Sermon Title: What is your substance?
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:4-6)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Christ’s Words reveal three universal laws that apply to every human being.
Universal Law #1: We live only if we remain in Christ (John 15:5)
We need to be clear.
Apart from Christ, we are already dead; doomed to be “thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6).
In fact, only in Christ may we live – and live with greatest purpose and fulfillment in bearing “much fruit”.
Universal Law #2: Our desires are fulfilled if they align with God’s Will; and this happens only if His Words remains in us.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8)
One key feature in this life of greatest purpose and fulfillment when lived in Christ is - the answered prayer.
When your deepest desires align with the Will of God, your every prayer – framed by His Words – will be answered with divine affirmation and “done for you”.
Every answered prayer in our lives are fruits that we bear to our Father’s glory.
And every prayer whispered from a heart that utterly loves God and loves as He loves - reveals that our deepest desire is that His Kingdom come, and His “Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
To experience the thrill of the answered prayer is to pray the Lord’s Prayer (Ref: Matthew 6:9-13) with the deepest desire of its fulfillment in your life; and in so doing, remain firmly in His Will, and Love.
Universal Law #3: Our love becomes authentic only if we remain in God’s Love; and love with God’s love.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)
To love with God’s love is the only love that is authentic and eternal.
Eternal life becomes truly a gift only if filled with eternal, loving relationships established upon the love of God.
God’s love in, and through, us – today - completes our joy; for such is how, and when, our lives become truly fruitful with relationships that are destined for eternity.
And so, we live, and live fruitfully – purposefully and lovingly - only if Christ lives in us
What is the fruitful life?
However, many Christians remain uncertain about what a life of fruitfulness in Christ truly entails.
The fruitful life, according to Christ, has absolutely nothing to do with a comfortable life.
The world is fraught with false prophets preaching a worldly form of fruitfulness that is diametrically opposite to what Christ teaches.
To this, we must be aware, and intensely careful, never to fall into the devil’s trap; designed to ensnare the foolish with worldly prosperity, leading to the whole body “thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29, See also 5:30)
The Apostle Paul is acutely and experientially aware of what a fruitful life – a life holy and pleasing in God’s sight - is all about.
“20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.” (Philippians 1:20-22)
It is clear that Paul really picked up on what Christ taught in John 15:5.
Paul understands that Christ alone, must remain in him; and thus, be “exalted” in his body.
His very life is lived solely for the sake of Christ, and His Gospel.
To Paul, fruitfulness in Christ is synonymous with labor for Christ.
If you think that your life is stressful and tormented, take a look at this man’s devotion to Christ through his ministry chronicles taken from 2 Corinthians 11:23-33:
“Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move.
I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?
Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
There is no question about it.
The Apostle Paul lived a fruitful life in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In order to be truly Christian, we must re-define “fruitfulness”.
Be very clear.
Fruitfulness has nothing to do with the acquirement, nor the maintenance, of worldly wealth; but a life lived striving for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul is prime example of the fruitful life; and every disciple of Christ must endeavour towards such a life devoted to the love and service of God.
The Pattern of the Fruitful Life
The fruitful life is never smooth sailing; nor is it about simply playing the role of the dedicated church leader or the faithful congregant.
Instead, the hallmarks of the truly fruitful life is to be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even, struck down – for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.
“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)
The fruitful life is recognizing that though our earthly bodies are inevitably “wasting away”; our spirits are “renewed day by day” through the Holy Spirit’s Power - blessed with the paradigm of eternity; and primed for the Kingdom of God.
That despite the tremendous troubles and discomfort that would surely accompany our Spirit-empowered desire and design to “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole Creation” (Mark 16:15), our eyes and hearts are focused, and set, on the coming Kingdom of God.
To this, the Apostle Paul encourages us:
“16 Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
In fact, our Lord Jesus exhorts us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In the face of the troubles of this world, have you given your heart entirely to Jesus Christ?
But why?
Why wouldn’t the Lord take away all the evil elements, and thus, the troubles of this world that so clearly exists to defy His Love and Salvation?
Again, the Apostle Paul provides us this divine, and delightful, insight.
7 …because of these surpassingly great revelations.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – bold emphasis mine)
In His Sovereign Will, troubles are divinely appointed, and applied, to keep the believer “from being conceited”.
Conceit – also known by its many other names i.e. arrogance, pride, self-centredness, self-importance, superiority and vanity – is an insidious spiritual infection of the heart that causes defiance against the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient God, and spawns the damning reliance on human abilities.
