(Read John 12:47-50)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” Yesterday we started a passage in John 12. We will pick up where we left off today.
Jesus said, “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You are an Ambassador of heaven. Ambassadors carry the message, but the weight of the message comes from whom they represent. Jesus was representing the Father. He was simply saying whatever the Father told Him to say. So if the people rejected His message, they were not really rejecting Him, they were rejecting the Father, and there would come a day when they would be judged for that rejection. Likewise, God has called you to be an Ambassador of heaven. He will give you the message, and your job is to deliver it. When people reject you, they are not really rejecting you, but rather God Himself, and they will have to give account for it one day. So simply say what He tells you to say and the let God deal with what happens next. But just remember, as an Ambassador of heaven, you must represent your Kingdom well. So enter this day with your head held high, you are a child of the Most High God!
2. God will tell you where to go, bring you before the right people, and then tell you what to say. Jesus was led where to go so he could meet the right people and the Father then gave Him the right words. God will do the same for you. All you need to do is accept the assignment. As you minimize yourself, God will maximize Himself through you.
3. There is power behind God’s words. Jesus said whatever the Father led Him to say, therefore He was confident that His words led to eternal life, and He knew His God-given words were full of Spirit and life (John 6:63). Likewise, when God tells you to repeat something from His Word, or when His gives you fresh words to speak to someone, those words are just as powerful as the words Jesus spoke. God-given words through you are full of Spirit and life, just like they were through Jesus. Not in your power, but in God’s power. Not because you are perfect, but because of God’s grace. God can use you just like He used Jesus!
4. Life is simpler when you die to self. It’s easier to know where you are going when you have someone you are following. Most of you know I serve in the United States Army. I have duty description for my position, I have several facets to my job, but at the end of the day my job is simple. I do whatever my boss needs me to do. That’s it. It’s that simple. There are times when my boss asks me to do things that are not in my duty description, but I don’t concern myself with that. I simply do whatever he needs me to do. This makes my job simple. Similarly, life becomes more simple when we surrender to God to the point where we simply do whatever He tells us to do. This might mean that you have to change what you planned to do. So what? This happens all the time at work. Why do we give our natural bosses more flexibility and submission than we do God? Making plans is good, but if God leads you another way, then go with God. You can never go wrong following God!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making me an Ambassador of heaven by Your grace. I don’t deserve to represent You or Your Kingdom, here in the earth, but Jesus made me worthy. Jesus qualified me by grace and accept the appointment. I represent You everywhere I go. I submit to You every day, in every way. I minimize ME, so You can maximize YOU through me. You bring me before the right people, at the right times, in the right places, and You then give me the right words to say. I say whatever You lead me to say, knowing that I do not have to back up Your Words. You have the power to back up Your Words and You will never let Your Words fail. If people reject what You give me to say, they are not rejecting me, but rather You, and they will have to deal with You concerning it. I simply say what You tell me to say and I believe Your Words, through me, have the same power they had when they were coming through Jesus. I am just like Jesus. I only say what You tell me to say. I only do what You lead me to do. And my life is simple. I know where I am going, because I know who I am following. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
