Prophetic Ministry |
Foundation StudiesThis page is devoted to foundational studies and ideas for Christians to help strengthen their knowledge of the Biblical truths.
 1. Start learning more about Jesus by reading the Bible, it is the living Word of God. Start with the Gospel of John. The truths in the Bible help strengthen our Christian faith.
2. Pray. It doesn't have to be with fancy words--just talk with God about how you feel. The book of Psalms has many examples of prayer. Jesus gave a wonderful example of prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Prayer helps strengthen our relationship with God. God hears and answers heart-felt prayers to Him for ourselves and others. 3. Get together regularly with other Christians to study the Bible, worship God, take communion, and be a spiritual encouragement to each other. 4. Be baptized.  Jesus was baptized and we, too, publically acknowledge that we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior by participating in baptism. 5. We need to tell others about what a difference Jesus has made in our lives.
Following Jesus (stay on the good path) by David Nelson (3-2-09)
Jesus did one thing in His life. He did the Father’s will every day. “I do nothing of My own authority but only what I see the Father do and hear Him say, that is what I do and speak. (Jn. 12:49 and 5:19, 30) He was 100 % following the Father. We likewise are to do nothing except what Jesus tells us to do. “Without Me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5) Jesus said, “…when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” We are also to be following Jesus 100 % by the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus also says, ‘If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” (Lk. 9:23) “ Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.’”
The one time we know of Jesus’ struggle to follow the Father’s will was when He was in the
But here is the key. How do we know what Jesus wants us to do? Jesus taught in the Word, “My sheep know My voice and they follow Me, a stranger they will not follow.” So there must be a way to learn to know His voice and follow Him each day. Otherwise how could we deny ourselves (our own will) and follow Him each day if we don’t know what He wants us to do? The Holy Spirit will show us our Lord’s will and desire for each one of us to walk our Christian path, with Him by our side, guiding us.
Do you know this fellowship with the Lord Jesus? Is He showing you the path you are to walk, your spiritual gifts, your calling, your destiny, His plans for your life?
As it says in I Jn. 1:1-3, “That (Jesus) who was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled concerning the Word of life. The life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. That which we have seen and heard we declare to you that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” We will truly have fellowship with those who know and follow Jesus.
Jn. 14:24 says, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent me.” Even the words we speak will not be our own words but Jesus’ words. Behold I send you, He who receives you (and your words) receives Me but he who receives not you (and your words) does not receive
All of these thoughts above may seem so awesome and so austere and so perfect, and in some ways unattainable or too much to expect for our day? No, we must stick to the Word and restore a standard in our day and not relax what the Lord has said. The Lord is restoring the true gospel and the true message of His plans for us now, we must be true to His Word and what He wants.
As to whether the path is too hard as I have described? You may ask, where is the love, where is the joy, where is the grace, and the free gift of salvation? We certainly receive all these from God as his born-again child. Jesus sought and found us by grace and led us to enter in by grace. But there is a path that leads to eternal life and we must endure to the end to be saved. Even when the apostle Paul was in prison he desired to finish the course, finish the race, fight the good fight, and end well. Also, from the beginning of the path till the end will all be attained by His grace alone.
It is a great adventure and a great joy to our hearts to walk with the Lord. We will learn much about love for Him and for each other that the world will wake up and notice. He is the author and finisher of our faith and will fulfill His purposes for each of us and create in the end a work of art in us.
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