Understanding the right gospel --> leads to the right conviction (views, beliefs etc) --> use effectively --> power
Why Jesus performed miracles?
- To prove that he is god , because human nature is seeing is believing (that he is God)
- He loves us, that's why he needed to show you, so that you can follow the real god
- When miracles become distraction, people look for miracles not Christ. So god reduced the miracles so that people only go after him, not the things he can do
Jesus could escape the cross,but he didn't exercise this option because he cannot forsake us. Because he loves us this much to let us go, for He has His Father's heart in it.
Why people reject gospel?m
- Because they don't know their real need (spirit reconciled with God) and thus finding the gospel irrelevant
Gospel: talks about D&R
Another gospel: blessings --> prosperity seeking ; subjective experiences --> mysticism ;serving, actions --> legalistic; theology--> knowledge based
How you view the gospel will result in the conviction you receive
Understanding gospel
- Purposeful grace
- The purpose is to redeem you
- He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:9-12 NIV)
- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8, 10 NIV) - Not only the momentarily grace eg having r/s, work etc. But his power runs eternal, with a big picture view of us
- Grace is needed because of sin. When grace comes to a person, suddenly he is convicted, or made conscious of sin (not knowing the creator who formed his life); grace is also needed because no one can hear and love god unless god intervenes. You do not need to wait for your conditions to be exemplary before you surrender to god.
- Exclusively about Jesus - only saviour
- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)
- Is Jesus not enough? Do you need another mediator? (Weaken the power of gospel)
- Sounds offensive, hard teaching - so be prepare to carry the cross.
- Satan cannot take away your identity as cog but he can plant many lies to downplay the exclusiveness of only Jesus in our mind
- Are you distracted from having only Jesus ?
- Universally applicable to everyone
- Not restricting to our preference, and excluding certain people
- Is our mind, weakness restricting ourselves?
- The love of gospel will continue to compel us to continue preaching to all around us
Right conviction in all areas
Are you always looking out for certain outward indicators? God doesn't want us to pin our hopes on outward phenomenon.
- Spirit --> word! HS -> restore seeing and hearing God and then communicate with God (principle of creation, only when your spirit flourishes that you can stand the relative situations)
- Heart --> Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) - when your heart is in good conditions, you will receive the right conviction in all areas - I am with you
- Mental (mind) - our mind is often beyond our control --> put yourselves in blessed environment --> audio, visual, caretakers
- Body - vessel
- Lifestyle -if you understand and know that you are redeemed, today you will want to let Christ living through you (blessed schedule) - discipline through HS
- Interpersonal - too self-serving, but if you receive the conviction of I am the source of all blessings, God is alive not dead, he will see me through
- Marriage - love and intercede --> love doesn't stop only at 2 of u, it will make you the father/mother of all nations
- Children - parents be blessed first
- Finances - not about having more, but contented with what is given, being a good steward
- Serving - God-driven, focused on life
We all know it's desirable to actualize all these conviction, but it's so hard
To actualize these conviction, need to:
Use the gospel effectively
- Dispel the lies of the devil
- Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:32, 44 NIV) - Satan's lies are influential - you may not know it is a lie
- You don't need Jesus (that much)
- Only look at outward phenomenon - I pray already..
- Know but cannot do -> become acussed! numbed
- Knowledge becomes concept-> Satan distract you from confirming the gospel
- Complacent
It's not that gospel is not powerful to take away Satan's lies, but we often are absorbed into all these lies that we have relied on Christ less
James 4:7
- Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)
- When you submit(regardless of the logics we are having), the devil flees
2. fight against the flesh
- Why we fail in fighting? Because we are not pressing enough, earnest enough! We find thrill in doing and committing the sins.
- Earnest for the wrong reason.
- What is the reason of your earnestness? Because you want sx relief or you care more for God having glory? (Earnest because of the right conviction)
- The flesh is weak but HS is strong -> enough to put to death the flesh (Ro 8:13)
- Challenge yourself beyond the comfort zone
- To quiet down, to take the arrows, endure people's second guesses of you; don't want to get inconvenient
3. Grow in faith
- Faith grows each time when you calling upon Lord in your deadlocks
- Submit - do what God says in your level of faith.
- Intercede (your faith tweaked if you only have faith to benefit yourself, self-serve yourself)
4. Persevere
- Are you miserably persevering (don't know why)or victoriously persevering (you See love of God, his perfect will, answer)