SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE LORD - PART 1

THURSDAY 30 JUNE 2022

Sharing the things of the Spirit with others and reminding them of the Author can be likened to the declaring the source from which a deal or whatever someone advertises and promotes, proceeds or is supplied. Even the thought of it makes those on the receiving end to treasure and cherish what they are about to receive. Now think about this: How grand in scope is the wisdom of sharing what we have received from the Lord with others in our world!

Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:21-26 New International Version (NIV) "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread..."

Paul is making a serious point here. He is declaring the source of the Kingdom benefit he is about to share. He is demonstrating that the communion he is passing on to them is from the Lord, who is all-sufficient. So as they partake of it, they do it with confident assurance of the significance of what is received and the understanding of the originator.

Most importantly, as born again Christians, we have received the Spirit of truth from the Lord. In John 16:15 (NIV), Jesus said, "All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you." As the Spirit of truth guides us into all truth, it is expected of us to pass on the truth we receive to others. This is the same with the glorious gospel of grace. Don't just be amazed at the teachings about the Lord which you receive or have received; be ready to share it with others, so they can believe, receive their salvation and put their faith in Christ, because God so much loved the whole world, that He gave His only begotten Son, and as you share or pass on the message from God, whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (see John 3:16 NIV).

The pattern of our motives, behaviour and impact emanate from what we receive and who we receive from. Therefore, it matters our sources of intelligence, enlightenment and influence. So many people receive from the devil, and so they are akin to him in his works of darkness. On one occasion, there was a dispute over whose children Jesus' opponents were. Then Jesus said to the Jews who criticized and doubted Him, "You are of your father, the devil." In other words, they were of similar character because they willingly granted viable and practicable expression to the devil's crafty schemes.

In actual fact, here is the detailed account of their argumentative encounter with Jesus: "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do what Abraham did. But you are doing the works of your own father." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God Himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires." (see John 8:44).

Beloved, divine forces or powers, both positive and negative, are universal and they transcend human understanding and capacities. However, as Christians, we are born of God and we belong to the Kingdom of light which represents the forces of positive influence; therefore, the elements of positive force of the Divine are applicable to our existence on earth. Hence, the quality of our Christain faith is dependent on our intimate association with the Godhead because we have been given an unlimited, special access to God in Christ Jesus. Now whatever we receive from this fellowship and association is what we can share with others or proclaim to the world around us. On account of this truth, Johannine literature attributed to John the Evangelist reveals: "We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3 NLT).

Did you grasp the revealed? John's testimony is that the life appeared [Christ]; they saw it and witnessed it, and so he proclaims to us the eternal life, which was with the Father and is now available to all in Christ. John declared the word of life which they heard and received directly from the Lord and the overall purpose of sharing it was to persuade and invite others to this wonderful love and fellowship with the Godhead. Stay tuned for part 2. Shalom!

Scripture Reading- Proverbs 11:25; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 13:16; Acts 8:5.

Exuberant declaration: The increasing power of God's truth is effectual in my life and I testify that Christ is the source and the author. I have seen God's faithfulness displayed to others as I share the Word of grace with them. And I'm grateful that they consider and embrace His constant love, reliability and infinite mercy which point them to Christ, whose blood and perfect sacrifice secured their salvation on the cross. Hallelujah!