Jesus the Baptizer of the Holy Spirit

Jesus is still the baptizer of the Holy Ghost! What a precious gift to be treasured.

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Jesus the Baptizer of the Holy Spirit

 

Matthew 3:8  "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9  "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  10  "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  11  "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

Repentance of sin is necessary however we find a truth that John the Baptist spoke “He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”.  This is why it is said Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  This truth is solid and strong and often under preached by the church as a whole.

 

Mark 1:7  And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.  8  "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

 

Here is the second time God has it recorded, Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

 

Luke 3:15  Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,  16  John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

Here is the third time it is recorded in the Word of God that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.

 

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  30  "This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  31  "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel , therefore I came baptizing with water."  32  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  33  "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

 

This is the fourth scripture we are pointing out that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  It seems this is a very important truth according to the Word of God.  Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, is also the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  God made it a point to speak to John the Baptist!  'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

 

Acts 1:4  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;  5  "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

 

Jesus Himself speaks of the importance of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Here is the 5^th time we have demonstrated that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 2:32  "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.  33  "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

 

Jesus Himself poured out the Holy Spirit upon all of the 120 believers gather together on the day of Pentecost.  Here is the sixth time we find that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  What did they see?  The crowd said they were drunk.  What did they hear?  They heard them speak with other tongues.

 

Acts 11:15  "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.  16  "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

 

This is the seventh time we find that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  This time however it was referring to the first Gentiles who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 10:44  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  45  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  46  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

 

The Jewish believers were convinced that the Gentiles had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit because they heard them speak with other tongues, just like they did on the day of Pentecost.

 

Luke 24:49  "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

 

Here is the eighth time we have found in the word that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus sent it,  tarry until you are endued with power from on high. 

 

Acts 8:12  But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

 

One of the greatest revivals is found here in Acts 8 when Philip the Evangelist preached in Samaria .  They accepted the message of Jesus Christ and were baptized in water because of their faith in Jesus.  However up to that point none of them had been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 8:14  Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,  15  who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  16  For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  17  Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

 

The apostles heard that Samaria had indeed received the word!  They sent Peter and John to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.  It is evidences of two things; you must have saving faith in Jesus to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every believer.

 

Acts 19:1  And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth , that Paul , having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus . And finding some disciples  2  he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."  3  And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."  4  Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  6  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 

Here Paul ran into believers; his first question to them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?  Paul expected that every believer would be baptized with Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus laid a foundation in His earthly ministry in regard to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

Luke 11:1  Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  2  So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.  3  Give us day by day our daily bread.  4  And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."  5  And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;  6  'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';  7  "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  8  "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  9  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  10  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  11  "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  12  "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  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!"

 

Jesus was a man of prayer. As He was coming from a prayer meeting He taught His disciples to pray.  Starting with the punch line of verse 13, “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit it is time to ask, seek, and knock.  Jesus used the word persistence!  Paying for the Holy Spirit is imperative.  Jesus said there is a asking, seeking and knocking.  The pursuit of God needs to be given preeminence.  We must see the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a need we can not do without, ask, seek and knock!  Surely we must see it is the benefit of coming into the kingdom of God .

 

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

 

Every believer should hold in high regard this precious gift Jesus has given to His bride. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every believer!

 

2 Corinthians 4:6  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

 

We have this treasure in earthen vessel; the baptism of the Holy Spirit is so precious.  My five year old grandson was in a toy store with me.  He wanted Harold the Helicopter and I bought it for him.  He carried Harold around every where he went; however, a few weeks later I was sitting out on my front porch and there was Harold, abandoned out on my front lawn.  The value of the treasure had depreciated.  That is when God spoke to my  heart this verse!  The treasure of the Holy Spirit is what God has put in the earthen vessels, never let it be devalued.  Hold the gift of the promise Holy Spirit in high regard.

The Glory Of The Risen Son

God brought us salvation with His own right arm. God desires to put His Word in our mouths. It is His will to make us partakers of the benefits of the covenant of grace.

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The Glory Of The Risen Son

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Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

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God is a holy God! His hand is not short and is ear is not heavy; He can save and He can heal. The issue is and was the sin and iniquities of man have separated us from God.

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Isaiah 59:14 Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. 15 So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor;Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.

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Israel was walking in complete and total disobedience; God was disheartened with His people who had forsaken the covenant time and again. Justice was turned back; righteousness was far away. It was so bad, that those who tried to walk in truth were prey for the wicked. There was no man to stand in the gap; there was no intercessor for the children of Israel. Thank God this was and is not the end of the story. There is a “therefore” to be preached!

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Praise the Lord, the good news! God brought salvation with His own arm. His own righteousness sustained Him. The prophet Isaiah was speaking by the Holy Spirit of the coming of God’s grace. Where salvation was wrought by His own righteous arm.

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Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. 20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion , And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.

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The Redeemer will come to Zion; the Redeemer will come to Zion! When is this time that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him? When the Redeemer comes to Zion. Do we look for the time the Redeemer will come to Zion? Yes, let us look and know! When we know the time the Redeemer comes to Zion we will know the timing of our victory. The standard of God will be raised by His own right arm even when satan has come in like a flood. When will the Redeemer come to Zion?

