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Thoughts Archived > John Testified....Will You?


22 Jan 2012

                                   

 

January 22, 2012

John Testified....Will You?

John 1: 29 - 34 

 

 

John

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look!  There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.   He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'  I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."

Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.  I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for.  He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God."

 

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Thoughts.....

 

Good morning!

This morning, scriptures may seem like a repeat of what we have already learned, but they are not.  John's chronicle is about the day after Jesus' baptism.  Notice it is written in past tense.  Picture John standing amidst people and Jesus walks toward the group.  Yesterday, John baptized him.  Today he returns....a reaffirmation.....a thank you?  A compelling call to go to the one who baptized him....to assure John.....God.....he is ready to begin the journey? 

The Lamb of God!  Who takes away the sins of the world!  There is a faction who want you to believe that John was to be the Messiah.  But we see clearly in last week and this weeks scriptures that John clearly points the way to the true Messiah, Jesus.  God had spoken to him about Jesus....pointed the way to the Messiah by signs and wonders.  Let's see what John said about Jesus.

He said he was (past tense) talking about when he said, "Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did."  This is an interesting statement.  If you didn't know the story of John's and Jesus' birth, you might think Jesus is older chronologically.  However, if you have been reading scripture, and/or what I have included on this page over time, you know that indeed, John was older than Jesus.  What John was referring to was Jesus' deity.  Was Jesus God?  Was Jesus just the Son of God come to earth?  We'll unravel many questions throughout this year to help you better know Jesus....Messiah, Savior, Lord.  All these titles are greater than baptiser.  John the Baptist was called by God to point the way to Jesus, and baptize people (wash anew symbolically) after they had confessed their sins, which is different than being forgiven of their sins....which Jesus could now do.  

Enter paragraph two.  Then John said, "I saw (past tense) the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven resting upon him [Jesus].  I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for.  He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  Pretty significant.  Although you do have those who consider John to be merely some homeless guy who is not well mentally, the proof is in the historical events that continued and are documented, not just in the Bible, but in other documents as well...of John's life, and Jesus' life of miracles, his death, and his resurrection. 

Let's picture this:  Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven resting upon him...who we now know as Jesus.  Today we always associate a dove with Holy Spirit.  If you've been in a church which acknowledges this action, you may have seen pictures or banners with doves on them.  Or even a cross.  But John said 'like a dove'.  In my mind as I read this right now, I picture a foggy ghost, as they are portrayed in movies, or a cloud swooping down and taking a shape that resembles a dove....however, it doesn't say that it embodies him, it rests upon him, so we are told in various accounts.  Settling on (Matthew), descending on (Mark), descended on (Luke), resting upon (John).  This is significant.  We go to a human (pastor, priest, minister) to request a water baptism, but we must go to Jesus to ask him to give us Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit will settle, descend, rest upon us.  It is Holy Spirit who confirms we belong to God, Jesus.  With Holy Spirit, Jesus decides who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.  Together they decide who are the fruit producers.  Galatians 5:22-23.  Who will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Matthew 25: 34 of 31-40.  Folks, we only need to be touched by Holy Spirit, we have only to say the word to Jesus. 

So John experiences all this and testifies, gives his word, confirms that all of this did indeed happen.  And Jesus affirms John, gives him credibility, proves his integrity, by going back to him, allowing John to further tell the story and point once again to the man...the Messiah....as proof.  Then John says, "I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God."

Can you testify that Jesus is the Son of God?  Will others know him by your works....your words....?  Be mindful that words without works is useless.  You may have heard the phrase, 'talk the talk and walk the walk'.  Many talk the talk.  Not so many walk the walk....do the 'works'.  Throughout scripture Jesus says his witness is his works...his miracles, his teachings, what he does.  John 10:37-38.  We point the way to Jesus by what we say and what we do to give proof of who we are as Christians, and who he is....Savior....Messiah....Lord....within us, and who he can be for others in the world.  Looking at your life today, can you testify that Jesus is the Son of God?  If not, why not?  If yes, praise God!  'You are children of the living God.'  Romans 9:25-26.     

               

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Let Us Pray

 

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.  But I wish to receive you, God, and Holy Spirit.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Please baptize me with Holy Spirit.  I wish to be all I can be for you and do all I can do for you.  Help me grow in and with you, and, by my testimony of words and works, point the way to you.  I want to testify as John, that you are, indeed, THE Messiah for the world!  My Lord, my Savior, Son of God.  Thank you.  Amen.

   

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

 

More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

 

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

 

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

 

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

 

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

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  Our Current Cause

 

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!   

 

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    One last thing....

 

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

 

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

 

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

 

And the people said,

"Amen."

 

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. 

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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Bible Authors and Minister