual maturity of a ruling authority. [Side note: If you do not allow the Lord to ‘rule’ your life, you cannot be an ambassador for Him.] Being an ambassador for Christ would be: as though God would be pleading through us and we are imploring others in Christ’s behalf, to be reconciled to God.
Did you notice the scripture read, “we are ambassadors for Christ” with the message of reconciliation”?
Of course, in reading the Scriptures, we know there is much more to do than share the message of reconciliation as the body of Christ. All the works of Jesus were examples for the members of the body of Christ of how to continue the work and fulfill the purpose of the church.
Therefore, our main focus today will be on how we, as the body of Christ, will fulfill the purpose of God for the church.
When Jesus was baptized by John at the Jordan River, Matthew 3:16 reveals that when Jesus went up from the water; the Spirit of God descended like a dove and came to rest on Jesus. Then Matthew 4:1 reads that, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness…” When Jesus returned to Nazareth, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and read from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 61:1 (ESV), “ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,” Then, verse 21 reads. “Then, he began to speak to them, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Jesus had been filled with the Holy Spirit and received that anointing to accomplish the work of the ministry.
I need to remind you that although Jesus was the Son of God come in the flesh, He was also the Son of man. Matthew 1:18 reveals that He was born of a virgin. ‘Virgin,’ parthenos, in the Greek is a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man, a marriageable maiden. The Holy Spirit had come upon Mary and impregnated her. When we read of Jesus referring to Himself as the ‘Son of man’ in Matthew 8:20, the Greek for ‘man’ is anthropos meaning: a human being. Jesus almost always referred to Himself as the ‘Son of man’ and accomplished the Kingdom work He did as a man, full of the Holy Spirit.
As we read Acts 1:8 we will see that God also equips us with the power to do His Kingdom work through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." According to the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, “The purpose of the outpouring of the Spirit in this verse is to empower the church for ministry.” The Holy Spirit at Work (Introduction to Acts) in the Spirit Filled Life Bible gives this insight, “Both the public ministry of Jesus in the Gospels and the public ministry of the church in Acts began with life-changing encounters with the Spirit: both are essential accounts of the results of that event. The power of the Spirit in Jesus’ life authorized Him to preach the Kingdom of God and to demonstrate Kingdom power by healing the sick, casting out demons, and setting the captives free. (Luke 4:14-19 and Matthew 4:23). The same Spirit power in Acts 2 gave the same authority to the disciples. Jesus is the prototype of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered life; the Book of Acts is the story of the disciples receiving what Jesus received in order to do what Jesus did.” Hallelujah, the Lord equipped us to do the work of the Kingdom!
One of the aspects of God’s anointing that many do not prefer to talk about is the ministry of deliverance. However, this is what God’s Word reveals to us about it. Acts 10:38, “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
The Scriptures record many miracles that Jesus performed, all as a man filled with the Spirit:
Turning water into wine - (John 2:1-11)
Healing the sick - (Mark 2:1-12)
Driving out evil spirits - (Mark 1:21-27)
Raising the dead - (Luke 7:23-27)
Calming a storm - (Matthew 8:23-27)
A miraculous catch of fish - (Luke 5:1-11)
Feeds 5,000 plus women and children - (Mark 6:30-44)
Heals the blind and mute - (Luke 11:14-23
Withers a fig tree - (Mark 11:12-14) … just to name a few
Look at what Philippians 2:6-8 reveals about Jesus, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.” Looking at the phrase ‘he humbled himself,’ I like what Kingdom Dynamics in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible added…”Christlike humility is manifested in the freedom of God’s Son to affirm the fullness of all God has placed in Him - no needing to flaunt, or push it through self-advancement, complete absence of any need for power or attention, servant like graciousness.” ‘Humbled,’ lapesnoo in the Greek means: stoops to the condition of the servant. He made these choices as a man! We also need to choose to minister completely in Christlike humility! Only God should be lifted up! Only God gets praise! Only God should receive any worship! Without Him we are nothing and can do nothing. It is only the Spirit of God in us that enables us to achieve any success.
We read in John 5:30 a confirming word what Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” Jesus is our prototype of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered life! Jesus is our example for ministry! In his humanity, He did the work of the Father as directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are to emulate Him in every way possible.
Through following the directives of the Holy Spirit, He ministered according to the need. If healing was needed, He healed. If deliverance was needed, He cast out the devil. We must do the same as what we see in Jesus’ ministry - if a demon is causing the problem, the only way to approach the need is for us to discern the need (by the Holy Spirit), take authority, and make the demon leave.
Jesus set the captives free and released the oppressed:
Luke 11:14, “One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed,”
Matthew 8:16, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:”
Mark 1:39 (ESV), “ And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”
Luke 4:33-35 (ESV), “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God." 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.”
Note: Jesus told the devil to “Be silent and come out…” He came out having done him (the man) no harm. Jesus moved in authority and power and did not allow the devil to put on a show.. We need to do the same. Jesus told His disciples, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy , and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 (NKJV).
Matthew 12:28 (ESV), Jesus said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
There were times when Jesus laid hands on those He ministered to:
Mark 10:16, “Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”
Mark 6:5, “And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
Mark 7:32-35, “A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. 33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man's tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "Ephphatha," which means, "Be opened!" 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!”
Luke 13:11-13 (NKJV), “And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”
Matthew 9:25, “ After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!”
There are at least 16 accounts of Jesus laying hands on those He ministered to.
We also read of accounts where Jesus spoke by the authority of the Holy Spirit and the work was accomplished:
Matthew 8:8,13 “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.... 13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.”
Mark 3:3-5 (ESV), “And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”
Luke 7:14,15 (ESV), “Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”
One of the most effective ways of witnessing or being a witness is to move in the same power and authority of the Spirit of God as Jesus did - and when we do that, just as He did, it produces signs and wonders! Mark 16:17,18 (ESV), “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." You see, the miracles, and work of the Spirit of God in ministry are signs and wonders to draw people to the Lord.
Acts 5:12a and 14,(ESV), “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; ... 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.”
When Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus responded in John 14:11, “Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.”
I will close today with this verse:
John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”
Praise God! When Jesus returned to the Father, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to us so that through Him, we can complete the work Jesus began in fulfilling the purpose of the body of Christ!
Let’s follow our example. Emulate the ministry of Jesus!
Until the next time, stay strong, keep believing, and praising the One Who is worthy of praise!
Unless noted, all scriptures are taken from the New Living Translation.
NKJV New King James Version
ESV English Standard Version