“29 The next day John (John the Baptist) sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
30 This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me.
31 And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.
33 And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon Whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.” John 1:29-33
John the Baptist knew His Messiah was to come but he did not know it was Jesus until God revealed this to Him.
“15 He (JESUS) said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in Heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:15-18
It is upon the revelation of Who Jesus is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe that the Church is built. Man cannot reveal this to another. It is the Spirit of God Who draws all men unto Jesus when He is lifted up among the people. It is the Spirit of God Who draws His People, those “peculiar people” who are not perishing but live by the faith of the Son of God, ever closer as the Cross of Christ is lifted up to the camp.
This Gospel of which we preach is for WHOSOEVER will believe. If a person wills (wants) to believe, there is no devil in hell that can stop the Holy Spirit from piercing the heart asunder and discerning the thoughts thereof when the Word of God is preached. Man’s vain philosophies cloaked in Scripture God cannot sanction. They are nothing more than commandments of men being taught as Biblical doctrine.
“1 I (the Apostle Paul) charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom;
2 Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fable.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
These fables will not reveal Who Jesus is and what He did to a lost world and a dying church. No, not at all. Intellect will not reveal Jesus.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…the full counsel, rightly divided Word of God. It is the revelation knowledge of Jesus given ONLY by the Father to those whose heart is perfect toward Him, that God’s Church is built. The Lord discerns the heart of man, not our works. Whatever is not of faith cannot please God.
The revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will cause one to be determined to know nothing else among you. It does indeed cause His People to be a peculiar people. Our treasures are not of this world and therefore the world cannot understand. We know in Whom we have believed and am fully persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him. At times we too may feel like the voice in the wilderness but then we are quickly reminded of Whom led us out into the wilderness in order to bring us into the Kingdom.
Behold the Lamb of God. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. He is Alive. His eyes search the earth to and from seeking those whose heart is perfect toward Him that He may show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9).
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 