Fulfilment of God's WillSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: The Holy Spirit who gave our Lord Jesus the knowledge and submission to God's will, both in the Garden of Gethsamne and later on the cross, is with you and within you even today. Think of that and strengthen yourselves. The Holy Spirit helped Lord Jesus at the worst phase of His temptations. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ offered Himself for sacrifice on the cross without spot to God (Hebrews 9:14). When He came into the world, He said, "I have come to do Your will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7,9). During His sojourn on earth, one day, a leper came to Him imploring Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean" (Mark 1:40). He immediately granted him the healing. Innumerable are those who received healing in this manner. One day, some Pharisees came and warned Jesus, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You" (Luke 13:31). But the Lord told them that He had to perform miracles and cast out demons according to God's will. In accordance with the divine will, He fed the five thousand with five loaves. Hebrews 10:10 says, "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
It was the will of God that He should heal the sick, drive out the devils and perform miracles. But, when it was time for Him to proceed to the cross, in accordance with the same God's will, He cried in anguish, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done". An angel came to comfort Him (Luke 22:42-44). At this point, the 'Eternal Spirit' within Jesus began to work. The Spirit of the Lord, which gives the fear of the Lord and supernatural knowledge, granted Him a divine knowledge as well.
"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God." (John 13:1,3)
The hour had come for Jesus to depart from this world. The Holy Spirit had shown Him that it was no good wrestling with God any longer. Moreover, the Father had given all things into His hands. The Holy Spirit said, "Jesus, Son of God! Hereafter, God would not speak out His will. To go to the cross or not is in your will; it is for You to decide."
To accept the most bitter happenings in our lives as God's will is the most difficult thing in life. On the 21st of May, 1986, my beloved daughter Angel succumbed to a tragic accident and left me sadly bereaved. Even though many years have passed by since then, there has not been a single day when I have not thought of her with angish. Seven days after her death, on 28th May, 1986, we buried her mortal remains. As I stood gazing at her lifeless body, there arose in my mind a poignant question, "Dear Lord! I labour for You in pain, day after day, doing Your ministry. I spend all my days in praying with tears for the thousands of people who seek my prayers. Why then did You take My beloved daughter's life? I cannot preach any longer that You are a loving God!"
Five weeks later, on 29th June, my wife, my son, my father and myself began our usual morning prayer. We sat that day for prayers as a matter of duty. Both my fractured hands were motionless and I could not even hold the Bible in my hand! It is only when troubles arise that the strength of one's faith is seen. Till then, we can boastfully testify to the triumphs of our faith. But while smarting with unbearable pain, our faith is blown to smithereens. I was also in that pitiable state that day. However, all of a sudden, the same Holy Spirit who was within Christ descended on us. In a moment, He filled all the four of us. The presence and power of Jesus descended there. Jesus spoke to us face to face, He posed to us a most striking challenge. "My son, would you leave Me because of this pain and agony or will you continue to preach about Me to the ends of the earth. Are you going to put Me to shame?" These words broke my heart! The Holy Spirit within us made us promise, "Lord! We will still continue doing Your ministry. We will continue to preach that You are a loving God!" A great peace settled in our hearts. By God's grace, we have resumed His ministry.
Dear friend, the same Holy Spirt who gave Son of God, Jesus, knowledge and fear of God, both in the Garden of Gethsamne and later on the cross, is in you even today. Think of that and fortify yourselves. He will grant victory to you. You may have temptations. Not all will have the same temptations. You will have temptations in the same place where the Lord makes use of you. Those who preach,"Jesus heals! will undergo sickness; Those who preach, "Holiness, Holiness" will get a strike right in that area! But the 'Eternal Spirit' is within us. He will surely open a door and grant us victory! Be not dismayed!
Prayer:
Most Heavenly Father,
This world brings more temptations in my life everyday. Please help me to overcome the temptations. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and enable me to grow more stronger in You. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |