Equality: Jesus Only Does What . . .
“For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, [Jesus]
(The Gospel According to John 5: 18-19 NASB)
because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father,
making Himself equal with God.
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,
unless it is something He sees the Father doing;
for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
Today is Sunday, church-going day. Where will this day find you? Will you attend church? Will you choose to do, to go, somewhere else?
Today is the LORD’S Day, the Sabbath & first day of the new week. Will you allow God to lead you to church? What church will you attend?
As a child of God, we have one primary role: to follow Him, to serve Him, & to live out the purpose He has called us to live (aka—HIS WILL)!
People surround us on all sides: in our homes, at our workplaces, at the grocery, at the gas pumps, in our churches, in our weaknesses and in our strengths, on our worst days, & even on our best days. How we walk, How we talk, How we react, How we live—Matters!
Therefore, we must reflect Christ Jesus is ALL that we speak, do, and even in the very being of who we are.
However, even though this might seem overwhelming difficult (to be always on display), there are two truths we should remember.
- God was Jesus & Jesus was God. 100% EQUAL!
- God placed His Holy Spirit inside us the moment we responded: “Yes, Lord, forgive my sins, come into my heart, and be my Lord.”
- God surrounds us with His body, for the body of the church is JESUS’ body!
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually member of it.
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 27-31 NASB)
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they?
All are not prophets, are they?
All are not teachers, are they?
All are not workers of miracles, are they?
All do not have gifts of healings, do they?
All do not speak with tongues, do they?
All do not interpret, do they?
But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.”
Stop right here for a moment and ask yourself: What spiritual gift has God given to me? Then follow up that question with a second and maybe even more important question.
AM I WORSHIPPING GOD AS I USE MY SPIRITUAL GIFT FOR THE LORD’S GOOD?
The apostle Paul is crystal clear in his letter to the church living in the city Corinth. Once they gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus, God endowed them with His Holy Spirit, and then God equipped them with AT LEAST one spiritual gift. Yes, some Christians have received more, but this is because they have been faithful in using their first spiritual gift in service to the Lord.
EVERYONE—Every Christian is called to go into the world!
It is not a choice; it is a requirement given to Christians by Jesus, by God HIMSELF. For, we must never forget—Equality: Jesus Is Equal with God Himself!—
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,
(The Gospel According to John 5: 19b NASB)
unless it is something He sees the Father doing;
for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
- Jesus Only Does What the Father Does!
- Jesus Commands Us to Go Into the World!
- Jesus’ Command is a Command from the Father, from God Himself!
As we go, we are to share our testimony, our personal witness of how Jesus saved our soul.
As we work within the church, we are to work together as the body of Christ, which we are.
The Bible is crystal clear!
As we go & as we work with our brothers and sisters-in-Christ, we are to (as Paul explained) “earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.”
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 13: 4-8 NASB)
love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails;
but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away;
if there are tongues, they will cease;
if there is knowledge, it will be done away.“
So, in closing, what is the Word of God revealing to us: both Believers & Unbelievers?
Equality: Jesus Only Does What the Father Does!
Spiritual Gifts: All Believers Are Endowed With At Least One Spiritual Gift!
The More Excellent Way—to React, to Walk, to Speak, to Live—Is Through the LOVE of JESUS!
- God knows what we do not know!
- God knows everything!
- God is NEVER surprised by anything!
- God is NEVER without a solution!
NEVER, EVER! & Get This—
- God LOVES to show Himself to us through HIS LOVE for us!
- God LOVES for us to show Himself to others through HIS HANDS & FEET working through us!
Many within our world speak of the number thirteen (13) as being quite an unlucky number, but not our Father. Notice the way God demonstrates His perfection by revealing to us the number 13 in action.
“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three;
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 13: 13 NASB)
but the greatest of these is love.”