Out of conceit, Adam and the woman consumed the forbidden fruit; from which every sin that followed was invariably caused by conceit.
Conceit causes the fundamental inability to trust God; and is one of the chief impediments to a life wholly surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Paul, his only reason to live was for Christ alone; which was why he delighted “in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” – for only when he was absolutely weak, was he humble enough to acknowledge the all-sufficiency of the Grace of God, and for the Power of God to be revealed in his life.
The fruitful life begins not with strength but in weakness; in fact, sheer weakness that leads to the utter humility required for us to fully acknowledge the sufficiency and power of God’s Grace to save us; and manifest in our lives so that we realise that we are strong only because Christ remains in us, and we remain in Christ. (Ref: John 15:5)
Are you faced with insurmountable challenges in your life?
How are you struggling?
Are you struggling with human strength? Or are you struggling by confessing your weaknesses before our Lord and thus, utterly accepting His Grace and Power to bring glory to our Heavenly Father?
Do you live for your sake, or for Christ’s sake?
Remember.
When you think yourself strong, you are truly weak.
But when you recognise your state of weakness, then and only then are you ready to become God’s vessel of Power and Glory; and becoming truly strong in the Lord. (Ref: Ephesians 6:10)
WHO GIVES SUBSTANCE FOR THE FRUITFUL LIFE?
Only the Holy Spirit!
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
“Because you are His children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.”
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:6-7)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)
Make no mistake.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit.
To remain in Christ, His Spirit must remain in you.
Only through the Holy Spirit being with your spirit - living in you - does our Lord Jesus Christ live in you.
God the Spirit, alone, provides us with the substance necessary to live in Grace, Strength and Power – as children of God; and heirs with His Son, to receive the Crown of life (Ref: James 1:12, Revelation 2:10) .
Stop asking for anything else.
Stop asking for more assurances, more joy, more peace, more protection, more providence, more love, or especially, more of anything in this world.
Stop asking also for less of anything in this world - less troubles, less sickness, less disease, less oppression, less persecutions.
True believers do not pray such prayers; for such prayers are foolish, frivolous and would prove fatal to the soul.
Ask only for that Someone who is the Source and Sustainer of life.
ASK ONLY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Our Lord Jesus instructs us clearly:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
The only necessary supplication of the true Christian is the constant prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be clothed – baptized - with His Power.
Brethren, pray not for a change of circumstance, but for a change of substance.
Never doubt the Power of our God who loves us, cares for us and who has already saved us and given us the gift of eternal life in His Coming Kingdom.
Be daily filled and clothed with the Spirit of Christ; and experience the divine transformation of your substance necessary to participate both in His Kingdom work here on earth; and in His Eternal Glory in the Coming Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
May “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, I invite You to be the essence, focus and substance of my life today, and forevermore – that I may live solely for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Be with my spirit - that Christ may remain in me.
Clothed me with Your Power – that I may labor with Christ and preach the Gospel to all of Creation just as He has commissioned me.
Grant me wisdom to recognise that the hallmarks of the truly fruitful life is to be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even, struck down – for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.
Spirit of Christ, despite the expected troubles that are sure to accompany my participation in Christ’s Commission of making “disciples of all nations”, I ask that You would renew my spirit “day by day”, and set my heart resolutely on the gift of eternal life in Your Coming Kingdom.
Lord Jesus, especially in the face of the troubles of the world, I declare that my heart belongs entirely to You!
Lord, forgive my conceit – my sins of arrogance, pride, self-centredness, self-importance, superiority and vanity – that has led me to the wickedness of defying Your Love, Grace, Mercy and Will for me.
Forgive me in my moments of conceit that revealed my unfaithfulness and unwillingness to fully trust and obey You.
Today, I declare that my life belongs wholly to You; and I am utterly surrendered to Your Holy Will and Purposes.
Teach me to delight “in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” – that I would be humble before You, always be found acknowledging the all-sufficiency of Your Grace and Power.
Yes, Lord – without You, I am weak; but in You, I am strong!
In my seemingly insurmountable struggles, I confess my weaknesses before You; and know that when I truly humble myself under Your Mighty Hand, You would raise me up in Strength and Power! (Ref: 1 Peter 5:6)
This is my sole request: Holy Spirit, change not my circumstance, change my substance - live in me; clothe me with Your Power!
I acknowledge that You are Christ’s grace in my life.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being the Source and Sustainer of my life.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for baptising me with Your Spirit.
