11/14/21

Life within reach (John 15:7)

Wow, Andrew Murray - what grace that's lasted over 100 years! I'm excited to start this series of books by him. Andrew Murray Collection on Prayer Humility, Absolute Surrender, the Ministry of Intercession, the Power of the Blood of Jesus and Others

In The-Ministry-of-Intercession-Andrew-Murray He confesses on behalf of every minister a general failure to believe God and simply live completely surrendered to him. 

Christ waits to fit us by His Spirit to pray as He would have us. This call, of course, brings me back to what I spoke of in connection with the former volume: that there is life in the Spirit, a life of abiding in Christ, within our reach, in which the power of prayer both the power to pray and the power to obtain the answer can be realized in a measure which we could not have thought possible before. Any failure in the prayer-life, any desire or hope really to take the place Christ has prepared for us, brings us to the very root of the doctrine of grace as manifested in the Christian life. It is only by full surrender to the life of abiding, by the yielding to the fulness of the Spirit's leading and quickening, that the prayer-life can be restored to a truly healthy state. 

In John 14-16 Jesus explains how he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in response to Thomas' question, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5,6)

THE TRUTH:

  • The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. (John 14:10)
  • Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11) - Key Christian Doctrine: Jesus is God's son (John 3:16)

THE PROMISE:

  • anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works (John 14:12)
  • You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13)
  • Question: Are you living in this reality of asking anything in Jesus' name and it's done? Have you asked God for something and witnessed him doing it? If not keep reading.

THE WAY:

THE TRUTH:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

The Advocate, Helper comes alongside and leads into ALL truth. Think of all the great truths that have been discovered since Christ rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit onto all people. 

Question: Have you experienced God in your heart as you've discovered the truth in your own life? Do you receive divine truth and recognize that it's not you but God showing you? 

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. 

Question: Why must we receive the Holy Spirit? Do you know the difference between other spirits and the Holy Spirit? Will you take the time to find out? Holy Spirit tactics vs the devil tactics 

THE LIFE:

But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17). 

Question: Have you ever known someone who demonstrated the love of God to you? Where they authentically love you on behalf of God and you knew it was true? Or maybe you had an experience where some terrible calamity was upon you and "for some reason" you were spared by some force outside yourself? Or some benevolent thing happened to you or your family that was life-giving or life-saving? This is the Holy Spirit who is with you. The life Jesus talks about is allowing the grace of God into your life. 

Christ changes me, my relationships benefit (Col 3)

Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Relational Grace: Loving kindness of Christ in me

Live the New Life in Christ

God promises to help me obtain the promises

Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)


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