THE MIGHTINESS OF EASTER.-5/4/2015.
Php 3:10.. " That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;.."
This is Easter festival. It is the oldest and most important festival in the Christian calendar. It finishes in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the day when families get together to share a meal, and eat lots of chocolates. Easter is linked with Jesus coming back to life, and visiting his friends and followers once more in a new way. Jesus had told his disciples in advance that he would rise again on the third day after his death. He had been buried in the tomb for 3 days and three nights, and everything seemed to be over. The good story of Jesus seemed to be over with a tragic death on the cross. but Sunday changed the whole scene. As Jesus rose from the dead, he met all his friends. Paul says about 500 people saw him. O who were these lucky 500? I surely think they were people who loved him/waited for him/lived for him. Easter is, therefore, a time of great celebration for Christians. Churches are sometimes decorated with white lilies, traditional Easter flowers, and the mood is joyful and uplifting. When we were small daddy used to buy “Hot cross buns.’ from the bakery, and we used to eat it with great relish. It was slightly sweeter, with a cross on the bun. It has its roots right from the beginning, it spoke of spring. for Christians the cross symbolized the cross.
If we understand the real meaning of Easter it will empower you to live a successful and overcoming life. The key to knowing this truth is that in almost every sermon of the apostles they mentioned about resurrection. When they spoke of his death they spoke of his resurrection. Look at Peter on the day of Pentecost what he says. He says. in Acts.2:22.He said Jesus of Nazareth was approved of God, did miracles, and you put him to death, but God raised him from the dead. and then he says David spoke of him. Yes David speaks of his own resurrection, when he said. I have set the lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved…so my heart is glad. I am joyful; my body also will rest in hope. You will not leave me in the grave. You will not let your holy one see corruption. David is seeing the resurrection of Jesus. He says I will not be left in the grave, I will be resurrected. How? By the resurrection of Jesus. Every sermon they preached was related to resurrection. It should not be a once a year Easter Message, our message/our life/our thinking should all be focused on his resurrection .then you will have life. Resurrection power should come upon our spirit, soul and body, and cause us to preserve us. No sickness no disease can remain upon you. But the question is how I can tap the resurrection power. How can I get hold of that power? We know this resurrection power should not be received just once, but it should be a continuous process. Paul after being in the ministry for so many yrs says.” That I may know him and the power of his resurrection.’ That means he was seeking daily to get to know the lord, and seek for the power of resurrection.that was the secret of his success in life, and ministry. I would like to speak on three areas regarding the resurrection of Jesus. and how it affect us.
1).HOW TO TAP THE RESURRECTION POWER?
People say I want the resurrection power upon me. I want Gds power upon me. There is only one way where you can tap the resurrection power upon your life. That is you need to tap the dying power of Jesus. You know how Paul became so powerful. It was because he was dying daily. He said I die daily. He said. Reckon yourself to be dead in Christ. Once you die to self/once you take up the cross and follow Jesus, then there is a release of the resurrection power of Jesus automatically upon your life. You know God cannot mix the power of the resurrection in your life when the self is ruling, when the flesh is ruling. Flesh and spirit cannot mix. It is like water and oil. they don’t mix. The flesh has to die in order for the resurrection power to come upon our lives. There is no such thing as the resurrection power w/t the cross. they come together in a package. You cannot pray for the resurrection power to come upon your lives. I lived in the days when people spoke only of power, wherever I went I saw people speak of power. all my contemporaries spoke of power. They would tell me, if you are a preacher/you wont go thru suffering. You should not speak of suffering. there is no cross/no sacrifice. But then my wife and I suffered a lot. They didn’t understand. When my mother died, my mentor came for the funeral he started laughing and laughing, and those with him didn’t understand him, but they regarded him/respected him and so they too joined in the laughter. My relatives who come from orthodox catholic background didn’t like it at all. My brother and me too didn’t like it much, but we thought we should not cry, and so we only smiled. Because they had not seen suffering. They would say walk in total control. You should walk in faith and power. Nobody spoke of suffering. Here I was preaching on sacrifice/cross/tribulation. I am not saying that I didn’t believe in power or did not have power working in my life, but I always believed power comes when we pay the price. I used to realize that you can learn from God only after you have suffered a while. The problem with today’s generation is that they want a crown w/t the cross, they want beauty w/t ashes, they want the garment of praise w/t the spirit of heaviness. But then did not Jesus also say.” if you suffer with me you shall also reign with me?