In the last days of his ministry, Jesus was spending time with his disciples, preparing them to become the pillars of his future church. They were still “slow to believe,” men of little faith, and Jesus had chided them for their unbelief at times. He saw that there was a hindrance in their hearts that needed to be removed or they would never come into the revelation necessary to lead the church.
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). Jesus is speaking here of a sheep that has been in the fold. Clearly, this represents a member of Christ’s flock, one that has been well fed and led by a loving shepherd. Yet this sheep had become lost so the shepherd has gone out looking for it.
When Peter and the disciples saw what took place at Pentecost, Peter immediately stood up and declared, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel … ‘I will pour out My Spirit in those days’” (Acts 2:16, 18). Likewise, we are able to see in Scripture what the Holy Spirit is doing in these last days — indeed, in this late hour.
The prophet Malachi offers a two-fold prophecy: First, he speaks to the ungodly, materialistic, secular, pleasure-mad world. And second, he speaks to those who love and fear the Lord.
Jesus was ministering to a great multitude when the people began to get hungry. He took his disciple Philip aside and asked him an important question: “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’” (John 6:5-6).
Jesus came as one blood sacrifice, and the blood of this Lamb has power. Power to cleanse, power to heal, and millions upon millions around the world have experienced the glory and the power of this cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
We serve the living Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Ask the Holy Spirit to come and speak to your heart in that still, small voice. If you don't know Christ, that's what Easter is all about. I want you to take a step as the prodigal son did: he walked back to the father.
The fearless prophet Jeremiah, a powerful preacher of holiness and repentance, had the mind of God and walked in the fear of the Lord. Yet, as we read Jeremiah 20, we find this great man suffering a horrible eclipse of faith.
“God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). All believers are given a portion or degree of faith and that portion must be built up into an unshakable, unwavering faith. How does this happen? As faith grows, it is strengthened in one way only: by hearing and trusting in God’s Word.
“Blessed be the … God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). All over the world, people are going through sufferings and trials and the Lord has promised to comfort us in them. Notice that nothing is said here about deliverance from the battle; we are told only that the Holy Spirit gives us comfort to endure and stay steadfast in our trial.
At Passover, Jesus turned aside to the bold disciple Peter and revealed, “Peter, Satan has demanded that I turn you over to him that he may shake your very life.”
In Jesus’ prayer to the Father, he says: “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11). He was saying, “We agreed that I could bring into our covenant everyone who trusts in me. Now, Father, I ask you to bring these beloved ones under the same covenant promises you made to me.”