During the past few weeks I have been sharing about my personal relationship with God and how He speaks to me. Now we move back more to the Word of God. I know you will be blessed.
I know doing these columns on the Will of God ‘is’ the will of God for me. I trust should this be your first time to read this column that you will go back and check out the past 5 columns on the same subject.
There are many ways the Bible speaks of people knowing and doing the will of God. I do not want to create any kind of formula or plan. God’s ways are not our ways. I will list a few of the ways God reveals His will and then expound on these.
I want to share with you one of my favorite scriptures in God’s Word.
“For it is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.’ (Philippians 2:13 in the Holy Bible)
Understand that God is at work in you and me giving us both the “Will’ to do His Will and the “Power’ to Do His Will! How thrilling. This is not my effort, not the will of the flesh, but God working in me giving me even the desire to do His will. I often have people say to me, ‘Oh what faith you have to do what you do’. I say ‘No’ it is not my faith but the faith God gives me. Both the desire and the power are from God to do His Will. This means no one can glory their works, all glory is to God.
Note too that it is His Pleasure that we seek. Which brings me to another scripture.
Jesus said:
Most assuredly, I say to you, the person who believes in Me ,
The works that I do they will do also ;
And greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(John 14:12-13 in the Holy Bible)
The will of God will always look like Jesus! “The works that I do they will do also.’ This is one sure test of the will of God in your life.
That the Father may be glorified in the Son is a very powerful statement. The will of God will glorify Jesus in your life. As you glorify Jesus the Father will be glorified too.
So let’s look at this for a moment.
God gives us both the will and the power to do His good pleasure. That is to do the works and follow in the life of Jesus and as we do this seeking that the Father be glorified in Jesus then we can ask anything in His Name and He will do it. Why? Because His will is my will so I ask for only what He has put on my heart! Wow, isn’t that wonderful.
Never any conflict or confusion when we do things His way.
I want you to stay with me through this thrilling study. I must say that this column is more of a Bible Study than my thoughts. I think you will begin feeling the great Presence and Glory of God as you follow this now.
“The Word of the Lord’ “The Lord Said’ “God Said’ “The Lord God Said’
“The Word of God’ “The Lord of Hosts’ says. “The Voice of the Lord’
Hundreds of times in the Old Testament the above terms are used. It is clear God want to let us know Him and His will. The following are just some samples of the hundreds.
“I heard the voice of the Lord , saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said,
“Here am I! Send me.”
(Isaiah 6:8 in the Holy Bible)
This term or something similar is used very often in the Old Testament of the Bible as God speaks to someone or to the people.
“But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,’
(1 Chronicles 17:3 in the Holy Bible)
In the New Testament its common use is about preaching or people hearing the Word of God as it is preached.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’
Hebrews 4:12-13
Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark’.
(Genesis 7:1 in the Holy Bible)
Thus says the LORD of Hosts :
(Malachi 1:4 in the Holy Bible)
“Signs’
God Himself made a sign in making the Rainbow.
And God said: ” This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. ”
(Genesis 9:12-14 in the Holy Bible)
False Signs :
“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ — which you have not known — ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deuteronomy 13:1-4 in the Holy Bible)
True Signs :
Tomorrow this sign shall be. And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt.
(Exodus 8:23-24 in the Holy Bible)
No Sign :
He (Jesus) answered and said to them, ” An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ”
“Matthew 12:39 in the Holy Bible’
“Dreams and Visions’
Very often in all the Bible God has spoken through Dreams. This was a powerful way of revelation in the Bible.
Over and over through out the entire Bible men and women have been spoken to through visions. Sometimes it is not possible to tell the difference between dreams and vision. From my standpoint I think dreams are when one is sleeping. A person could be awake and have a vision.
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
(Acts 2:16-18 in the Holy Bible)
“Jesus speaking’
Beginning in the Gospels we have Jesus speaking as He walked and talked. Yet even after He ascended up into heaven He still spoke many times in New Testament from Acts through Revelation. This is very common for me. I know I hear Jesus speaking to me. You will read of this in my previous columns.
“Holy Spirit speaking’
We are to be in constant fellowship with God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a moment by moment walking in the Spirit and open to every impulse and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Also illustrated in the previous columns. More scripture will be given on this in the next column and later in this one.
“Word of prophecy for you through another person’
Many times in the Bible one of God prophets spoke forth a message for another person. I illustrated in earlier columns and will give more scripture in the next column.
“Inter Peace or Peace’
The Bible so often speaks of a person having peace with God and peace in their hearts. I have often known the will of God in this manner. In the early years of my life and ministry this was a common way I knew the will of God. I felt a ‘peace’ in my spirit about something. I still do often move when I feel peace about something or stop when I do not feel a peace. Spoken about in earlier columns.
