323 - Jesus Has Accomplished Everything, What Should We Do?#
323 - Jesus Has Accomplished Everything, What Should We Do?
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Little Prince of Heaven)
Ephesians 2:13-19
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You! We are in Jesus Christ, and by the blood of Jesus, we have been brought near to You. You love us just as You love Jesus. We pray to You, and You will surely listen. As we begin this new week, You are willing to give us Your word, so that we can overcome in our lives through Your word. Thank You and praise the Lord! We set this time apart as holy, and may the Holy Spirit help us, renewing the thoughts and intentions of every brother and sister, so that we can all receive. Thank You and praise You! In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen!
Today's topic: Jesus Has Accomplished Everything, What Should We Do?
Some people, after receiving grace for a period of time, enter into extremes and say: Jesus has accomplished everything, so we don’t need to do anything.
Someone asks: What if there are things we need to pray about today?
They say: No need to pray, Jesus has accomplished everything.
What if I want to do this business, can I do it?
No need to worry, Jesus has accomplished everything.
Do we need to go to work today?
If I tell them no need to go, Jesus has accomplished everything. Is that okay? Clearly, applying God's words in this way is incorrect. The first part is correct; indeed, Jesus has accomplished everything. But we need to know what exactly Jesus has accomplished. Are there things we need to do now? Of course, there are. If Jesus has accomplished everything and we don’t need to do anything, then our existence in this world would be meaningless. At least you know one thing: when Jesus ascended to heaven on a cloud, the angels told the five hundred people below, "Men of Galilee! This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Then they told them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
Isn't this something we need to do? We cannot say that Jesus has accomplished everything and that if you believe in the Lord, you will eventually believe. If you don’t believe, it’s a waste of time. If we say that, does it mean we don’t need to do anything? Brothers and sisters, we need to correctly understand what Jesus has accomplished.
The scripture we just read says, "You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Where are you now? You are in Christ. This is something Jesus has accomplished. It also mentions that Jesus is our peace with the Father. We can say that Jesus is the peace offering. In the past, we were enemies with the Father; we could not accept His words, often committing sins and going our own way. The Father looked at us with great anger. But through His death, Jesus reconciled our relationship with the Father. This is what Jesus has done. Amen!
What else has He done? He has made us new creations. Today, you are not the same as you were before in front of the Father; you are living as a new creation. Therefore, Jesus on the cross abolished the enmity, making us one with God. Someone may ask: What benefit does this bring me? When we were enemies, did God listen to our prayers?
The Bible also says that God does not listen to the prayers of sinners. If you regard iniquity in your heart, the Lord will not hear you. It means that God does not listen to the prayers of sinners. Are you a sinner or a righteous person today? A righteous person, so God will surely listen to your prayers. This is what Jesus has done; it is accomplished by Jesus, and we have no merit in it. Amen!
What else? It goes on to say that we have access to the Father by one Spirit. You can come to the Father through the Holy Spirit. Is this also something Jesus accomplished for you on the cross? In the past, we had no right to come before God. If we dared to seek God, He would surely strike you down. But now, why can you come directly to the throne of grace to pray? Because Jesus accomplished redemption for you on the cross, so you can come directly before Him. Moreover, there is a guarantee: when you pray, God will surely listen and fulfill it in the best way. This guarantee is made by Jesus.
The nineteenth verse we just read says, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."
This is also something Jesus has done. In the past, we were enemies with God, outside the gates of His kingdom, outside of blessings. But now, through the blood of Jesus, through what Jesus did on the cross, He has brought you into the kingdom of His beloved Son. This is what God has done; this is what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and you have no merit in it. Amen!
Sharing the first point: Jesus accomplished salvation for us on the cross and prepared all blessings for us.
Today, I will share through three aspects: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, known in theology as the Trinity. Let’s see what the Father does. Although it is the Trinity, there is actually one God with three persons, appearing in different forms at different times to accomplish His work. Amen! Let’s first look at a passage of scripture.
