Barnabas Ministries UK

Rev. E. Anderson

KNOWING GOD THROUGH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST

Reading      John 1: 1- 18

Introduction

PLATFORM: Creation, the Bible, and History are the platform for the greatest and most personal revelation of God to man. They combine together as a unity to proclaim and affirm the unique and distinct unveiling of the most intimate and affectionate disclosure of God to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. Whilst separately they make known God in powerful ways, yet together their witness is to point and pave the way for the most wonderful and inspiring unveiling of God in incarnating Himself through His Son in human flesh.

WRITER’S EMPHASIS: The New Testament introduces the person of Jesus Christ to not only the Jewish nation but the whole world for consideration and faith. The four opening Gospels testify and affirm to the advent, work and impact that this extraordinary person had upon them and the immediate society of their times. But it is John that seeks to set out clearly and emphatically the unique character and personality of Jesus Christ by stating unequivocally that He was and is the Son of God. Throughout his writings he is at pains to underline the fact that Jesus Christ is God personified in a human body and proves so by the justified claims of Christ.

STATEMENT: Christ makes a true statement and affirmation when He said: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me’ – John 14: 6. To get to know in a personal way and in an experiential sense God the Father, it is imperative to know and believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ. Later, He also in His teaching on God the Holy Spirit, makes known the fact that God the Holy Spirit is known in and through Him – John 14-16.

John makes the point in his preface and prologue that Jesus Christ came with this vital mission and ministry, to fully make God known. He says in v18 ‘No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him’ – that is, brought Him to view and placed Him on show for all to see and know what God is like. God is not a hidden factor any more: Jesus Christ has made Him clearly and fully intelligible and known. To truly manifest God, one must be God. In reading, studying and honestly considering Him in a number of areas it is possible to see and understand that He was ‘God manifest in the flesh’ – see 1 Timothy 3: 16. The infinite qualities and face of God is to be perceived in this unique, divine person.

1/.  IT IS DECLARED IN HIS UNIQUE BIRTH

        No one is left in any doubt that His advent into the world was absolutely different to the birth of any other child as Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 & 2 record. His was no ordinary birth and it was one that was predicted with accuracy by Israel’s former prophets, Isaiah 7: 14; 9:6, 7 and Micah 5:2. He has been forever impacted and influenced by the appearance of this unique baby. Israel was expecting the advent of a Messiah and He came on time in accordance with God’s schedule. His was an historic advent!

2/.  IT IS EVIDENT IN HIS MIRACULOUS WORKS

        No one performed such outstanding, incredible deeds like Him and He made it abundantly clear that they were His credentials and testimony as to who He was, the Son of God ‘the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of Me’ – John 10: 25; 15: 24; 5: 36. There are seven major miracles in John’s Gospel, each attesting His deity. The final one was in the raising of Lazarus – John 11, which was a phenomenal wonder. John states that He did so many miracles that a library of books would be inadequate to record all – John 21: 25.

3/.  IT IS DISCLOSED IN HIS DYNAMIC WORDS AND TEACHING

        Those in His day who heard Him speak and teach were held spell-bound by His utterances in their authority and content – see Matthew 7: 28, 20. He had the capacity to switch people on to what He had to say and made it clear that they were the words of God. He who was entitled ‘the Word’ – John 1: 1,14, spoke the words of God as God – ‘the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent Me’ – John 14: 24. One soldier sent to arrest Christ came back empty-handed and affirmed: ‘Never man spake like this man’ – John 7: 46.

4/.  IT IS UNVEILED IN HIS SINLESS CHARACTER

        He claimed this distinction above all other men – that He was sinless. He could challenge both friend and foe alike – ‘Which of you convinceth or convicteth Me of sin’ – John 8: 46. All men have to admit their sinful state but He was uniquely different thus denoting that He was God manifest in the flesh. No accusation could be brought against Him when He was brought to judgment by men before men. He was the man ‘who loved righteousness and hated iniquity’ just as God does – Hebrews 1: 9.

5/.  IT IS MANIFESTED IN HIS EXTRAORDINARY DEATH

        We come to know God through His unusual and exceptional death. His demise is actually forecasted centuries before by the OT prophets – Psalm 22; and Isaiah 53 and is portrayed inn type in the offering of the sacrificial lamb in the ceremonies of Israel. It is also typified in the sacrifice of Isaac as related in Genesis 22. see John 1: 29. He was the man who was born to die and to die for the whole world in order to bring salvation and redemption – Matthew 20: 28. He made it clear that it was to be by the means of His death that man would be renewed and restored to a relationship with God, and His death was to be a covenant factor – Luke 22: 14-20. As Christian believers commemorate His death in Holy Communion they know and confirm their oneness with Him.

