Bitter Cup (Part-1)
Word from The Lord: Thus says the LORD
LORD... PREACH THIS WORD TO MY PEOPLE. TELL THEM TO BE READY TO DRINK OF THE BITTER CUP. THUS SAYS THE LORD
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. ~John 20:21
In these last days, Jesus is preparing many disciples to be sent forth into the harvest field, raising up an army of laborers equipped to get the job done. Notice, He didn't just say He would send us forth: He said He would send us as His Father had sent Him.
It's fruitless for anyone to go out without being sent in the same manner in which Jesus was sent. There is no profit in sending forth someone with no burden or vision. Yet, many have been sent in that very condition.
Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him. And He said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto Him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom. ~ Matthew 20:20, 21
A lot of folks have intentions like this. Many go to drastic extremes in striving to become something great: "I don't want much . . . just that I'd be given that place wherein I can be lifted up. That's all!"
Now, mother wanted her son, James and John to have high positions. She intended to make sure they had the best places in the Kingdom of God.
The Bible tells us we can receive whatever we ask for in faith believing, but not when that desire is against God's will!
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto Him, We are able. ~Matthew 20:22
I wonder if there wasn't a note of pride in their reply: "Just tell us something to do, and we'll do it. We're quite capable."
THE CUP IS BITTER:-
We're talking, now, about being sent as the Father sent His Son. God sent Jesus to drink a very bitter cup, but many want to be sent that they might become something. They want to be used, but they fail to realize the need to be willing to pay the price of discipleship.
Jesus asked a very important question here: "Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?" He had a very bitter cup to drink in the Garden. That cup was so bitter He sweat drops as it were of blood.
What was in that cup? It was filled with the will of His Father.
One day James found out first-hand just how difficult that cup was to drink when Herod killed him with the sword.
"Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" What baptism was Jesus referring to — the infilling of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in other tongues? Was that all Jesus was referring to? What's so hard about that?
No, there's more to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit than speaking in other tongues. But most folks don't want to go any further than that. They want the glory — without the persecution. They want to be used, but they don't want to deny themselves. They're not willing to take the time to seek God and find out what goes with this baptism.
We want the initial experience, but do we want all that is involved in being sent as Jesus was sent? There's a bitter cup to bear.
And He saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father. ~Matthew 20:23
Jesus wanted His disciples to realize what was involved in being sent.
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST:-
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence . . . But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ~Acts 1:4-5,8-9
These Scriptures indicate the clear path that Jesus intended His disciples to take. Bear in mind that they didn't have this baptism as yet.
What baptism? This is not referring to water baptism. No, this is referring to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, which endues us with power to become witnesses unto Jesus.
If we look in the Word after the day of Pentecost, we can begin to see results from there on.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. ~Acts 10:38
There was an anointing upon Jesus. And on the day of Pentecost, the disciples received this same anointing and power.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost isn't meant to bring salvation; it is meant to bring power.
Salvation is a separate experience, and one can't get any more saved than saved; whereas, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is meant to give one the power and unction to reach out to the needy.
Jesus didn't say He would send you out with empty hands. What good would it do to lay empty hands upon empty heads?
Yet, there are many empty hands trying to do a work for God. There are many going out without any anointing in their life. Many aren't willing to go all the way in their dedication to the Lord. They're not willing to take time to seek God for the power to reach out unto the lost and dying.
God is looking for those who are willing to drink the cup. He's looking for those who don't care what it may cost them.
"Lord, if it means getting alone to seek Your face; if it means fasting until I get the answer; if it means laying all on the altar in surrender to You — whatever it takes to go Your way — that's what I'll do."
Many want the power handed down on a silver platter, but Jesus told us this baptism would cost us something.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. ~Matthew 3:13-15
Jesus told John that they had to set an example for others to follow: but there was more to His baptism than that. The Bible records that, when Jesus came up from the water, the heavens were opened to Him:
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ~Matthew 3:16,17
The Bible says that Jesus is God's only begotten Son, but let's remember we are called to be sons too: and we please Him when we are willing to submit to Him completely — as His only begotten Son was willing.
