The Determination For The Demonstration We are in a day and hour where we must be determined to fulfill what God has placed before us. Determined to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us! However this determination is not just a soulish stubborn stance but a spiritual grace empowerment of non-reliance on our own ability, and total trust in Christ.
The life of the Apostle Paul is an amazing study that shows this kind of determination. Paul was a man who had undergone the strictest of study, and sat at the feet of the leading Jewish teachers of the day, but had made a very important decision in life and ministry. He had made a determination, and this determination enabled a demonstration of the Spirit and Power. What was his determination? 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. The Apostle Paul had made a decision to not lean on any information, experience, training, or perception that he had gained from anything unless He knew it originated from Jesus, Jesus Christ (The Saviour Anointed) and Him crucified! In the letter to the Philippians Paul also explains this same determination; Philippians 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. What is it like when we make this kind of decision to trust God. To only say what we hear the Father say. To only do what we see the Father do? Paul’s next line from our verse in first Corinthians explains it; 1 Corinthians 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. Why? He had determined to not live life or minister from what his senses perceived, or what his experience told him, apart from hearing the Lord! What was Paul’s purpose in living and ministering this way? Surely all that training and ability could be used for something? Paul knew that he could minister out of His natural knowledge but that it would only have natural results. He knew that he could argue with the best of them and persuade many people using his knowledge of the law. However Paul wanted different results to what natural persuasion produces. He wanted supernatural results in people lives, and so do I! Read these verses again; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Paul’s determination to is to not know anything except Jesus and what He did on the cross, and for that to be the basis of everything that he said. The Greek word here for ‘know’ is a very simple one ‘eido’ meaning ‘to see, be aware of, consider, perceive and understand’. When we don’t perceive, or minister from natural information, we give God the place to minister supernatural demonstrations. This year of 2015 has had, as with other years, prophetic words released from God to the church. As always, as believers and not doubters, we test these prophetic words as Biblical, and consistent with the heart of God and in line with where we are at in Bible prophecy. One of the words we received as a congregation this year was from Brother Jerry Saville. 2015 will be known as the year of visitations, manifestations and demonstrations. (This word came to Brother Savelle on October 18, 2014.) Experiencing the greater glory is still My plan,
I’ll have My way and all shall see,
And you’ll see The Great I Am shall visit your land.
No power is greater nor equal to Me.
Manifestations of My Spirit as never before,
My people will rise up and take their place,
And demonstrations of My power from shore to shore.
And no enemy will stop them from finishing their race.
Supernatural provision
and greater breakthroughs, too,
Yes, 2015
you’ll surely see,
Yes, this is My plan and My will for you.
Will be a year that will go down in history.
The powers of darkness will no longer stand,
So, lift up your hands and boldly decree,
For I will show them the strength of My right hand.
“Something great
is about to happen to me!”
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:4(AMP) And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],
1 Corinthians 2:4(NLT) And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we determine, that Jesus and His cross is the basis of our lives, and that we will not lean on any other information as truth but that they are simply facts or circumstances which are subject to change, then we will begin to see the demonstration of power.
It is God’s Word that created everything and it is God’s Word through which every miracle, healing and demonstration of His Spirit happens! Jesus is that Word made flesh!
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
I like to read that without the word the translators added, so lets read it removing the word them which doesn’t appear in the original Greek.
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. AmenHallelujah!!! So now do these simple steps, empowered by His grace, so that your determination enables His demonstration.
Refuse to bring the Word of God down to the level of your experience, but determine to bring your experience up to the level of the Word of God! Love and blessings,
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