6/. IT IS CONFIRMED BY HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION AND EXALTATION

         His resurrection from the dead gives indisputable fact of His deity and person and His ascension and exaltation to heaven to occupy the throne expresses His continuance – Romans 1: 4. Christ is to be known in resurrection power as He is received and trusted in and He will be known as Lord. The early Christians were convinced of the fact that He was not only alive but Head and in control of His Church – see Acts 2: 29-36. All those who believe in His Saviourhood and accept His Lordship do discover these are absolute realities for He personally makes them good and effective.

CONCLUSION

When a person turns to and believes in Jesus Christ He confirms at the personal level His true identity and work, and it becomes obvious that He truly is God.

Rev. & Mrs. E. Anderson

EXTRACTS FROM LIFE  

When you have lived a considerable number of years in relationship with God one gathers a tremendous amount in testimony to God’s grace and goodness in life. One discovers that He does some amazing things with ordinary people and through the course of this page I would share some of the wonderful and interesting experiences He has wrought. And all is to His honour and glory.

MATTERSEY BIBLE COLLEGE

Quite a lot of people in the UK have become familiar with the place called, Mattersey Bible College, because over the past years many students from many parts of the world have come to study and be taught there and have advanced in their Biblical Studies and spiritual education. It has become a seat of learning and a large number of people have obtained their degrees and profited enormously from its tuition. It has become a place of renown amongst Pentecostal groups. The College is owned by Assemblies of God and its purpose is to prepare and train people with the call of God upon their lives for the ministry.

The place ‘Mattersey’ was not so well know amongst Pentecostal Christians. The denomination’s Bible College was once situated in Kenley, Surrey and I had the privilege of being a student there from 1955-57 and benefited greatly from my tutors and teaching. But it was in the early 1970’s that the property was sold and so search and inquiry was made for a new location. I never thought that I would be somehow slightly connected in this.

However, David Powell, who was the minister of the Rotherham Pentecostal Church, phoned and asked if I would go and view a former private school situated at Mattersey with the purpose of recommending it to the Board of Governors of the Assemblies of God Bible College. My wife and I joined him and together we looked around the premises and thought them ideal for Bible College purposes. Mrs. Sourbutt was the owner and accorded the opportunity of viewing them. The upshot of it was the Board proceeded and purchased them for a new beginning in the student tuition.

Little did I realize at the time that I would be closely associated with it in a personal way, along with my wife, Joan.

The College was in need of a new principal, and at the next General Conference, David Powell was elected to the astonishment of quite a few people. Joan and I gladly assisted when the move took place, helping primarily in the gardens to make them something presentable for the opening. At that time we were overseeing the large assembly at Doncaster but found some moments to assist in this connection. When the opening took place Joan took charge of the catering to relieve the situation.

David asked me to assist in lecturing by taking the Minor Prophets, a course that I enjoyed doing. So over the course of the months I frequented the place with ministry to the students. Prior to this, the Lord had placed a burden on my heart that this is where He wanted me to serve and I endeavoured to dispose of it, but it would not leave.

Six months later, after lecturing on the subject of the Prophets, I was conversing with the principal and he mentioned that the dean was leaving the College. It took me by surprise at the time but then I simply mentioned to him what had been taking place in my heart. We prayed and left the matter in the Lord’s hands.

Within two weeks we were approached by him with the backing of the Board of Governors to take up residence and be responsible for many things within the College activities. Joan assumed the duties of matron, looking after the material needs of the students and catering for their physical needs, and I the spiritual factors.

It was a challenging and demanding period of our lives. One can state it was not an easy phase of our ministry but a necessary one in the developing of one’s gifts, character, and relationships and so on. Working with a principal with a complex character and with a variety of students from various parts of the world was rather difficult proposition but it created and cultivated something in us that has been invaluable. We laboured very hard there (possibly the hardest stage of our lives) but it was worth it because of what it produced in us. We never gained any earthy honours or degrees but sense we passed some enormous spiritual tests that made into better people capable of doing much more for the Lord in terms of leadership. The Bible College became an immense training ground for us and many lessons were duly learned.