Genesis 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Did you participate in this? This is the work accomplished by God. Has this work been accomplished? It is finished. God has prepared everything for you. You see that the world has many beautiful sights, delicious foods, and fun activities; these were all prepared by God long ago. You say: I finally discovered this thing. Is a computer amazing? Is quantum science amazing? God placed all these things in creation. If God had not placed these things in there, could you discover them? You would never be able to discover them. God placed these things in there and allowed you to see them, so you can know God's wonders. Every day, we observe God's wonders in the world. Amen!
Our lives are very wonderful. What will we do in heaven in the future? We won’t need to work; we will observe God's wonders every day. We will see what grace God gives you today, what new supply He provides, what wonderful ideas He has. This is what we will do in heaven; it is not painful at all, but a process of enjoyment.
God has prepared everything. The mountains, rivers, and beautiful scenery you see are all created by God. For those who love to travel, you can see that some places are truly amazing. Is that not created by God? The work of creation has already been accomplished. In this matter, you are not a participant but a beneficiary. Amen!
Today we say it is the holy day, the Lord's Day. Has God also set this day apart as holy? What is the purpose? He wants to tell you that after completing His work of creation, He ceased all work and rested. God's rest is not because He is tired, but because His work is finished. Today, we should also have a cycle, working for six days and resting on the seventh day. The next week is the beginning of a new cycle. Why is it like this?
Because this is how God created it. Since God said so, it must be the best way for our bodies to recover. Amen! If you choose to come to church on the Lord's Day, that is even better because God will restore your body through His words on this day and restore the strength within you. This is the work of the Father’s creation that has been completed.
So what does the Father do? We pray to the Father. The Father is the role of the Holy Father in the Trinity. His role is to plan and create. He plans to give beautiful things for people to enjoy. He has prepared everything and invites you to come and enjoy it with Him. But Adam sinned, and Adam chose to work hard to enjoy it, choosing another path. This is clearly the state of mankind today. However, our Father does not want people to live in various labors and troubles.
What should be done to solve the problem of sin? So God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to this world to solve the problem of human sin. As long as the problem of sin is solved, God can freely bless you. God sent His beloved Son into the world to solve our sin problem. Salvation is entirely God's grace; no one has any part in it. This is what Jesus accomplished.
2 Timothy 1:9-10
9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
What do we see through this passage? God saved us and called us with a holy calling. God calls us not because we are good enough, but because we have problems and need to be saved. He reveals to us the salvation He has already accomplished and says: Come! Accept Me, and you will receive salvation. Is this not the purpose of Jesus coming to the world?
He said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Those who believe in the Son have everlasting life, and those who do not believe will not see life. Jesus came to the world to tell you that if you realize your problem now, come to Me. I am your answer. I am your life. Come to Me, and I am your way. Come to Me, and you can walk the path to heaven and go to the Father.
Isn't this what Jesus did? In this matter, Jesus never said, "Come! Let’s go to the cross together." Today, many people teach that we should take up the cross with Jesus. Jesus never said that. Jesus means, "I took the cross for you. I have already accomplished it for you. If you believe that I paid the price for your sins, you don’t need to go up." This is what Jesus has done; this is called the gospel. Hallelujah! This is also God's grace and the will of the Father. Brothers and sisters, this will was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, which means our God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He knew that man would fail, but even after failure, God still has a way.
This is two different matters. It is not that God did not allow Adam to fail; God allowed him to fail. Just like in the parable of the prodigal son, did the father know what would happen to the prodigal son after he went out? Yes, but he still allowed him to go. Allowing is not the father's intention; it is because the prodigal son insisted on it. Just like Adam, God allowed him to eat, but it was not God's intention for him to eat that. It was his desire to eat, but God knew what the consequences would be after eating, and He had already told him. Yet he still did it. Some say, "I really don’t understand." I think parents can understand. It is clear that if the child continues down this path, he will suffer greatly. But the child says, "No! I must go. If you force me, I will sever ties with you."
