Breaking out into the Kingdom of God

See my previous post written back in April 2014: The Kingdom of God is at hand

When God gathers the remnant of Israel.

Micah 2: 12 - 13 NKJV

 - likens those times to a large flock of sheep making loud noises because so many of them are trying to pass through the gate of the sheep-pen.
- until "the one" who breaks open comes up before them
- then they will break out.
- with the King (the Messiah) passing before them
- with Yehovah at the head of them.

==> This prophecy of the breaking out of many sheep is explained by the Lord Iesou in Luke 16:16

- that the Law and Prophets were (in force?) until the days of John the Baptist.
- since John the Baptist appeared in his ministry, the Kingdom of God has been preached
- and "everyone" is pressing into the Kingdom of God

==> Matthew 11: 12 gives a similar account of the Lord Iesous explanation

- from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent ones take it by force
- for all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John the Baptist

It is clear that what Luke refers to as "everyone", Matthew describes as "violent ones" who press into the Kingdom of God as if taking it by force. This is an ongoing fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah 2: 12 - 13, stating that,

- when God gathers his remnant
- many sheep with noises will break out through the gate of God's Kingdom.

Ask the Father in the Name of Iesou

John 16: 23 - 28 NKJV

At Cell Group Meeting, Wesley Methodist Kampar. Fri 29Sep2017

In that day - "I will see you again" (John 16:22)

Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give it to you (John 16:23)

Hitherto, you have asked nothing in My Name (John 16:24) - "ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full".

"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."

You will ask in My Name (John 16:26)

The authority of the Name of Iesou is explained in several other places, among which are :

Ephesians 1: 17 - 23, especially v 21, Iesou is given a Name above every other name by the mighty power of God.

 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Also in Philippians 2: 9 - 11, we read that God has highly exalted the Name of our Lord Iesou, such that at the Name of Iesou every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Iesou is Lord - to the glory of God the Father.

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Conclusion

Let us learn to ask from God our Father in the Name of our Lord Iesou Christou.

Iesou came forth from God His Father

John 16: 27,28 NKJV

". . . 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.”

I made this note during Cell Group meeting at Wesley Methodist Church Kampar last night.

It is noteworthy that our Lord Iesou made it clear to his disciples, and to others in his audience, that He came from God whom He called His Father.

Several other records of such statements are found in :

John 8:42 KJV

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 13:3 NET

Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

John 20:21 NASB

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

John 20:17 KJV

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Conclusion
Our Lord Iesou came from God - His God and our God, His Father and our Father.

The Helper sent by the Lord Iesou

John 16: 7 - 15 NKJV

These are part of my notes written during Cell Group Bible Study, Wesley Methodist Church Kampar, last night Fri 29Sep2017.

The discussion last night on John chapter 6 did not touch on this verses where our Lord spoke to his disciples about sending them a Helper after he leaves them. So I decided to write these notes down while the discussion continued on other points of John 16.

In John 5:7 we read that the Lord Iesou will send them a Helper. This Helper, also called the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), will carry out a three-fold task:

(1) The Helper will Convict the world (John 16:8 - 11)
 - of sin : because the world would not believe in the Lord Iesou (6:9)
 - of righteousness : because the Lord Iesou would be going to His Father (6:10)
 - of judgment : because the ruler of this world is judged (6:11)

(2) The Helper will Guide the disciples (John 16:13)
 - He will guide them into all truth
 - He will not speak on his own authority
 - Instead, He will speak only what he hears
 - He will tell the disciples about things to come

(3) The Helper will Glorify the Lord Iesou (John 16: 14,15)
 - He will take from what belongs to Iesou and declare it to the disciples (6:14)

"All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:15)

Conclusion:
Today we are reminded of the teaching of our Lord Iesou Christou that our Father will give the Holy Spirit to us when we ask from Him:

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Let us ask God for His Spirit to guide us and to glorify our Lord Iesou.