We left this area of ministry and service how we had commenced, in the will of God, having gained invaluable experience for even greater things.

In seeing how the Lord has blessed and prospered it and is still doing so in the present, we are most grateful and glad that we had some small part to play in its foundation. Having done what was required of us, we were able to move and achieve other things for God in other fields of service and ministry. Others have taken over and are leading the work on to greater things, and that is how it should be.

In the final analysis and judgment, we are workers together with Christ, building His kingdom in the sphere He wants us to be in at various stages of life. We have to learn to do all we can whilst and where we can and then move at the Lord’s direction.

Rev. E. Anderson

REASONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

Reading     James 5: 13- 20

Introduction

A FRUITFUL EXERCISE: It is important to know that God desires and determines that prayer should above all things be a fruitful exercise. He is the God that is ever capable of both hearing and answering prayer and has ordained that it should prove to be a means of knowing His immense love, wisdom and power within life in all kind of situations. The Bible seeks to both provoke and promote it so that people will reap tremendous benefits. A GREAT EXAMPLE: The greatest of example of concerning prayer relates to Jesus Christ. When His first disciples saw and heard him pray and evidently noted the amazing consequences they asked that He would teach them to pray -  He highly valued the exercise and was in the best and blessed position of knowing enormous answers to His request. Outside of the tomb He made a great confession worth noting – ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. And I knew that you hear Me always’- John 11: 41, 42. Not one request was ever turned down so it was a most productive ministry. GUIDING FACTORS: In reading and studying a number of Bible texts on prayer there is instruction on the reasons why prayer is answered so Christian believers must become acquainted with and fall in line with the clear, divine directions. Here are at least five things that must be duly meditated on so that prayer is not hindered in terms of divine response, and that time and energy is not wasted on this holy devotion and application.

1. KEEPING A CLEAN HEART – Psalm 66: 18; 24: 3-6; James 5: 16

All who would approach God must certainly make sure that their belief and behaviour accords with righteousness an holiness. If a person is to gain the attention of God then He must be a fit individual that God approves of. There is no way that God will be switched on if the standard of life is of a discreditable nature. The point is made by James that ‘the effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ and the psalmist is very blunt when he says, ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me’ – Psalm 66: 18. Folks must get right with God on this issue if prayer is to be a dynamic force and be productive.

1. CORRECT MOTIVATION OF BEING – James 4: 2, 3

In prayer one has to be sure that one is praying for the right things to which God can readily and heartily agree. If the prayer or praying is inspired by selfishness and greed, then God knows and will pay no interest whatsoever. He is not ignorant at all as why the petitions are being made and He looks for genuine desire and a freedom from personal interest that is focused wrongly.

1. ABIDING IN THE LORD AND HIS WORD – John 15: 7

Before Christ left His disciples He wanted them to know that in the future their lives and ministries should be tremendously blessed with divine answers. There is this will on His part that it should be so and so gave them this revealed secret – ‘If you abide in Me , and my words abide in you, you shall what you will, and it shall be given unto you’ – John 15: 7. It is evident that He willed that there should be much fruit in this connection.

1. KNOWING AND EXERCSING THE SPIRIT OF FAITH – Hebrews 11: 6; James 1: 6; Mark 11: 22-24

The writer makes it plain that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God’ and gives encouragement by saying, ‘He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him’ – Hebrews 11: 6. When a person prays then divine assurance must fill their hearts and be manifest in their petitions. Christ taught that it was possible to have ‘the faith of God’ and through this faith as used in prayer impossible things would occur. James endorses this by affirming that the person who is preoccupied with doubt will receive nothing at all – James 1 6.

1. EXPRESING A SPIRIT OF PERSISTENCY – James 5: 17, 18; Luke 18: 1-8; Matthew 7: -11

Elijah, the widow woman and the man who sought for bread at midnight are pictures of people who refused to quit until prayer was answered. They knew how important it was to persist in their quest and to show that they meant business. It would seem that this also implied with Christ’s teaching on the matter – ‘Ask, and it shall be given unto you . . . . .’ - Matthew 7: 7-11. Behind it is the determination to press the matter until the answer is forthcoming.

       CONCLUSION

            All who are really desirous of seeing God answer their petitions will be ready to take

            these things to heart because they want to know God’s hand operative on their behalf. They also want to have a glowing testimony to His supreme workings in their affairs.