How Are You Treating Jesus?
March 20, 2024
How Are You Treating Jesus?
3.20.2024
Unity creates an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
The Holy Spirit can manifest the presence of Jesus to individual hearts.
He can also manifest spiritual gifts.
1 Thessalonians 5:19(NKJV)
Do not quench the Spirit.
Amplified
Do not quench or suppress or subdue the Holy Spirit
A.S.Way
In your church gatherings do not repress manifestations of the Spirit’s gifts.
(Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary)
The peace, order, and edification of the saints were evidence of the ministry of the Spirit among them, 1 Cor. 14:26, 32, 33, 40, but if, through ignorance of His ways, or through failure to recognize, or refusal to submit to, them, or through impatience with the ignorance or self-will of others, the Spirit were quenched, these happy results would be absent. For there was always the danger that the impulses of the flesh might usurp the place of the energy of the Spirit in the assembly, and the endeavor to restrain this evil by natural means would have the effect of hindering His ministry also. Apparently then, this injunction was intended to warn believers against the substitution of a mechanical order for the restraints of the Spirit.”
Kenneth Hagin mentioned that when he traveled from church to church in the 1950’s, the Holy Spirit would manifest in one church, but not in another.
He said in both churches, the people loved his ministry and his teaching, but in some he just could not get the Holy Spirit to manifest.
Kenneth Hagin said that he learned later that if there were division and disunity in a church, the Holy Spirit would not manifest Himself.
Today, demonic forces are seeking to pit believers against one another.
If we are divided, the Holy Spirit will not manifest.
Notice in Acts that the Holy Spirit manifested in an atmosphere of unity:
Acts 1:12-14 (NKJV)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:23-31 (NKJV)
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.’ 27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:32-33 (NKJV)
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
Acts 5:12-16 (NKJV)
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The way we treat other members of the body of Christ is the way we treat Jesus.
Acts 9:1-5 (NKJV)
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Matthew 25:34-40 (NKJV)
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NLT)
I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
In a time of great individualism, God wants us to become conscious that we are a body of believers that create a place for Him to work.
Totally crossgrain to the atmosphere today…
Are you willing to work with us as a body of believers?
Are you willing, for the sake of your spiritual life, to deny yourself and commit to the family of a local church and become involved in helping, not just consuming?
There will be things you don’t like, but that is part of the process of growing spiritually…
Your bones get denser through challenge – exercise. Your heart too!
Grass, vegetation tempers itself when challenged by climate…
We grow when things don’t go our way. We are tempered.
Action Points:
- Are you helping create a sense of unity in your church, or are you creating division by how you treat others and how you speak of them?
- What would Jesus say about your attitude towards and words about others in the church you attend?
- Would you say to Jesus what you say to other believers? Would you treat Jesus the way you treat other believers?
- What do you need to change about you to help create a sense of community in your local church?