(2Tim.2:12).I remember when I married my wife Jayshree we didn’t have much. when we became believers, we struggled in life. Not that I didn’t have a good job, but yet there wasn’t much. People may look at us driving our car, and some may be saying. Can he handle it can they handle finance. Will it not go into their head? No it won’t, because I had seen lack, and God won’t mind me having things of the world today. When my wife married me, it was not for money surely. I didn’t have much in the first place. We didn’t have a car, we had a house but then not everything. we still struggled. we lacked finance, when we bought this church land. it cost us in lacs. yet I couldn’t afford to buy my wife a dress of 1000 rps.for the function day, when Paul Dhinkaran had come. She was in the choir, and one choir member had bought a dress worth 1500/- and I could afford for her only 700/-dress.it looked so pale before her friends dress. Though both were white, but my wife’s dress was pale white. I remember I saw it, and then just smiled. Love for Christ was strong in us. Today people start with a 100 member, and they think big. think of buying a house and a car.etc.I had more than 2000 members, I still lacked. and suffered. but see, she didn’t say anything. I didn’t have much to wear for that function. and today God has given everything. today I don’t mind her having anything she wants. I never told her you cannot have this or that. it is too expensive. If I can afford it I will let her have what she wants.because if you walk with me thru sufferings, then when we get to the good place, or part. you shall be my partaker. Now I don’t need to get to the motives of my wife.That is the secret. ““For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”(2Cor.1:5).Yes the resurrection power comes. the blessings come. Jesus said. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”(Jn.15:7).People say how easy it is. I am abiding in you lord. Let the power come. and then Jesus says.” for w/t me you can do nothing.”(v.5).That means we have to be nothing for the power of resurrection to work in our lives. We have to die to self. Jesus said in Jn.12. “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”(Jn.12:24,25).Unless there is death taking place in our lives everyday, there wont come the resurrection power on us every day. We need the resurrection power on our lives every day,but for that we need to die daily. die to our flesh/die to our desires/our appetites/die to our pride/die to everything related to the flesh. and when the seed dies, it bears much fruit. “ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”(v.25). “ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”(v.26).
If you see a blooming flower, you appreciate it much, but then it will bloom for sometime and then die. but it has lost its purpose. the flower cannot resurrect another flower, unless it dies and sheds the seed, and the seed has to die, this flower on its own can last for sometime, but the only way for the flower to resurrect is for the flower to die, and become a seed, if the flower says. I want to be a flower all the time, there will be no seed, the purpose of its existence is lost. But the purpose of the flower is to attract insects and bring in cross pollination seeds are produced, then the flower after having fulfilled its purpose, its petals drop and the seed has to be separated from the mother plant, then the seed has to die germinate, and it has to be planted, and then it produces many flowers. A flower resurrects itself thru a seed. There is no resurrection w/t death taking place, the only life that can come out from our lives, must be the life of Jesus. Paul says. “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”(2Cor.4:11,12).which life is he speaking of ?The resurrection life. He says the resurrecting life is displayed best in our dying bodies. Is he speaking of the physically dying bodies? Is he saying. the outward is perishing everyday/No he is speaking of voluntarily dying to the needs of the flesh which is contrary to the needs of the spirit. When you keep on saying I will not please my flesh. I will please God. you are dying to self. You are taking the cross. and following Jesus and then the power falls upon you. Pastor then we don’t have to do anything special for the resurrection power of Gd?Yes.You don’t have to do anything. Just keep your flesh under, and the resurrection power will be upon you. See the paradox. There needs to be a continuous dying, before we can have a continuous life flowing in us. Somebody must die for others to live. Yes positionally we are dead, we are dead in Christ, but there is a continuous present tense, that speaks of death in the present tense too. That is the key to step into the resurrection power of Jesus. David also lived for others. He says “for thy sake we are killed all the day long. we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”(Ps.44:22).Did you see that? He is saying for their sake we are killed all the day long. How can you be dying the whole day? You will die in one moment. so then he is speaking more than the physical death. He is speaking of dying to self/flesh on account of God.That is how he had such power upon his life. Paul takes that scripture verse and says “for thy sake we are killed all the day long.”(Rom.8:36).