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Isaiah 59:21 "As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore." 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

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The prophet Isaiah writes that the Redeemer will come at a time of covenant, the Redeemer will come at a timing of God’s Spirit being poured out. At that time, it will be time to arise and shine for our light has come for the gory of the Lord is risen upon us. God’s will is so clear, by covenant He wants to put His word in our mouth, our children’s mouth and our children’s descendants' mouth.

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John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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The prophet Isaiah was writing and pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ! The prophet Malachi also write of His coming.

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Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

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Jesus is the Son of Righteousness; the way to experience the glory of God is only through Jesus Christ. The greater the revelation of Jesus the greater the glory that has risen upon us.

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Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

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Here is the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah.

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Isaiah 20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion , And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.

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The Redeemer has come to Mount Zion . The covenant came with the advent of Jesus Christ. We have been transferred into the kingdom of God . You are a part of the general assembly; you are the church of the firstborn. Here in this covenant we have an innumerable company of angels; the angels of the Lord encamp around about those who fear Him. This Mount Zion is the place where the spirits of just men have been made perfect; it is where Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant! This is where the blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness of sin and so much more. You have come to mount Zion ; what great benefits are afforded in this new covenant where God puts His word in our mouth.

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1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

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With God's own arm He brought salvation!

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John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

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Yes God with His own arm of righteousness has provided righteousness for us, just as the prophet Isaiah had declared in Isaiah 59. This is the covenant of the greater glory.

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2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

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God calls us to be partakers of the greater glory! Jesus has made available the greater glory. Arise and shine for the light has come and the glory of the lord is risen upon you, just like the prophet Isaiah foretold.

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2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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Behold the glory; behold the Lamb of God. The greater the revelation of Jesus Christ the greater the glory.

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Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Awake you who sleep and Christ will shine upon you! Paul is directing his instructions to the believer! God calls His children to walk filled with the Spirit. Oh He wants to pour His Spirit out upon you!

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God has an order of things and He calls us to that order! If we want to walk in the fullness of His glory we must come by divine order. On the day of Pentecost Peter preach the salvation message declaring Jesus Christ. The King James Version declared the men were pricked in there heart. Then Peter gave God’s divine order.

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Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

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Here the divine order was established. Once you get a revelation of Jesus Christ repentance, water baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is the divine order. Do we want to walk in the greater glory we must receive the words of the Lord.

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Acts 2:33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

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Jesus is the Lamb of God that take away the sin of the world; Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit! God is calling all of His children to walk in the greater glory. If you want to experience the glory that has been revealed in Jesus, be a partaker of His covenant you have been birthed in. The standard has been raised against the enemy of our soul. Jesus Himself is the banner over every believer.

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The Measure of Faith

God has given to every man the measure of faith; what God has given is pure. God has called us to nuture the faith He has given us.

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The Measure of Faith

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Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

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There is nothing wrong with your faith believer! God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. What is the object of your faith? The word “faith has been twisted by so many; When defined by traditions of men or false doctrine it takes away from the purity of understanding of faith.

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Luke 7:8 "For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"

Luke 7:10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Matthew 15:26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." :28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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Two times in Jesus' earthly ministry He identified people’s faith as great! What do these two people have in common who had great faith? One was a woman one was a man. One was a mother, and one was a soldier. It seems these two could not be more different and yet they both had great faith. Both were Gentiles not under the law of Moses. Why would this be important?

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John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. … 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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The object of both this man's and woman’s faith was Jesus Himself! Great faith is having the object of your faith in Jesus Christ alone. The soldier and woman did not have the traditions of the religious Jews to tell them they were not qualified to receive. They heard and believed in Jesus! The object of their faith was in the One who is full of grace and truth. Jesus called their faith great! Grace is the divine influence upon the heart; it is the exclusive way to receive from God. As John the beloved wrote we have all received from Jesus’ fullness, grace for grace. There is no other way to receive from God in this covenant of grace.

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Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

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Many who begin to teach faith use this passage and rightfully so; however many read quickly over the 22^nd verse and teach on. We must have the object of our faith in God and God alone.

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1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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The victory that has overcomes the world; our faith! By bible definition overcoming faith has the object of ones faith in Jesus Christ alone. If the object of our faith is Jesus, there is nothing wrong with our faith.

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Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

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The Father Himself qualifies us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Oh that men and women would get a revelation of the goodness of God. Satan will try to lie and deceive the believer, telling them they are not qualified. “If you would have done it this way” or “If you would not have done that”. It is through the blood of the Lamb of God we have gained access and qualification the Father provided. There is nothing wrong with our faith and the Father qualifies us. If God be for you who can be against you?

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Matthew 18:2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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Jesus calls us to a child like faith! It is a shame we have allowed our theology to impede our faith; humbling ourselves as a little child make us the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Have you even seen a small child, with sweet abandon, jump into the arms of their father. Sometimes we disqualify ourselves because we have forgotten the “child like” principle of the kingdom of God . The child jumping into the waiting arms of the father shows they have absolute trust in their daddy. The object of their faith is completely in their father. The object of your faith must ever be in your heavenly Father; you can trust Him!

