What is it that Distance Us from Our Destiny? (Part 2)

It was not only Jesus who had this privilege though.

During His three years of ministry Jesus taught His disciples a lot of theory and practical stuff. They really saw and heard plenty of good knowledge. After three years in the best Bible School ever the disciples were well equipped, but were still puzzled:

“Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying....,

They kept asking, ‘What does he mean by ..... We don't understand what he is saying,’ (John 16:17, 18).

And then suddenly...:

“Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

‘You believe at last!’ Jesus answered,” (John 16:29-31). They  had seen  Jesus in action and heard the magnificent teachings, but it  was all on the outside and observed by the natural man. Eventually they believed in Jesus - after three years in His dynamic presence. This was the moment of their rebirth.

But still they were not ready yet. The day came when Jesus got arrested: “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled,” (Matthew 26:56). Shortly after that we learn that Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus.

In Acts 2 we read that these same weak and powerless disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and then the powerful book, The Acts of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, were written. We read that after the message of that same denier, Peter, the following happened.

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.’

 “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” (Acts 2:38-41).

What power! What results! How many Christians today can claim such results? And they were ordinary men as we see later in Acts 4:13: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

What has it got to do with you?

You have the choice what you want from life. Paul said: “‘Everything is permissible for me’--but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’- but not everything is constructive,” (1 Corinthians 10:23).

We can therefore choose to, like any good Christian, live a mediocre life by going about our business in privacy. We may even yield to the danger that goes with mediocrity namely the temptation of the three desires:

=The desire to satisfy his flesh. 

=The desire for power.                   

=The desire for material riches.

Why did Jesus not yield to these temptations? It was because He was completely fulfilled in all his desires through the perfect presence of the Holy Spirit. He simply did not need more than that, because the Holy Spirit’s presence and help in accomplishing his purpose for living, finishing what he was sent for, brought complete contentment and satisfaction. How would you like that?

Our second choice therefore is to, just like Jesus, receive and then fulfill our God given desires through the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and then continuously learn from Him, through the Word and his quiet voice in your heart.

The desire to satisfy the flesh will then change to a desire to satisfy the Lord, through service to our neighbor’s flesh. The desire for power will be satisfied by seeing the power of God in action through love. And finally the desire for temporary, earthly riches will be replaced with a desire for heavenly riches.

The more time we spend with the Holy Spirit, the more we will become and act like Jesus.

Why did Jesus speak so strongly against the power of money (Matthew 6:24)? It is because money fulfills the three desires instead of the Holy Spirit. Let us rather invite the Holy Spirit to fill and fulfill us. Then we will be able to finish the race and complete the task given to us (Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7) .

Please read Acts 19: 1-6. They were believers, but had no power. It must have been obvious, hence why Paul asked them. 

Have you received the Holy Spirit? If not, pray with me now:

“Holy Spirit, I believe in Jesus, but I have no power. Please fill me with your presence and power so that I can have understanding of God’s Word and hear your quiet voice as a guide in my daily life. I undertake to spend lots of time with you, delighting myself in the Lord so that your desires may become my desires”, (Psalm 37:4).

You may not feel anything right now, but just start chatting with the Lord, reading his Word and see what He does for you.

Holy Spirit, I have written, only you can reveal the truth to the reader. Please do so.