Sometimes it can be done in an instant, at other times it is an ongoing process. Paul says. “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”(2Cor.12:12).People read the first part but then they don’t read that word “Patience/perseverance. Who would associate signs and wonders with perseverance? we thought it was a gift of God. It is not in lifting up of hands we get the power of Gd. So miracles come thru per4serveance.not just the gift of God? There is a part to play. You know many were healed in Kathryn Khulmans meetings. but she had paid the price. Those who were healed too, at times prayer long and hard. Paul also went thru lots. He suffered. He bore all the marks on his body. People taunted him/they mocked at him/they took advantage of him. He went thru a lot of tribulation for the kingdom. He says .”And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”(Rom.5:3,4). When you see the power on Saturdays, and Sundays and Mondays it was a price that we paid. We went thru tribulation. I was attacked by fanatics. People came home ringing the bell. The next day I was supposed to fly to Jesus calls for 3 days meeting. It was about 11 o clock. My wife said. I will not open the door I am packing and moreover it is too late to entertain anyone at this odd hour. If you want you go. I couldn’t resist myself. I opened the door, and there was this huge man with a bouquet in his hand and said can I come in .I just want to thank God for you. I invited him. He held out the bouquet to me and then immediately, he ushered his two other fellows and shouted break his legs, kill him. they beat me up with stumps, my little daughter was there standing, she was screaming. I rushed out of the door. and I fainted, and they ran away. I didn’t complain, but they were caught for different count, for they were involved in some terrorist case for making bombs etc.That fellow is still in the jail ,he is like a dead man. I was rushed to the hospital and with those wounds I went to preach, sitting on a wheel chair, and as I stood up to preach God healed me. Praise God. What I want to say is, from that time my ministry took a great leap. Yes so this happens. Today by Gods grace we have 16000 members. God has highly exalted me. I was attacked many times/ /we suffered much/we were insulted/taken advantage of. but we smiled thru it all. and that is how you see the power of God on our lives. Paul is saying. the signs of apostle works with perseverance, that came thru tribulation. Perseverance comes as we confront tribulation.tribulation are those things that make you to die. It is the cross you bear for Jesus, and the gospel. Some endure it, but don’t come out of it. that is not perseverance, and that is why they have no character. It is like going thru darkness, but never coming out of the tunnel. Perseverance is going thru tribulation and gong on and on, with perseverance/endurance and coming out the other side of the tunnel. then your character is made. Then at the other side of the tunnel is the resurrection power. not half way through. Like the Marathon runners, they all run, there are more people in the beginning of the race, but as the race progresses, few last, and at the end, you only find a few reaching the goal. So it is not easy to deny self. to enter into tribulation is one thing, but to hold fast is quite another. and to persevere and come through is quite another. that is when signs and wonders start operating in your life. Kathryn Khulman had to pay the price. she had once said. I know when Kathryn died, and where she died. I can show you the exact spot of her death. she died. to her life. she had married a married man, and her ministry spiralled. a time came she said. I love him more than God. but when her ministry floundered. she had to die to herself/her needs/her self will. and she died. and when she died the last 10 yrs of her ministry was greater than ever. Resurrection power only comes after people have suffered. Then the continual power of resurrection comes in different areas of your lives. You become an overcomer.when power comes, you can do things easily/differently/and without tension. things work on its own. The greater the suffering the greater the resurrection power upon you. You want to minister to a million people then you need to weigh the cross of a million people. the weight of the resurrection power is in measure of the suffering cross you carry. The resurrection power comes not form above, it comes from the inside. when the vessel is broken then the oil of resurrection power flows out of the alabaster box.
2).YOU HAVE TO SEE HIM TO HAVE THE RESURRECTION POWER.