Brothers and sisters, in such a situation, what should parents do? If parents truly love him, they must learn to let go. After he fails, you can comfort him, and perhaps he will understand what you meant at the beginning. Just like people say, "Only when you become a parent can you understand how it feels."
This saying is not without reason. However, at that moment, the young man cannot take it in. So God allows us to fail. We may not have a way after our children fail, and when the loss is too great, we will be angry and may even vent our anger on them. But the Father will not do that. After your failure, the Father will give you answers as long as you are willing to return to Him. After Adam failed, God, through Jesus, once again wants to give us salvation and blessings.
But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.
What does this mean? Salvation was already in the Father’s plan before the foundation of the world. It was only when the time came for Jesus that we saw the revelation of salvation. Amen! Just like some people believed in the Lord in the 1980s, some in the 1990s, and some in 2019. Does God know about these things? Yes, but it is just that you see salvation in this year; salvation is revealed to you. Your heart is opened at this moment, which does not mean that God was not prepared. God's salvation was prepared long before the foundation of the world. So after Adam sinned, God had already prepared salvation for him.
God made garments of skin for him to wear. Was that not salvation? That was already given to him as salvation. The answer was already prepared; it just depends on which path you choose. If you obey, you will always be on the path of blessings. If you disobey and fall into a pit, God will pull you up. But the process of falling into the pit is not what the Father prepared for you. Amen!
This is the different work of the Father and the Son. After Jesus came, He abolished death. When did death come? After Adam sinned, death became king. Now Jesus has come to abolish death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. So in Christ Jesus, you can overcome death. When you accept Jesus, you are no longer under the dominion of death. Some say, "But Christians still die?" No, to the world, it seems like they died, but in God's eyes, they have only fallen asleep. Hallelujah! After sleeping, one day they will wake up. Now we come to the Holy Spirit. Do you know what the Holy Spirit does?
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The Holy Father is the planning work, the Son is the work of completing the Father’s redemption, and what does the Holy Spirit come to do? To help you. After believing in Jesus, it does not mean you have the ability to live out a new life. When you cannot live it out, you need a helper, a source of strength, and this strength comes from the Holy Spirit. So at the moment you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart. If you learn to use the power of the Holy Spirit, you can live a different life. Hallelujah!
Verse 13 says, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."
As long as you hear and believe, you are saved. Since you believe in Him, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Brothers and sisters, this is a guarantee given to us by God. You do not need to ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon you every day. At the moment you make a decision to pray and believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in you and will never leave because this is your guarantee of salvation and your guarantee of inheritance. Do you know what inheritance is? God not only wants you to be saved; do not think that believing in Jesus is just for entering heaven. After believing in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in you and also allows you to receive an inheritance on earth and an everlasting inheritance in heaven. This is what God wants to give you. The Holy Spirit is to do this work; He wants to help you, comfort you, encourage you, and give you strength to live in this world.
Verse 14 says, "Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession."
Until when? Until our bodies are redeemed. This means that while you live in this world, every day the Holy Spirit will walk with you, will be with you, and will give you strength. The key is that you must let Him work. Many Christians do not acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit. Although they believe in the Lord, their lives are still similar to before, and they do not see what God is doing in them. This is actually because they lack the work of the Holy Spirit. If you are willing to let the Holy Spirit help us, for example, you can pray in tongues. You can pray in tongues every day, opening up many spiritual matters, and your understanding of God will increase.
Take reading the Bible as an example. If you do not have the help of the Holy Spirit, you cannot understand it. Including many things in the world, the Holy Spirit can penetrate all things. As long as you learn to use this ability, many worldly principles will become clear at a glance. Here, as long as you pray, you can understand the thoughts and intentions of that person. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Whether looking at the Old Testament or the New Testament, are there such people? For example, in the Old Testament, there were many prophets. Once, when Saul did not know what to do, he went to find a prophet, and that prophet knew it was him.
