3 Words in 1

 

The World Seeks Jesus – Not a Noble Religion

“My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him,” Isaiah 53:2.

Jesus was considered a simple man, living a simple life. He did not live to impress the expectations of the world in seeking a king of earthly glory.

Nothing about His lifestyle would “woo” the world, or the circles of religious hierarchy to be impressed by Him. He had no formal education, no college degrees, no ordination papers from man’s learned universities or schools.

Unlike Paul He was not schooled at the feet of a “Gamaliel.”

He had no lineage in the eyes of the learned, had not come from noble religious descent, was born out of the wrong area … “No prophet comes out of Nazareth” … out of the wrong environment, out of the wrong family and born out of wedlock as far as they were concerned – “Is this not the son of Joseph?” …. “To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.” (You were born in idolatry! They accused Him).

“He had no beauty.” “Nothing majestic in His appearance, nothing to attract us,” (or to impress us in the world as citizens of the world). The prophet Isaiah declared while looking upon the life of Jesus, 750 years into the future!

He walked among the lowly, loved the simple and the ordinary and was considered a friend of the unloved and the unlovely!

His ministry was rejected by the religious elite, as was He also as a messenger sent of God, but He was gladly received among the poor and needy as the Prophet and Son He was!

What more could you want to be, than being like Jesus?

Live simply. Walk humbly. Love many.

Allow Jesus to shine and the Light of His countenance will once again become the Light of men on earth!

“I AM the light of the world,” John 8:1.

“You are the light of the world,” Matthew 5:14.

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Spiritual or Spirit Filled?

Those who are spiritual will receive spiritual things, but those who are Spirit filled will live them also!

There is a great difference between seeing and perceiving and in receiving and bearing the fruit thereof. Herein is the difference – Only those who are led of the Spirit will be able to truly receive the things of the Spirit within them, as being “good ground.”

Others that are “spiritual,” but not surrendered in the Spirit with their lives lived by His direction, will hear the same things, see the same things and rejoice about the same Truths they hear and perceive, but because they are not Spirit-governed and Spirit-led, will not be able to receive those things within their own spirit, which can only be received IN THE SPIRIT.

The qualification to receive the Seed of God and for it to bear forth much fruit, is in being soft, fruitful and receiving soil. Translated into plain English, it means to live in the place of surrender to God where you do not only want Him to lead your life in His will, but surrender yourself willingly for Him to do so!

In order to receive from Heaven and to bear the fruit of those things you receive, you need to be LED by the Spirit –

Not on Sunday’s – in totality and at all times!

Being spiritual means having insight into spiritual things.

Being spirit-led means being fruitful in them!

“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them,” Matthew 13:11.

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Do YOU Know The LORD?

You can preach about God, without really knowing Who He is.

You can serve God all your life and be a total stranger to Him.

The most important question to ask yourself is: Do you really know Him?
Do you…? …Do you….?

Not: Are you saved?

Not: Are do you love Him?

Not: Do you go to church?

Not: Are you faithful?

Not: Are you keeping yourself pure?

But: Do you KNOW Him?

If your answer is yes, the next question will be – “How well?”

How much time in your life is given to come to know God, personally, intimately in solitude, without others around, outside of the company of the church or the prayer meeting – just by yourself in times spent in His Presence?

This will begin to tell you how well you know Him!

“I never knew you…” Matthew 7:23.

 

~ Johann van der Hoven

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Johann van der Hoven is in South Africa. He has been serving the Lord in ministry since 1991 and has hosted numerous apostolic revival meetings in South Africa and in South America. He also currently pioneers a organic church planting movement across South Africa. For more information about him and his ministry visit www.sonsofsovereignty.com or Revival.

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