The second area we need to study. is that we need to look to him. Now let us read what Jesus said in Jn.14. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”(Jn.14:16,17).Now there are two things Jesus said about the Comforter/the Holy Spirit. He is first speaking in regard to the world. He says. firstly the world cannot see him, nor can it know him. The world doesn’t have this resurrection power because of two conditions. It sees him not nor knows him. So the world has no power of Gd.Now what about us? Then he turns to his disciples and says, but you know him. for he dwells with you and shall be in you. Now that is the first part. You know him. How because he dwells with you, and will be in you (on the day one is born again).But what about the second part of seeing him? .Seeing whom? the Holy Spirit. Jesus says “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”(Jn.14:19).when it comes to seeing the Holy Spirit, he speaks of self. but when he speaks of knowing him he speaks of the Holy Spirit. He could have said. but you know him, and you have seen him. But he says, but you know the Holy Spirit for he is with you and shall be in you, and you have seen not him, but ME. You have to see Jesus but know the Holy Spirit. He is not talking of seeing him in the sweet by and by…No right now. Now one day we will see him as he is. But right now also we can see him. He is not speaking of “hereafter” but “here and now.” He reveals this subject more clearly, when he says.” He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”(v.21).Now how do we know him? because of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you. through this manifestation also you can know him. but they never thought that they could see him. How can they see him. They had no problem with the first part of knowing him. but since he said he was going away, how could they see him, if he is gone. Jesus said “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”(v.19).The world that was seeing the physical Jesus will see him no more, but the disciples would see him, even if he is not with them physically. that was a big question for the disciples. How will they see him. This was difficult. How can we see you Jesus. Yes we will know you,because the Spirit of God will reveal,but how can we see you Jesus, once you are gone to heaven.That was difficult. “Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?”(v.22).So don’t worry Judas asked on our behalf. He said. how is it that you will let yourself be seen clearly by us and not by the world. This is point no.2.Point no.1.is easily known. They had no problem.with that, but they had problem with point no.2.how can we see you. Jesus answered. “Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”(v.23).This is the mightiness of Easter. If you have understood this, you have celebrated your Easter well. Otherwise it just remains a festival. He said I will manifest myself to them. not when they want, but when I want to reveal myself to them. He said. I will manifest myself to them. I will disclose/appear/before them.That is the meaning. Yes Desire to have the disclosure of Jesus,that will be power to you. Jesus doesn’t want to hide from us. Many are satisfied with point one. but we need to go to Point two. I am not saying all will see Jesus in the natural. That all will have a clear cut vision of Jesus, but do you also know that Jesus has his own special ways of revealing himself to us? The great and mighty men of God like Benny Hinn have not seen Jesus in a vision.Yet.God is using them so mightily. They proclaim Jesus so beautifully.how?Because Jesus has a million ways to manifest himself to us. The problem today with the church is, they want to see Jesus the way the disciples saw Jesus for the 3 yrs of him ministry. That is not possible. After the resurrection it was just the initial stage that Jesus revealed himself. but later He manifested himself in so many different ways. Why do you come to church so regularly. because he has visited you, he has manifested to you in a special way in your spirit that draws you to Jesus. If you didn’t have a fresh manifestation every day, you wouldn’t be seen in the church so regularly. Jesus wants to sit next to you, talk to you. face to face. He is the resurrected Christ. He will not come to you as he came to the disciples before Pentecost. but hasn’t the church move more gloriously since Pentecost? See the powerful way he was manifesting himself? That same Peter who did not want to die, when he was with the physical Jesus and who ran away, now after Pentecost is ready to die for Jesus.why?what does it show? The manifestation of the resurrected Christ was more mighty than the physical Christ. Why were there more miracles signs and wonders after Pentecost than in the days of physical Jesus? what does it teach us?That the manifestation of Jesus was more powerful after Pentecost than before Pentecost. Beloved people we are living in the days of Pentecost. The resurrected power of Jesus is here, Look at him. Now Pastor what does manifest means? Manifest means “appear.” like on the day of resurrection, bible says the graves were opened and many came out of the graves and went into the holy city and appeared/unto many.”(Mt.27:53).Peter in his discourse in Acts.10 says “Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.”(Acts.10:40, 41).There are two realms that we need to understand. One is gifting and grace of Gd.where by you have visions of God and see things of the spirit world. Then there is another realm, and that is given in v.21. “He that loveth me shall be loved of my father,and I will love him,and will manifest myself to him.” Praise Gd.He wants to reveal to you.why? “Because I live, you shall live also.”(v.19).To see him, means many things to different people. You can see him thru the spirit realm. He can give you an open vision or a close vision. He can reveal himself to your spirit. He can reveal himself to your imagination. But he can also reveal himself to you as natural as anybody.
In Acts.10:39.also in his message he shares how Jesus was raised up by God. and how he openly shewd himself to some people…Now when Paul speaks in Acts.13:30,31.he says God raised him from the dead, and was seen many days by those who traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now THEY ARE witnesses.” He didn’t say I am witness but they. because they had been with him. But yet he saw Jesus later, on Damascus road. How did he see? Maybe he saw the light, and heard his voice. Twice we hear him witness of seeing Jesus. First is in Acts.9.He said. suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying. I am Jesus. and then he testifies in Acts.22:6 onwards.” I suddenly saw a great light from heaven. and heard a voice. Again when Paul is telling the story to King Agrippa. in Acts.26:12 onwards he says. I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. and heard a voice speaking to me. So we see three instances in the bible where he says he saw the light, but heard the voice of Jesus. That is the manifestation of Jesus to Paul. In 1989 when I heard the voice of Jesus. I didn’t see him,but I was suspended in the body. I heard his voice and the mandate, and saw the vision.That is the basis of this ministry. So there are various manifestations. Maybe later He saw Jesus. we don’t know. Paul doesn’t tell. Yes He just informs us.” Have I not seen Jesus Christ our lord? Are not ye my work in the lord?”(1Cor.9:1).that is the proof of his ministry. Now whether he is speaking of Acts.9.or some other time Jesus manifested him, we don’t know. But Barnabas also said when he brought Paul to the Jerusalem church “how he had seen Jesus the lord in the way.”(Acts.9:27).He speaks of that incident when he saw Jesus and that was on the way, so seeing the light was seeing Jesus. Do you see the manifestation?