Brothers and sisters, such things are to tell us that the Holy Spirit can penetrate all things. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will inform you of certain matters in advance. Of course, as long as you keep praying, you can have similar experiences. This is a very simple matter because the Holy Spirit comes to do this work; He wants to help you understand God's words and the truth of Jesus Christ. Is this not what God does? Letting the Holy Spirit dwell in you is not about making you work hard; it is just that you are willing to let the Holy Spirit in, and the Holy Spirit will dwell in you.
Since this is the case, what has Jesus accomplished for us on the cross? The promise of healing. There are many promises in the Bible, about 1500 or so, all given to you. His meaning is to give them to you freely; as long as you believe, you can receive these blessings that God has already prepared. It is not that when you need something today, God says, "I don’t know about this; wait a moment while I prepare it." God has already prepared it long ago. When you need it, you just need to take it. Let’s look at the promise of healing.
1 Peter 2:24-25
24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
This passage is very interesting. Many Christians find it difficult to receive healing. Why is it difficult? Is it because of their own efforts or lack of faith? Actually, relying on oneself is not a difficult thing; it is an impossible thing. If healing is based on a mental idea, then it would be troublesome, and hospitals and medicines would be useless. Disease is disease; you cannot overcome it with spirit. Here God says that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. This means that when there is disease in the body, many times people realize their own sins. Many diseases are not caused by eating something or by carelessness; in most cases, they are related to the thoughts and intentions in the heart.
For example, anger. The current issue is that you realize that Jesus has already forgiven all your sins. He bore your sins on the tree. Realize that your sins have already been given to Jesus, and you will feel light. You need to realize that you are now living in His righteousness. You have died to sin. By His stripes, you were healed. What did you do when Jesus was whipped? This is the blessing that God has already prepared. Amen! When Jesus was whipped by the Roman soldiers, you may not understand. Perhaps when you watch "The Passion of the Christ," you will say, "How tragic!" But if you say, "He was whipped for my healing," you will receive healing. This is a promised blessing given to you.
How difficult is it to receive the blessings that God has prepared? Some say, "How exactly should I receive it?" It’s very simple: believe and pray, "Lord, give me this." Just like a child asking a father for something, "Father, I want that." As long as you understand, healing is received this way. Yes, "By His stripes, you were healed." He does not say, "By His stripes, you will receive healing if you ask." It says, "By His stripes, you were healed." Does He specify what kind of disease? It refers to everything. This is the work that Jesus has accomplished. You can say in the name of the Lord Jesus, "This disease leave me; it is not allowed to remain on me." Because you have the promise, God's promise, this is the work that Jesus has accomplished. You need to receive it, and once you receive it, it is yours.
This is why many people have diseases and feel distressed. As long as they repeatedly listen to the word, the illness disappears, depression disappears, anxiety disappears, and restlessness disappears. This is because they are filled with God's words. They realize God's righteousness, not their own sins. This is God's promise, and you can receive it. There is also the promise of prosperity.
3 John 1:2-3
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
This is a passage written by John. John encourages us, saying, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things." What does it mean to prosper in all things? Does it mean everything goes smoothly? No, prospering in all things means that in every situation, God gives you the strength to overcome. No matter what you encounter, God will elevate you to continue moving forward.
In the kingdom of heaven, it is not a wave-like pattern; it is always moving upward. This is called prospering in all things. Perhaps you do not understand your life now, but remember that from the moment you believe in Jesus, your life is always moving upward. It is always moving upward. In the kingdom of heaven, it is always moving upward. Some people may move slowly, some may move quickly, and some may be moving forward while standing still, but they are still moving forward. "I pray that you may prosper in all things" means that no matter what you do, God will be with you and will help you. You must believe this.