Thank You, Abba Father, for giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:4-6)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Christ’s Words reveal three universal laws that apply to every human being.
Universal Law #1: We live only if we remain in Christ (John 15:5)
We need to be clear.
Apart from Christ, we are already dead; doomed to be “thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6).
In fact, only in Christ may we live – and live with greatest purpose and fulfillment in bearing “much fruit”.
Universal Law #2: Our desires are fulfilled if they align with God’s Will; and this happens only if His Words remains in us.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8)
One key feature in this life of greatest purpose and fulfillment when lived in Christ is - the answered prayer.
When your deepest desires align with the Will of God, your every prayer – framed by His Words – will be answered with divine affirmation and “done for you”.
Every answered prayer in our lives are fruits that we bear to our Father’s glory.
And every prayer whispered from a heart that utterly loves God and loves as He loves - reveals that our deepest desire is that His Kingdom come, and His “Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
To experience the thrill of the answered prayer is to pray the Lord’s Prayer (Ref: Matthew 6:9-13) with the deepest desire of its fulfillment in your life; and in so doing, remain firmly in His Will, and Love.
Universal Law #3: Our love becomes authentic only if we remain in God’s Love; and love with God’s love.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)
To love with God’s love is the only love that is authentic and eternal.
Eternal life becomes truly a gift only if filled with eternal, loving relationships established upon the love of God.
God’s love in, and through, us – today - completes our joy; for such is how, and when, our lives become truly fruitful with relationships that are destined for eternity.
And so, we live, and live fruitfully – purposefully and lovingly - only if Christ lives in us
What is the fruitful life?
However, many Christians remain uncertain about what a life of fruitfulness in Christ truly entails.
The fruitful life, according to Christ, has absolutely nothing to do with a comfortable life.
The world is fraught with false prophets preaching a worldly form of fruitfulness that is diametrically opposite to what Christ teaches.
To this, we must be aware, and intensely careful, never to fall into the devil’s trap; designed to ensnare the foolish with worldly prosperity, leading to the whole body “thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29, See also 5:30)
The Apostle Paul is acutely and experientially aware of what a fruitful life – a life holy and pleasing in God’s sight - is all about.
“20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.” (Philippians 1:20-22)
It is clear that Paul really picked up on what Christ taught in John 15:5.
Paul understands that Christ alone, must remain in him; and thus, be “exalted” in his body.
His very life is lived solely for the sake of Christ, and His Gospel.
To Paul, fruitfulness in Christ is synonymous with labor for Christ.
If you think that your life is stressful and tormented, take a look at this man’s devotion to Christ through his ministry chronicles taken from 2 Corinthians 11:23-33:
“Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move.
I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?
Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
There is no question about it.
The Apostle Paul lived a fruitful life in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In order to be truly Christian, we must re-define “fruitfulness”.
Be very clear.
Fruitfulness has nothing to do with the acquirement, nor the maintenance, of worldly wealth; but a life lived striving for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul is prime example of the fruitful life; and every disciple of Christ must endeavour towards such a life devoted to the love and service of God.
The Pattern of the Fruitful Life
The fruitful life is never smooth sailing; nor is it about simply playing the role of the dedicated church leader or the faithful congregant.
Instead, the hallmarks of the truly fruitful life is to be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even, struck down – for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.
“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)
The fruitful life is recognizing that though our earthly bodies are inevitably “wasting away”; our spirits are “renewed day by day” through the Holy Spirit’s Power - blessed with the paradigm of eternity; and primed for the Kingdom of God.
That despite the tremendous troubles and discomfort that would surely accompany our Spirit-empowered desire and design to “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole Creation” (Mark 16:15), our eyes and hearts are focused, and set, on the coming Kingdom of God.
To this, the Apostle Paul encourages us:
“16 Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
In fact, our Lord Jesus exhorts us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In the face of the troubles of this world, have you given your heart entirely to Jesus Christ?
But why?
Why wouldn’t the Lord take away all the evil elements, and thus, the troubles of this world that so clearly exists to defy His Love and Salvation?
Again, the Apostle Paul provides us this divine, and delightful, insight.
7 …because of these surpassingly great revelations.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – bold emphasis mine)
In His Sovereign Will, troubles are divinely appointed, and applied, to keep the believer “from being conceited”.
Conceit – also known by its many other names i.e. arrogance, pride, self-centredness, self-importance, superiority and vanity – is an insidious spiritual infection of the heart that causes defiance against the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient God, and spawns the damning reliance on human abilities.