But right now also you can see him in a different manifestation. The Holy Spirit will reveal to you even now. I am aware of his presence next to me. I am aware of him seated on his throne majestically, and he is here also in our church. The eye of the spirit is seeing him. not in the gift of the Holy Spirit, but in a manifestation of him thru my spiritual eyes. For some he could only appear in your dreams. For some he could only appear in a vision. Others will feel/sense the presence of him next to you, by you, inside of you. He could also appear as a flash to some in the meeting as you worship him. Some say. Pastor I have seen the light. Yes that is the manifestation. of his titles. He is the light/he is the bright and morning star/He is the lamb/the good shepherd/He can manifest himself to you in so many ways. He is the rose of Sharon. Suddenly some experience his sweet fragrance. it touches them inside out. When he manifests he will “inform/you.Yes.that is another meaning of manifest. Some will sense his assurance/his presence/his peace/his joy/his boldness/his strength these are all manifestations from the heavenly realm. Yes some will experience peace, because he is the prince of Peace. Some will have a picture of him before their eyes. His desire is to manifest to people in every possible way he can.Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Pure means clean. How can one be clean? by daily washing himself with the blood, and you can be clean thru the word.(Jn.15:3).
God always loved to manifest himself to his people. Right from the time he made Adam he had communion with him, even after he sinned.God called out Adam where are you. God didn’t want him to hide. but sin separated man from God. God wanted to meet man, for thousands of years. Jesus didn’t just die for our sins, if that was the case he would have told his disciples. I am dying for you, and that is enough, I will go away. No he said. I will come back to you.why?to talk to him. You can know somebody from far away. You can write letters to him, O today we can mail him, or Sms him/her.or talk on the phone, but how better it would be to sit next to that person. and eat with that person. He coming to your house and you going to his house. That is relationship a very close one. Jesus said.Zacheus I want to go to your house. and I want to eat with you. In Rev.3:20 he said. Behold I stand at your door and knock if anyone opens the door I will come and eat with him. Eating is drawing closer. and how much more if one says. Prepare food for me, and I want to eat with you. That is more close relationship. Somebody inviting you for dinner is one thing, but somebody with right asking you to prepare food shows closeness. Jesus said I will make my home with them. People talk of Easter cake/Easter bun/Easter eggs/Easter clothes/Easter fun. But I talk to you of Easter power/Easter meaning. the true meaning. Now see Jesus said. You shall see me. Now Jesus didn’t even go to the cross. He was not yet resurrected, yet he told his disciples you shall see me. Before Easter he told them you know him. Because they walked with him. saw the Holy Ghost in him, and on him and working in their lives too. because they too cast out demons in his name. How much power will they have after Pentecost? They had power in their “pre-Easter, how much power we should have Pro-Easter. after Easter. Let us not talk Easter,but live Easter. Easter message is simple and clear pay the price, and receive his manifestation.
3). HEARING HIS VOICE.