Being in health, is this not God's promise? God promises that you will be a healthy person. Hallelujah! Can you pray for your health? In the name of the Lord Jesus, my body is healthy. I receive Your health. As a new day begins, I command all signs of aging to leave me in the name of the Lord Jesus. You can pray like this; it depends on whether you believe. If you say, "Can a person not age? When you reach fifty, you will have wrinkles." Okay! God will accomplish it for you. You say, "When I reach sixty, I will still have no illness; surely there will be some minor ailments." Okay! You will definitely see it.
The problem is that there are many people in the Bible who have experienced reverse aging. For example, Sarah, a model for sisters, at ninety years old, was as beautiful as a young girl because two kings were attracted to her, and both were worldly kings. What beautiful women have they not seen? Why were they attracted to Sarah? She was indeed beautiful. Perhaps one day when we get to heaven, we will see what she looks like. What did she rely on for her maintenance? Was there such advanced cosmetics back then? No, it depends on whether you can receive this blessing. If you say, "It is too late to have a child at fifty." That is certainly the case. You have already issued such a command and prophecy to your body. If you say, "There can be no menopause in my life," then there will be none because God's promise to you is that your body is healthy. First, it is health; second, it is strength. Hallelujah!
Just as your soul prospers. What does this mean? It means that the part of your soul that prospers determines the part of your body that prospers. How you think in your mind will determine what your body becomes. Now, first, you must change from your mouth. You must first believe that God wants you to prosper in all things and be in health. You say, "I have been doing business for a long time, and there has been no improvement." When there is no improvement, how do you think? Do you say, "If it doesn’t work, I’ll change to something else?" That means you have already given up. You say, "If it really doesn’t work, let’s see if there are other methods." Brothers and sisters, instead of looking for things, it is better to come before God and seek His wisdom.
Why do some people develop diseases, and when doctors say there is no way, they finally come before God? They stop doing everything else and pray before God. At that time, they have time and content for prayer. In the past, they said, "I don’t know how to pray; I don’t have time." Generally speaking, those who say they don’t have time are usually the ones who are close to death. At that time, their faith in God is particularly strong. Why? Because their focus is solely on God. Because people have given you the final ultimatum, there is no way out, you realize that Jesus is your only way out, and you find that this path is particularly effective.
So why not take this path from the beginning? If you develop the habit of coming to God in prayer first when encountering problems, even when facing waves and issues, still believe that God makes me prosper in all things and be in health, and believe this in any environment, then God will let you see that the final result is beautiful. Because it is not just one place in the Bible that tells you this; God also said that all things work together for good to those who love God. Can this word be fulfilled in you? You must believe this. The key in the New Testament is just one word—faith. If you believe, you will see this promise fulfilled in you. Amen!
There are brethren who testify of the truth that is in you.
If you want to prosper in all things and be in health, you must first let the truth dwell in your heart. You say, "I hope my body is healthy." But if you don’t eat a single bite of food, how can you be healthy? This means you must first store this truth in your heart, meditate on it repeatedly, and then act according to the truth. Prosperity in all things and health will surely be fulfilled in you. Some time ago, I shared the story of Joshua. Joshua was leading the Israelites, and everyone knows it is not easy to lead them. In front of them was the city of Jericho. What should they do? At that time, God told Joshua, "I will be with you. You need to do one thing: meditate on My words day and night, and then you will have good success." So Joshua must have meditated on God's words. Therefore, when he encountered such a powerful enemy in Jericho, God told him, "Lead the people around the city for seven days, once a day, and on the last day shout, and it will be accomplished."
Isn't what God said particularly simple? If you constantly meditate on God's words and act according to them, the results you see will also be particularly simple. The key is one word: faith. This is the work that Jesus has accomplished. You do not need to strive anymore. Some people rely on effort to maintain their health, like taking health supplements, which can temporarily keep the body youthful. But once you stop taking them, it can be quite scary. But what God wants to give you is beautiful at all times. Hallelujah! Human efforts have many side effects, but the things God gives you are promises that you can receive by faith, not by striving to seize them.
