God is glorified when I prove to be His disciple, that is His follower. The proof of my discipleship is in producing much fruit. If I’m connected to the Vine, I will bear fruit. If I’m “pruned” by the application of the Word of God to my life, I will bear more fruit. If through communion with Christ I make and receive requests, I will bear much fruit.

Producing much fruit is the way I complete the work the Father gives me to do. The work of God is to believe in the Son. The Father is glorified when Jesus works through me by answering my prayers. The result of answered prayers is that Jesus does greater works collectively through me and other believers now than He did while on earth. When Jesus who is the ultimate expression of the power and name of God is able to do greater works through us, God is glorified. God’s glory is manifested when His power is shown and His name known. I prove to be a follower of Christ when I show His power and make His name known. I make His name known when I show His power. His power is shown in me when He answers my prayers. Not just prayers for things I can touch and hold, but more specifically prayers for His power (strength, wisdom, etc.) that enables me to do His will. It’s interesting to note that immediately following the departure of Judas at the last supper, Jesus spoke these words: “Now, the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” (John 13:31) “Now”…in betrayal…in something that at the moment doesn’t look like glory. This tells me when difficulties arise from doing the will of God, there is a purpose greater than me. When I entrust myself to the faithful Creator in submission, He is glorified. When I ask, and believe, and receive what I need to accomplish His will, not only am I doing the work of God but I’m completing His work, I’m cooperating with the work Christ is doing to conform me to His image, I’m bearing much fruit, I’m proving to be His disciple, and I’m fulfilling God’s purpose for my life which is to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Rooted in my asking and believing must be an understanding of the will of God as revealed in His Word by the Holy Spirit through communion with the Father. The Holy Spirit guides me into all Truth. The Holy Spirit speaks what He hears from Christ. The Holy Spirit takes from what is Christ’s (which is everything the Father has) and declares it to me. The Holy Spirit declares to me what is to come. The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and knows His concerns. I have received the Holy Spirit in order to know what has been freely given to me by God. When in my weakness I don’t know what to pray for as I should, the Holy Spirit intercedes for me according to the will of God. I am able to discern the will of the Father only when I’m sincerely seeking (that is, searching as for something hidden) His will and not my own. So, my ability to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit with accuracy is determined by the diligence with which I seach for God’s will. The diligence with which I search for God’s will is directly connected to the purity of my heart and mind. The purity of my heart and mind is dependant upon both my hearing and welcoming the Word into my heart. When I not only hear but welcome, or receive the Word implanted in my heart I become not only a hearer, but a doer of the Word who will be blessed in what I do. My willingness to seek the Father’s will and become a doer who acts upon that will is the measure by which I receive revelation from God that in turn produces much fruit that glorifies the Father.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: John 15:8, 2-4; 6:29; 14:12-13; 16:13-14; I Cor. 2:10, 12; John 5:30; James 1: 22-25; Mark 4:20-25

What a wonderful reminder from Dr. Bobby Kelly last week about the importance of not only being prepared for the return of Christ, but living each day alert and mindful that it could happen any day.  It brought to mind a journal entry of mine dated May 13, 2006; a portion of which I’d like to share with you:

Our strategy must be…hope in the return of Christ and life in view of that eternal perspective.  When our view is eternal our understanding will change:

• Our view of God will increase–His Sovereignty, His Majesty, His authority, His purpose, etc.
• Our view of ourselves will change–our needs, our desires, our goals, etc.
• Our view of our stewardship will change–accountability, responsibility, etc.
• It will change the choices we make with our time and our resources
• It will change how we live and think

When our view is eternal, it will change the now.  We will understand the abundant life.  Jesus said, “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent–Jesus Christ.”  (John 17:3)

I don’t know about you, but I was powerfully reminded of these truths each night of the January Bible Study.  What a blessed time in God’s Word with God’s people!  I pray that as our choir and orchestra rehearsals resume this week, what we have learned will bear fruit in our lives and make us a powerful force in God’s Kingdom as we lead in worship week by week and build up the body of Christ.

Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.  When the Messiah, who is your life, is reavealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4)

…set your hope completely on the grace to be brought ot you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:13)

Now that we’ve gazed upon His beauty, let’s gaze upon His strength. A Scripture passage that I suppose has opened up my perception of God’s power more than any other is found in the first chapter of Ephesians. In his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul shared his prayer for the church that they know several things, not the least of which was “the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe.” (v.19) He then goes on to describe the vast strength of “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father” as He was described in v.17.

He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way. (vv.20-23)

Wow! Did you really read that? According to this passage, God’s power was demonstrated by raising the Messiah from the dead. Now, that’s power! In fact, according to Romans 1:3-4, it was Christ’s resurrection from the dead that established Him as the powerful Son of God. But it doesn’t stop there. Did you notice that the Father gave Jesus a seat of authority far above every other ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given? That’s Power with a capital P. But that’s not all; that place of honor is not only His for this present age (which, by the way, indicates Christ is already in charge), but also will be His in the age to come. Now, that’s exponential power! And if that wasn’t enough He put everything under the feet of Jesus and appointed Him as head over the church. Now to realize the power of God is one thing, but to realize that the power that raised Christ from the dead and set Him at the right hand of God is the same power that is at work in me is quite another.

Wouldn’t you agree that the greatest display of God’s power is the work of redemption in the life of an individual? By redemption I don’t just mean the work of saving us—that in itself is quite remarkable. But the work of sanctifying us is equally remarkable. He doesn’t just provide for our salvation, He “enables [or qualifies] us to share in the inheritance of the saints.” He imputes His righteousness to us making us righteous. It’s a work in which He persists and that in itself is another proof of His patience and faithfulness.

Philippians 1:6 – I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 62:1 – I will not keep silent…I will not keep still…until her righteousness shines like a bright light, and her salvation like a flaming torch.

 
Just how does God go about completing the work He began in us? Though the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.

Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:13 – For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will and to act for His good purpose.

There’s a good definition of grace: God giving us the desire (enabling you to will) and the ability (enabling you to act) to do His will. It is by the working of His power that the gift of His grace is given.

Ephesians 3:7-12

I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power. 

This grace was given to me…to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.

[cp. Col. 2:13-15 – And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.]

This is according to the purpose of the ages, which He made in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness, access, and confidence through faith in Him.

What Paul was saying was that it was the power of God that gave him “the gift of grace,” or—to use our definition from Philippians 2:13—the desire and the ability to do the will of God. Only God has the power to give desire and ability; only God has the power to bestow grace. And the grace (the desire and ability) that He gave Paul was to proclaim the Messiah to the Gentiles and to shed light for all about God’s eternal plan which up to that point had been hidden from understanding.

God bestowed His power on Paul, and that power was released in Paul’s life to accomplish God’s purpose as he obeyed. When God called Paul to this ministry He supplied the grace—the desire and the power—to obey. Paul did not resist the grace of God or run from God’s call, but in obedience He accomplished that for which He was called. And that is the same way His power is at work in our lives today. God extends His grace—He gives us the desire and the power to do His will; as we obey the call to do His will, God’s power is unleashed to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.

Sadly, there is another scenario that develops in the case of disobedience. There’s a small phrase in Psalm 78:61 that could almost be missed. It says, “He gave up His strength to captivity…” Why would He do such a thing and allow His strength, His power to be held captive? Verse 62 says, “He surrendered His people to the sword [which was the result of surrendering His strength to captivity] because He was enraged with His heritage.” We only need to back up to v.58 to find out why He was enraged. “They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their carved images.” You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to see that they broke the very first commandment. The result was that God withheld His power from their lives. His design is that we be a conduit of His power, but disobedience keeps the power of the Holy Spirit in us restricted from having His way. But His design for us is “to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16,19) O that we would be a people through whom God reveals His strength and power.

Psalm 77:14 – You are the God who works wonders; You revealed Your strength among the peoples.

Our discussions over the last few days haven’t even scratched the surface of the multi-faceted wisdom of God. No wonder the Psalmist could ask for only one thing—the most important thing.

I have asked one thing from the Lord;
It is what I desire:
To dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
Gazing on the beauty of the Lord
And seeking Him in His temple.
– Psalm 27:4