The third area I want to speak concerning Easter is obey his word when he speaks to you.At the sheepgate some Jews had gathered around him,and he told them, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”(Jn.10:26,27).So the first point we learnt was, no resurrection power without dying, second is the true blessing is his manifestation in our lives, seeing him and not just knowing him. Third is we need to hear his resurrected voice. Now he speaks. we need to listen to the resurrected Christ. Like in the world, when somebody tells you. or say a doctor tells you, this sickness is curable. you may not take his word. you may say physician heal yourself first. and then he says. see both of us are suffering, but here is the miracle medicine I have, I will take it, and he takes it, and he is cured immediately. You will say. I believe in you. speak to me, tell me what to do I will do. what happened? Your opinion of that person is now changed. In the same way. Before the resurrection Jesus said. I will go and come back. I will die and rise. they didn’t give much thought to it. Peter and the disciples. never gave much thought but when he died and he rose again on Easter, they sat up to listen to every word of his. when he came into the room thru the walls. they were alert to listen to him. they started searching him out. where will I meet him. How can I meet him. what word has he. See before that Jesus would go out and meet them. and now they wanted to meet him. There are Christians for 10 yrs 15 yrs,they don’t hear his voice. they say I cannot hear his voice. Others say I cannot reckon whether it is his voice or the devils voice. How sad a husband will be when his wife says. I don’t know your voice. and she had lived with him for 10 yrs.what do we do about it? It is a big question. Just imagine if a sheep doesn’t know his masters voice. he is in danger. every sheep recognizes his masters voice. There is no sheep that cannot hear his voice. He hears more than he sees. Jesus said “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. “(Jn.1:14).The first part is no problem.”I am the good shepherd and know my sheep.” There is nothing to boast about it. He knows us. Praise God. What about the second part. that is a major problem in the church today.” and am known of mine.” Is it true with all of us. Can Jesus say it plainly that Johnny knows me and recognizes me. Peter knows me and recognizes my voice. This is very important. Do you all agree that we are the sheep of his pasture.Okay, can the sheep live w/t the shepherd? No. Some will say yes he can.Yes,he can live,but we don’t know when they will make a lamb chop of him. the wolves are there, and we don’t know whether they will get their grass and water. It is tough living. Now Jesus said. The shepherd knows his sheep. and he says when he gets them out, he leads them and they follow him because they are familiar/know with his voice.”(Jn.10:4).Just imagine one sheep is deaf. and while all others go out, he is still lazing out there, waiting for the Masters voice, and grumbling and griping. Where is this shepherd, where is he gone? I am hungry and thirsty. and says. He doesn’t care for me.but where are the other sheep I cannot hear them. What has happened, they have all gone who heard his voice, and this fellow is dumb like an adder.You know what all he misses. Jesus said.” they wont follow a strangers voice, but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it. the sheep don’t listen to all other shepherds. If you mix up two herds of sheep of two shepherds, the one shepherd will call out, and his sheep will get out of that mix and go to his shepherd. that is the beauty of the relationship of sheep and shepherd. I know them, and mine own know me. Is it true? to know him doesn’t mean know about his word/or the word/it is not know theology/Christian ethics/or traditions/rituals/customs/or some principles. To know him is to hear him. I told you about Paul. How he started his ministry. Just imagine on that Damascus road if he had not heard the voice of Jesus, what would have happened? You would have never met Paul, You would have never experienced such a glorious ministry. Three times it is said of Paul. that he heard his voice.Acts.9.it says.” I suddenly saw a great light and heard a voice saying. Saul Saul why do you persecute me. He heard that voice. He asked. Who are you lord? The voice said. I am Jesus that you persecute me. But now go and I will show you what you should do. He heard the voice. He testified it in Acts.22:6, and Acts.26:12.I heard the voice. It was not just the manifestation of Jesus,but also the word/voice of Jesus.
Christianity is not just attending church, but he that has an spirit let him hear what the Spirit of God says.If today you say. Yes I know him, and hear his voice.You have touched Easter. Easter has been a blessing to you. Jesus then said.”As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”(Jn.10:15).How does he know the father? He hears the fathers voice. Every day he would talk with him. He is not saying as the divine one, but as the son of man. Because he says in another place. I go to my father and your father. So in that sense he was hearing the father day in and day out. He was doing his bidding. he was not doing what pleased him, but what pleased the father. How did he know the will of the father? He was speaking to him every day. That is how he kept to his mark. that is how he fulfilled everything that the father wanted. Obeying his voice is very important. for our welfare for our future,for our blessings. We have somebody who speaks to us walks with us talks with us. He is not a god that we have to carry. He carries us. He is no god to put in a corner of a room, as though that is enough. No room is big enough to have his portrait. He talks and we hear. He says “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”(v.16).Jesus is knocking at his own church door. He is knocking at his own church members home. He is not knocking hells gates,why?because he has the keys of death and Hades. but then he knocks at his own.house.how do you like to see your own people shut the door to you. you knock and they don’t open. and then they let you in. He says. My sheep are you there, please open I am your shepherd. Beloved we serve not an organization but a person whose name is Jesus. He is power for you. I pray that God may empower you this morning with his resurrection power. Happy Easter. Praise God!!!
Peter David Silway.
Vineyard Workers' Church.
Maharashtra. India