John said, "I see that you have the truth of God in your heart, and you walk in the truth." John understood this truth when he was old. He knew the power of truth. When John was young, he had a fiery temper. He was called the "Sons of Thunder." If someone disagreed with him, he could fight with you. The people in Samaria did not accept the gospel they preached, and he said, "Teacher! Should we pray for fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" Did he have faith? Yes, but his temper was too explosive. But in his old age, he understood God's love. Was he not healthy? At nearly one hundred years old, he told us such words: God hopes that you prosper in all things and be in health.
Some elderly people who have lived long lives have been interviewed and asked, "What is the secret to your health and longevity?" They tell you, "Drink more of this spring water." People start to go crazy buying their water. But now an elderly person tells you: "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." You do not need to run to the foot of the mountain to drink that water; you can also be healthy and strong.
People overlook this. They say, "I have to buy that water that has gone through many layers of purification." This is fine, but there is a better way: every day, let God's words become the food for your soul, and your body will naturally change. Thank You and praise the Lord! This is what God gives us. Since you believe in the Lord, this gospel not only saves you but also changes your life. This is the blessing that God has already prepared; you just need to receive it.
Sharing the second point: We live by this grace.
As mentioned earlier, since God has prepared so many blessings for us, abundant grace, healing, and prosperity, what should we do? Jesus has accomplished everything; do we need to do nothing? It seems not. Look at the first point: to live in harmony with others.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
The central meaning of this passage is to know that in the past, we were enemies with the Father. Jesus made the peace offering, reconciling us with the Father and making us one. God has made you a new creation. You are clothed with the robe of Jesus' righteousness, and you can use Jesus' authority in the world. Since you are such a person, what should you do in the world? You should live as a representative of Christ, bringing peace to others wherever you go. Amen!
There are many negative examples in the world. A couple may have a small conflict, and when she goes to mediate, they end up getting divorced. A group of people who were originally harmonious start to distrust each other after one person enters, and they eventually break apart. A church that was originally harmonious quickly disbands after someone enters. Are there such people? Big mouths can say anything, even fabricating things to show off their eloquence. This is not the peace offering. Jesus wants us to live out His pattern in the world as a peace offering, making enemies become one, no longer counting past matters against each other, shaking hands and loving one another. This is the peace offering, and it is our responsibility entrusted by God. Amen!
So brothers and sisters, we just need to continually receive Jesus' promises, receive Jesus' grace, and then live out that grace, and we will surely bring peace to others. After Jesus comes to your home, is it not more harmonious? This is the fruit of the word. Hallelujah! Unlike in the past, when the home was cold and lacked warmth, after you believe in Jesus, you pray for your family every day and for yourself, allowing life to grow. This love starts from you, expanding continuously in your home, until your home is filled with the love of Christ, and it becomes completely different. I know too many testimonies where entire families have changed and become more harmonious because they have heard such words. This is the first point: living by grace and living out a harmonious lifestyle with others. Now let’s look at the second point of what we should do.
John 14:12-15
12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
God has prepared all blessings for us, one of which is that when you encounter something, you should pray to Me. As long as you pray, whatever you ask will surely be accomplished. Is this not a promise? Based on this promise, what should you do? Pray. Do not say that since you believe in grace, you no longer need to pray. Jesus has accomplished everything; this is where the problem arises.
Brothers and sisters, when we encounter problems, do we still need to pray? What counts as prayer? Some say, "I don’t know how to pray." Actually, it is very simple; it is like chatting with your best friend. Do you need to write a manuscript? Just chat casually; say whatever is in your heart. You should do the same with the Father. Say whatever is in your heart, whether you are sad or happy. This is prayer. When you speak, God knows what you want and will accomplish it for you. Moreover, if you truly need it, God will accomplish certain things for you.
