The Essential Doctrine of Christ Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town. When we say we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation we need to examine the attributes of Jesus Christ’s doctrine to be true to our calling and know the truth that sets us free. In Journey 37 of Christ Jesus mentions doctrine: Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. Joh 7:17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. Joh 7:18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. So attributes of Jesus’ doctrine from this passage include: Know God Sent You “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” The Doctrine is not His but belongs to Him Who Sent Him. We are sent ones – apostles of the faith, ambassadors of the kingdom of God sent on a mission to make disciples and show God’s love. We need to understand the value of being sent like the apostles in the Book of acts and then returning with reports of God’s works wherever we preach with signs and wonders following. Saul and Barnabas are good examples of accountability. Know True Doctrine through Willingness and Obedience “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine” We have learnt from the prophet Isaiah, “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19 There is a combination of willingness and obedience. As a child one does things because your parents tell you to do them, but later you understand why it is necessary. “Clean Your Room” and the ensuing rush to stuff everything into the closet reveals a general lack of willingness. Then when you need to find a sock the avalanche hits and you end up being late for an important appointment. My Dad always told us to get shoe boxes and place different types of clothing in specific compartments – like socks for instance. A simple strategy but effective enough to get you set for the day. Anyone who has ever put on two socks of different colour will be grateful for such a reformation! But what about the weightier matters of the spirit and soul? Maybe there is more room in our prayers and petitions for willingness of heart and a change of attitude The most powerful prayer one can pray is “Lord change me!” Prayer changes things but the thing that changes most is …YOU! There is also the comforting fact that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13. Jesus’ doctrine and lifestyle lined up together – he had to learn obedience too by the things that He suffered. Read through this passage in Hebrews and see how the attributes of Jesus’ character lined up with His doctrine: Heb 5:7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, Heb 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. The Good News about suffering is that it is not forever and that it teaches us obedience under pressure. That obedience generates a a good estimation of oneself according to the measure of one’s faith – a sane estimation as Romans puts it. Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross. Philippians but then God highly exalted Him and gave hi the name above every other name. As we follow Christ we get onto the same HIGHWAY of holiness: SUFFERING – OBEDIENCE –HUMILITY-HONOUR I read in Proverbs recently: Pro 15:19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. Wow! Have you weeded your garden after winter and seen how quickly thorns form hedges? It takes a systematic and consistent approach to weed a garden in preparation for summer so that you can enjoy the outdoors. Thorns speak about sin, but the Good News is that Jesus took the thorns on his brow for us – he redeems our land from the curse – geographically and spiritually. By His stripes we are healed – by His thorns we are redeemed from the curse on the earth. Once that curse is removed, there is a better chance of being fruitful for Jesus and that is what he said we should be looking for in spirituality – you will be known by your fruit! The laziness of allowing thorns into one’s life can be combated with diligence in worship led by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is faithful to reveal weeds in our lives! There is a stage in spiritual life where your will becomes entwined with God’s will. It is not a case of wondering what the will of God is anymore – it is rather an inward awareness of God’s Word activated to remembrance by the Holy Spirit every day. Doctrine is not a problem if you want to do God’s will. Let’s take Baptism for instance: He said be baptised so if you are willing and obedient in baptism, you will eat the good fruit of baptism which is the burial of that old sinful you and the resurrection of a new creature fulfilling all righteousness and being filled with the Holy Spirit, pleasing God by faith. How about Praise and Worship? Isaiah reveals that we can put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. When we feel weighted down by responsibility and work do we stop, become willing and obey to praise God where we are? Do we use that antidote for depression? Are we willing to praise God without worrying what people say? Have you ever just walked down the street and lifted up your hands in praise to God? Give it a try and feel the heaviness leave. Now the doctrine on praise and worship was preached to you and faith has risen in your heart. As you willingly obey in the inward urge of the Holy Spirit to act on your faith that praising God will deliver you from heaviness it actually happens and you are free. Now you also know that it works and that doctrine is from God. Be Known as a true sent one that glorifies God “He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true” Dr Gray taught his students at Miracle Valley Bible College not to worry too much about their exact motives for being at Bible College or for doing something for God, the Word of God would discern the thoughts and intents of the heart anyway and reveal what is soul and spirit, joints and marrow. But the Holy Spirit is there to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment and He will gently remind you of the Chief Cornerstone of the Church Jesus Christ. Christians are enthusiastic about their God and we sometimes tend to get carried away with excitement. But through experience and the things we suffer we learn to “check in” with Him as we walk. Before you board a plane you need to “checkin” and all the details are monitored and verified. Are your spiritual documents in order? Do you have excess baggage? We may need to shed some baggage from the past before we borad that next plane of ministry or good works. We get to Jesus’ level of relationship with His Father where He only does what the Father shows Him. Imagine a Church where every believer hears what to do on the inside to co-labour with Jesus as He builds His Church! That is the epoch making period we are living in, where Jesus writes His laws in hearts and minds and the true Sons and daughters of God are led by the Spirit. Where people want to and will to do His will and that is a very powerful gauge for doctrine. Many times religious institutions will formulate a doctrine to suit their traditional practises to be carried over from generation to generation without question or reflecting upon the Bible doctrines in the early Church. But there is a new generation that actually reads the Bible with apostolic perspective and check in the scriptures to see if what is preached is actually so like in the case of the Berean believers in Acts: Act 17:10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Act 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. If you remember that you are a sent one representing God the Father in Heaven and you use the name of Jesus – that mighty name above every name all the glory for any actions and exploits go back to Him. IN the same way a Father is happy when his child achieves success in life, so the Father of Spirit rejoices to see us reaching our full potential. Mar 1:21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Mar 1:23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, Mar 1:24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" Mar 1:25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" Mar 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mar 1:27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." Mar 1:28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. Study the life of Christ again and again until that same willingness to do God’s will becomes part of your being and you will : Know God Sent You Know True Doctrine through Willingness and Obedience Be Known as a true sent one that glorifies God
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