“Circumstances’ or “Open Doors’
Often in very unexpected ways something happens and one sees that as a clear direction to go in. Or one is praying about something and now it is possible to do the thing. Some consider this to be an open door. Without more clear direction from God this can still be confusing.
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord’
(2 Corinthians 2:12 in the Holy Bible)
“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it’. (Revelation 3:8)
One must not just set and wait for ‘open doors’. As I have carried the cross around the world over and over it has seemed every human possibility is closed. No open door but in the Name of Jesus He has led me ‘through, or under, or around or over’ every ‘closed door’. I do not seek open doors just the call and will of God. He has His way of doing the impossible. Glory.
“The Holy Spirit’
This is a clear and wonderful way to live. Having the Holy Spirit speaking in your heart and mind. In the follower of Jesus’ life indwells the Holy Spirit. This is the Presence of God in the believer’s life. You can hear and know the will of God as the Holy Spirit speaks and guides you. Examples were given in the previous columns and the scripture in this column and next week.
“Fleece’
Only once in the Bible is Fleece used to try to find the Will of God. However it is often used in the life of many people seeking some sign. This often causes much confusion as one comes up with one test after another for God.
(Judges 6:37-40 in the Holy Bible) This was evidence of doubt and not faith by Gideon.
“Confirmation’
Many people seek a confirmation for something. Seeking a confirmation to prove that something is the will of God. I do not see that this is a pattern of knowing or doing the will of God. Many people are paralyzed seeking someone to confirm the will of God. Knowing that something is a confirmation is often as confusing as the problem itself.
I do not live by confirmations. Should I look for confirmation often I would not do what I’m called to do because everything external looks like I’m not going in the right direction. The person starting out on a trip seeking signs of confirmation will be in a constant state of uncertainty. The plane flight is candled. Is that a sign you should not go?
You have a flat on your car. Is that a sign? You cannot get a hotel room? People do not welcome you? On and on the confusion goes. Make sure of you call from Jesus and then Do It! No matter what the difficulty. That is the only way one could carry a 12 foot cross in every nation. I do not even look to success as a confirmation. Just doing the will of God is all the confirmation we need.
The following scriptures show how God spoke to people in the Gospels! This is a thrilling list of scripture! Please read them carefully and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read these words: Jesus In the Gospels about His will and the will of the Father
Matthew 6:9-13 “In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 7:24-28 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:”and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”mAnd so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
Matthew 9:36-38
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 12:46-50
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 16:19
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let that person deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what profit is it to a person if they gain the whole world, and loses their own soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for their soul?
Matthew 17:20-21
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 19:26-30
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave–“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 22:2-10
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, “and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”‘
“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. “And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
“But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ “So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests .
Matthew 22:35-40
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 25:34-46
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ” O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, ” O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. “Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Matthew 28:5-10
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
“And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
Then Jesus said to them, ” Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 8:34-38
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose their life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
For what shall it profit a person, if they shall gain the whole world, and lose their own soul?
Or what shall a person give in exchange for their soul?
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Mark 10:28-31
Then Peter began to say unto him, we have left all, and have followed thee.
And Jesus answered and said , Verily I say unto you, there is no person that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
But they shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Mark 11:23-26
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.
Therefore I say unto you, What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 16:15-20
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every person.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he tat believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
Luke 5:27-28
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Luke 9:1-6
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns,
preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
Luke 10:1-12
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Therefore said he unto them , The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Even the very dust of your city, which cleaves on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 12:31
But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 14:16-35
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counted the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consulted whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador and desires conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 24:44-53
And he said unto them , These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
John 1:34-43
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, What seek you? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwells thou?
He said unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, Follow me.
John 4:30-43
Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Say not you, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sowed and he that reaps may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.And many more believed because of His own word;
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
Now after two days he departed and went into Galilee.
John 5:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 6:64-69 But there are some of you that believe not . For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no person can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 10:1-15 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
“Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
“All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
“But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. “The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:27-30
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I and My Father are one.”
John 12:23-33 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
John 13:4-17 He rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus said to him , “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ” You are not all clean.”
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 14:5-21 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–
“the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 14:25-27 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 15:5-14 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
John 16:7-14 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
“of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
John 16:23-28 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; “for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 17:13-20 “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
John 20:19-23 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 21:1-25 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, ” Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast .” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”– knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ” Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? ” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me ?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep .” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him , “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but , “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Acts 1:4-11 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, ” It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1