Here it says, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." That means when we pray, we should say, "I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus," which is to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. Amen! And you must believe that when you pray, God will surely accomplish it. Some say, "Many prayers have not been accomplished." In fact, this is a misunderstanding. We think that it has not been accomplished because it did not happen exactly as we prayed. But God accomplishes it in another form because God knows what is best. He will give you the best; He will not give you anything harmful. God will surely accomplish it. Since God said it, He will surely accomplish it. Prayer is what we need to do. Hallelujah!
It is not through prayer that we move God to accomplish things for us; it is that you believe. This is our life. He is my Father, my best friend. In life, there must be your best friend. You want to share something with Him. This is communication. Our relationship with the Father is the same. It is not every time you think of speaking to move Him to accomplish something; it is that you believe He has already accomplished it, so you are willing to speak to Him, knowing that He is happy to hear your prayers. That is enough. Such prayer is very pleasant; it is not a task or an assignment; otherwise, it becomes burdensome.
Verse 15 says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
What are Jesus' commandments? To love one another, and when you encounter something, pray to the Father, and He will surely accomplish it for you. Hallelujah! There is also the proclamation of His name.
Colossians 1:28-29
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Why do we preach Him? Because the Lord is truly good. It is not because God said to preach Him that we preach Him; it is because we have truly felt His love and experienced His power. We are willing to preach Him and are eager to share with others. If we do not preach, we feel particularly uncomfortable. We preach Him using all wisdom. Everyone is different; there is no fixed format for evangelism. You can use your knowledge and wisdom. In short, as long as you can explain Jesus, that is enough.
Admonishing everyone means that if others go astray, you should admonish and teach everyone using the truth. But what is it? It is to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus before God.
Our work is to evangelize. Just remember one principle; the rest of how to do it is not important. The content and method do not matter; just remember this principle. Now, if this person has a problem, you need to bring him before God and let him look to Jesus on the cross. That is enough. This is preaching. A preacher does this. We just use more professional biblical language and truth. If there are no such truths, just say as much as you understand. Use your most ordinary words, as long as he can take it in, and let him rely on Jesus. This is simple.
Bring this person before Jesus. Can Jesus heal him? Can He change him? That is all that matters. This is what we need to do: preach Him. Just bring people before Jesus and let them look to Jesus. Hallelujah! Are there not many ways to do this now? For example, I have preached many sermons in the past, covering various aspects of life and touching on various truths in the Bible. As long as you listen repeatedly, the problems will be solved, and it will be much easier than before.
"I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."
Preaching God's words requires diligence. Amen! Is this not what we need to do? We cannot say that Jesus has accomplished everything, so I don’t need to do anything. That is just making excuses for laziness. Many people want to see miracles while lying in bed every day, saying, "Lord! Let me see a miracle." God says, "There are no miracles." The miracles you want are certainly at the scene of ministry, that is, when you preach the gospel and encounter problems, pray to God, and you will see miracles. Hallelujah! When you reach out and pray for a sick person, you will see miracles. If you say at home, "Lord! Show me a miracle," you will never see it. We need to proclaim God's name to see various works of God. Finally, let’s look at a passage of scripture that is a practical application in our lives.
Colossians 3:18-24
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
It seems that you are working in the world, but in reality, if you look at the world through spiritual eyes, everything is related to the Lord. Our Lord always gives you opportunities to receive rewards. Here it first mentions wives. How should the husband and wife relationship be? Therefore, we live by grace. It is related to us. Since we are under grace and are called children of grace, we should live a life that matches our identity, which is beneficial to you.
How should wives behave? Submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. This matches your identity. How should it be fitting? Submission does not equal yielding; those are two different things. This means that submission is conditional. If what he says aligns with the Bible, you should listen. If he tells you to kill or commit arson, should you go? No, you should pull him back. This is the wisdom of being a wife. Submitting to your husband means not opposing him. Since women are the softer side, you should assist him with this year. This is a fitting thing in the Lord.