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Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

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Hebrews 11:1 starts with the word “now”. There has been false doctrine in consideration of this word “now”. Have you heard faith is “now” doctrine? It has taken the verse and made it read faith is now. The word “now “ in the text is not “now in time”; it is now in continuation. This “now” is written as a conjunction connecting the truth of the believing to the saving of the soul in the last verse of Hebrews 10 to the truths to be presented about faith in all of chapter 11. Now in time is a different Greek word than now as a continuation of the thought.

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Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Bible faith always connects the object of your faith being in God. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.

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Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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We must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Genuine faith seeks God Himself! Genuine faith is all about relationship with Jesus. Bible faith is reconciliation to God.

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2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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God has given the believer, by His divine power, all things that pertain to life and godliness. God has no second rate believers. God’s heart and plan is for all believers to be partakers of the divine nature.

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2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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God has given us all the faith we need; however there is a nourishing of our faith. Peter calls us to add to our faith. That word add is a furnishing and nourishment. Peter teaches the believer to nourish their faith.

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Matthew 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 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. 21 "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

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Jesus is recorded as saying “if you have faith as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move”. Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. The faith God has given is enough; however there is a adding to your faith. When the disciples could not cast out the demonic spirit Jesus pointed to relationship with God. This kind go out by prayer and fasting. Nourishing of faith comes from submitting ourselves to the word of God, prayer, and fasting.

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Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

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Relationship, relationship, relationship. Jesus Himself often would set Himself aside that He might spend time in prayer seeking the Father.

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Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

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We are living by faith and the good news of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith! There is nothing wrong with your faith; you can praise God that He has given you the measure of faith.

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1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

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Your faith is precious and although tested it will be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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Colossians 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

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The revelation is Christ in you the hope of glory; May the object of your faith ever be Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

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First Hand Revelation

We all need first hand revelation that we might know Him better.

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First Hand Revelation

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Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

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What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny; I write it often and yet it has not been overstated. Simon Peter had a first hand revelation that Jesus was the Messiah. The Messiah was the one who came to save! Jesus came full of grace and truth and if we are to walk in first hand revelation we must receive according to the divine order God calls us to. It must be personal and individual, we all need first hand revelation that Jesus is Messiah. Without that revelation there is no salvation.

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John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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With the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah we must understand that He came full of grace and truth. It is only from His fullness we can receive from God and there is no other way to receive from God. We receive from God by divine influence for divine influence. That is what grace is, the divine influence of God upon the heart of the believer.

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Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

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The revelation of Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and there is no other way. Jesus Himself declared I am the way the truth and the life and no man can come to the Father except through Me. God longs to make Himself known to us. It is His heartbeat. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself. Every believer has been called to walk in a first hand revelation of Jesus Christ.

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1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

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We need first hand revelation of who Jesus is and first hand revelation of His ways.

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2 Kings 6:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan ." 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

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Elisha had first hand revelation that God was on his side and could see the armies of God surround. However, his servant did not have the same revelation and the servant was standing in great fear. The prophet prayed for the servants eyes to be opened. At that point the servant gained first hand revelation.

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1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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Oh that we might walk in first hand revelation, that we have overcome because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. What you think of Jesus determines your destiny.

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Ephesians 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

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Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they might have a spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge of the Father. Oh that the church might have a first hand revelation that we might know Him better!

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1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

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Those who are of the world will not hear our testimony. Anyone who truly knows God will hear us. Those who are of the spirit of error refuse to hear our words and live by them. If you have first hand revelation you surrender to the word of truth preached.

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1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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First hand revelation gives us a revelation of the love God has toward us. The beloved John wrote “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Before we can love God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as ourselves we must have a revelation of how God loved us. This is the perfect love of God that cast out all fear.

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Revelation 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

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God was bringing correction to the church of Ephesus and He was rebuking them for leaving their first love.

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1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

When we have first hand revelation of God’s love we deny ungodliness and allow His love to compel us into right living

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1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

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Living in first hand revelation causes us to rejoice, pray without ceasing and be thankful. Living with first hand revelation knowledge of God causes us to flirt with and hunger to attract the Spirit of God in our lives.

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Psalm 30:4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

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God’s anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life! Revelation of the goodness of God leaves us with expectation of joy coming in the morning!

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Revelations 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

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First hand revelation gives you the knowledge that the prayers of the saints are stored up in heaven and poured out upon the golden heavenly altar at the command of God. Saint of God your prayer is mixed with the incense from the throne of God. So pray as you have never prayed before. The fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Keep on praying and believing; God is moved by your prayer.

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Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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First hand revelation causes the believer to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first.

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Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

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First hand revelation causes the believer to allow their speech to always be with grace, seasoned with salt. If our speech is seasoned with divine influence we will have a godly answer in our mouth.

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Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

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First hand revelation brings us to trusting, delighting, committing, and resting in the faithfulness of God.

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