"Thy Will Be Done"

When we repent, we turn from self-will, to God’s will – “Thy will be done.” This is the first and biggest step in our living for God.

Jesus was our supreme example. As God, He knew what was ahead when He was praying in the garden. It was probably the greatest temptation a human would face.

 Our Heavenly Father robed (manifested) Himself in flesh to suffer and die in our place for our sins. There was no man that was without sin to pay the price. Only our Holy Heavenly Father could pay our debt of sin. (1 Timothy 3:16, John 8:24).

When we are full of the Holy Ghost, in times of temptation, we have the battle with our flesh to do God’s will. Christ – fully man and fully God - had the same battle. The victory is through prayer, and laying down our will – the will of our flesh - and choosing God’s will – "Thy will be done.” Just as Christ surrendered the will of his flesh, we must surrender the will of our flesh. 

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." - John 12:27 

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." - Luke 22:41-42 

"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." - Luke 22:44 

"And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." - Luke 22:45-46 

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" - Matthew 26:53-54 

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 7:21 

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:17 

The Resurrection

Paul had a powerful encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From this experience, Paul had full confidence in the resurrection. Paul knew that by his obedience to the gospel, he too will rise again when Jesus returns for His church. (Acts 9:1-22,27; 1Corinthians 15:8; Acts 22:3-16; Acts 26:8-18, 1Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Because of His faith in the resurrection, and because he had been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost, Apostle Paul was willing to face death on a daily basis. (“I die daily”- 1Corinthians 15:30-32).

"And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket." - Acts 9:23-25 KJV

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus." - Acts 9:29-30 KJV

"For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me." - Acts 26:21 KJV

"And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city..." - Acts 14:19-20 KJV

"In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." - 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 KJV

Into His Light

 

Our Heavenly Father put on a human body in His saving name “JESUS” to bring humanity His loving mercy. Satan’s desire is that all remain in the darkness of condemnation. Jesus came to bring the world the light of His new covenant of mercy through the gospel.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

The gospel brings the light of God’s mercy. The apostles preached the gospel of Jesus beginning on the day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

Those that believed and obeyed came into salvation.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41

Then the Gentiles [non Jews] were added in, beginning with Cornelius and his household.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision [Jews] which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

“Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:44-48

Both Jews and Gentiles came out of the darkness of condemnation to walk in the light of the mercy of the gospel.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10

The Presence of God

God said to Moses,

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." - Exodus 33:14 

Moses would not settle for less than God’s very presence.

"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." - Exodus 33:15-16 

“Presence” is another word for the “Shechina” - the Holy Ghost.

When God was made flesh and dwelt among His creation, Jesus spoke again of His rest. In His new covenant, His presence would not just be with us, but in us. (John 1:14, John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9, Colossians 1:27).

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." - Matthew 11:28-30 

We find this rest unto our souls to be the Holy Ghost.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..." - Isaiah 28:11-12 (Acts 2:4, Isaiah 11:10, Acts 3:19). 

Jesus promises to fill us with His presence, the Holy Ghost, when we yoke ourselves together with Him. His yoke is His covenant of baptism in the name of Jesus. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

 By His presence, we become separated unto God. (1Peter 2:9). 

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2Corinthians 6:17-18 (Exodus 33:16).

Taken Up to Heaven

 

After Jesus commanded His disciples to not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost, Jesus was taken up into heaven.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:9-11 

When we have repented of our sins, been baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can look forward to being resurrected from the grave as Jesus was, and going to heaven with Him when He returns for His church. (Acts 2:38, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [give life to] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11 

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [who have died], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [believers who have died] will God bring with him. 

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [those saved that phave died]. 

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet call] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [believers who have died : 

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [So encourage each other with these words.]" - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Witnesses

After the great commission, Luke records that for forty days Jesus showed Himself alive to many witnesses and spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion [crucifixion] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 

Jesus did His part: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again. Then for forty days He witnessed of His resurrection and talked about the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Acts 1:3).

Now we do our part: We repent of our sins, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and we receive the gift of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38). This is our testimony. We witness of our new life in Jesus and we talk about the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." - John 20:21 

"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." - Acts 1:8 

We are witnesses to the world of what Jesus did for us, and in us. Finally, at the end, this is how we defeat the devil.

We overcome the accuser of our brethren (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus - and by the word of our testimony – our repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and our infilling of the Holy Ghost. 

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11 

The Great Commission

According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the same day that Jesus was resurrected He gave His disciples His “great commission.” (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-17, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23). 

The “great commission” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all contain the essential elements that were found on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23).

In His great commission, Jesus told His disciples to Go, baptize, and He would fill with His Spirit.

Go: Matthew and Luke - going to “all nations,” Mark - “to all the world and to every creature,” John - “send I you.” Baptize: Matthew, Mark, and Luke - His “name,” Luke - “remission of sins,” John - “sins ye remit,” Mark - “saved.” His Spirit: Matthew - “I am with you always,” Mark - “new tongues,” Luke - “the promise of my Father” and “power from on high,” John - “the Holy Ghost.” 

On the Day of Pentecost, the great commission was explicitly revealed by Peter, while the rest of the apostles stood with him. It was Peter that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2:14).

When Jesus poured out His Spirit on all His followers on the Day of Pentecost, they spoke in tongues. (Acts 2:4). When all the people from every nation that were gathered for Pentecost heard their own languages being spoken by the believers from the upper room, they asked, What meaneth this?

Peter told the people that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-18). He then preached the gospel to them. (Acts 2:22-36).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 

Peter obeyed Jesus and His “great commission.” 

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:41-42 

This was only the beginning. Believers are obedient to Jesus and preaching the gospel today.

"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." - Acts 1:8