Verse 19 says, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them."
Brothers, do you know how to live? Love your wives. Do not reason with them. Men are particularly rational. They always want to say what is right and what is wrong, and what is not in accordance with the rules. Do not lecture your wife on rules; that is useless. The home is not a place for rules; it is a place for love. Just love her. Do not be bitter toward her. Although men have strength, do not use strength against your wives.
Verse 20 says, "Children, obey your parents."
This mentions the relationship between children and parents. Children should obey their parents in all things. Here it also mentions that obedience is based on the foundation of God's words. You cannot listen to everything that is completely wrong. You still need wisdom. Do not directly confront them; we need to be wise and gentle. This is pleasing to the Lord. It goes on to say, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." God created our bodies and understands our physical and soul structures very well. It does not mention "you mothers," but it says, "You fathers, do not provoke your children." Generally, it is the father who can make the children very angry, but they feel helpless. Generally, children are not afraid of their mothers, but in most cases, they are afraid of their fathers. So it says here that fathers should not provoke their children.
What is the consequence of using force against children? You know, children lose their ambition, lose their ideals, and dare not do anything. This is not the result you want to see. Many children in families are condemned and end up unable to do anything, not daring to do anything. They can only play games and surf the internet at home because they have been scared. This is related to the parents.
Verse 22 says, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh."
This mentions work. How should you behave at work? Do not think that your boss has a bad temper; that is his business. If you work for him, you must listen to him. Because it says here, "Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God." You need to know one thing: although the boss has a bad temper, when you come to this company, God will bless this company because of you. Amen! You are not serving him; you are serving the Lord. It is a two-way relationship. God, through him, gives you the wages you need, but God also, through you, brings blessings to him. You are serving each other. Of course, you cannot tell him this. If he is not a believer, just know how things are in your heart. When you do this, God will, at the right time, move you to another place. In your current environment, it must be that God wants to cultivate you or expand your capacity, build your character, and let you receive greater blessings. This is a life suitable under grace.
Our principle is that whether it is children, parents, or work, no matter what you are in, verses 23-24 say, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."
Remember, you are not working for your boss; you are doing things for the Lord. Amen! For those in business, do not think you are so great; you are merely managing money for the Lord. When teaching children, do not say that children are your possessions; you are just a steward of God's inheritance. Amen! Since we are stewards, we must manage and teach them according to God's way. When you think this way, everything becomes very simple. This is a life under grace. This is what we need to do. "Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance." Whether at work, in business, or teaching children, in short, everything should be seen as being done for the Lord.
Just like I serve you, if you have any problems, you come to me, and I serve you. I will not think that my ability is great, helping you, hoping you will be grateful to me and look up to me. No, I serve you because the Lord gives me this opportunity, and God will reward me. Amen! When you do things, do not expect people to understand you or give you some benefits. Set your eyes on God. This is a life under grace. If you live like this, you will surely see greater blessings because you serve the Lord Christ. Amen! I hope today's sermon can help everyone.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You! Thank You for using such words to let us know that Jesus has accomplished everything. We should live by receiving Your promises in Him, through prayer, declaration, and through the experiences of our daily lives, observing God's works. The Lord has already placed the Holy Spirit in me, allowing the Holy Spirit to help me. Every day, I can live by the power of the Holy Spirit, relying on the One who gives me strength to do all things. I live in this world as a representative of Christ. Lord, I am a channel of Your blessings. You place these blessings upon me, and I receive Your blessings to live. Thank You and praise You! As a new week begins, I believe You will bless the work of my hands, no matter what I am doing or what difficulties I encounter. When I pray to You, You will surely listen because this is Your promise to me. I believe and receive it, holding on to this promise. Thank You and praise You! Bless all the work that brothers and sisters do. Hallelujah! In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!