Out of conceit, Adam and the woman consumed the forbidden fruit; from which every sin that followed was invariably caused by conceit.
Conceit causes the fundamental inability to trust God; and is one of the chief impediments to a life wholly surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Paul, his only reason to live was for Christ alone; which was why he delighted “in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” – for only when he was absolutely weak, was he humble enough to acknowledge the all-sufficiency of the Grace of God, and for the Power of God to be revealed in his life.
The fruitful life begins not with strength but in weakness; in fact, sheer weakness that leads to the utter humility required for us to fully acknowledge the sufficiency and power of God’s Grace to save us; and manifest in our lives so that we realise that we are strong only because Christ remains in us, and we remain in Christ. (Ref: John 15:5)
Are you faced with insurmountable challenges in your life?
How are you struggling?
Are you struggling with human strength? Or are you struggling by confessing your weaknesses before our Lord and thus, utterly accepting His Grace and Power to bring glory to our Heavenly Father?
Do you live for your sake, or for Christ’s sake?
Remember.
When you think yourself strong, you are truly weak.
But when you recognise your state of weakness, then and only then are you ready to become God’s vessel of Power and Glory; and becoming truly strong in the Lord. (Ref: Ephesians 6:10)
WHO GIVES SUBSTANCE FOR THE FRUITFUL LIFE?
Only the Holy Spirit!
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
“Because you are His children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.”
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:6-7)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)
Make no mistake.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit.
To remain in Christ, His Spirit must remain in you.
Only through the Holy Spirit being with your spirit - living in you - does our Lord Jesus Christ live in you.
God the Spirit, alone, provides us with the substance necessary to live in Grace, Strength and Power – as children of God; and heirs with His Son, to receive the Crown of life (Ref: James 1:12, Revelation 2:10) .
Stop asking for anything else.
Stop asking for more assurances, more joy, more peace, more protection, more providence, more love, or especially, more of anything in this world.
Stop asking also for less of anything in this world - less troubles, less sickness, less disease, less oppression, less persecutions.
True believers do not pray such prayers; for such prayers are foolish, frivolous and would prove fatal to the soul.
Ask only for that Someone who is the Source and Sustainer of life.
ASK ONLY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Our Lord Jesus instructs us clearly:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
The only necessary supplication of the true Christian is the constant prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be clothed – baptized - with His Power.
Brethren, pray not for a change of circumstance, but for a change of substance.
Never doubt the Power of our God who loves us, cares for us and who has already saved us and given us the gift of eternal life in His Coming Kingdom.
Be daily filled and clothed with the Spirit of Christ; and experience the divine transformation of your substance necessary to participate both in His Kingdom work here on earth; and in His Eternal Glory in the Coming Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
May “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, I invite You to be the essence, focus and substance of my life today, and forevermore – that I may live solely for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Be with my spirit - that Christ may remain in me.
Clothed me with Your Power – that I may labor with Christ and preach the Gospel to all of Creation just as He has commissioned me.
Grant me wisdom to recognise that the hallmarks of the truly fruitful life is to be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even, struck down – for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.
Spirit of Christ, despite the expected troubles that are sure to accompany my participation in Christ’s Commission of making “disciples of all nations”, I ask that You would renew my spirit “day by day”, and set my heart resolutely on the gift of eternal life in Your Coming Kingdom.
Lord Jesus, especially in the face of the troubles of the world, I declare that my heart belongs entirely to You!
Lord, forgive my conceit – my sins of arrogance, pride, self-centredness, self-importance, superiority and vanity – that has led me to the wickedness of defying Your Love, Grace, Mercy and Will for me.
Forgive me in my moments of conceit that revealed my unfaithfulness and unwillingness to fully trust and obey You.
Today, I declare that my life belongs wholly to You; and I am utterly surrendered to Your Holy Will and Purposes.
Teach me to delight “in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties” – that I would be humble before You, always be found acknowledging the all-sufficiency of Your Grace and Power.
Yes, Lord – without You, I am weak; but in You, I am strong!
In my seemingly insurmountable struggles, I confess my weaknesses before You; and know that when I truly humble myself under Your Mighty Hand, You would raise me up in Strength and Power! (Ref: 1 Peter 5:6)
This is my sole request: Holy Spirit, change not my circumstance, change my substance - live in me; clothe me with Your Power!
I acknowledge that You are Christ’s grace in my life.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being the Source and Sustainer of my life.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for baptising me with Your Spirit.
Thank You, Abba Father, for giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.