Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Agege Location, Lagos HQ
19th February 2018
Study 42 – SALVATION FOR MANY THROUGH THE UPLIFTED CHRIST
John 12: 20-36,1,12; 1 Corinthians 5:7
“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21)
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Here was the response of Christ to the people that said they wanted to see Him. These people had come to Jerusalem to partake of the Passover feast. Though they had worshipped, been ministered to by the priest, having been taken through circumcision as Greeks to come to be allowed to come to Jerusalem and partake in the Passover, yet they felt empty not having seen Jesus. They felt all they had done and gone through have not allowed them to see the way to glory because Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Light to glory. Hence they desired to see Jesus. “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). They came to Philip because they saw something in him. As people look at you, can they tell whether you have the right connection or not, whether you have met Jesus yourself or that you have the ability or capacity to lead them to Jesus? They saw something in Philip as one who has been with Jesus and they respected and honoured him calling him, Sir, and requested to see Jesus. Let Jesus be seen in you. As you come to the Bible Study tonight the passion of your soul and desire of your heart should be to get something from Christ, and make connection to see Jesus, understanding that except you see Jesus, all the Study, all the worship, and the denominational attachment are all in vain. Except you see Jesus, the real purpose of Deeper Life, the Study and worship will not be fulfilled in your life. So Philip told Andrew, because Andrew is known for bringing people to Jesus. What do people know you for? Do they know you for evangelizing, connecting people with Jesus, reading the Bible, or for a spiritual and dynamic life that attracts other people to Jesus? Andrew was known for bringing people to Christ – he brought Peter, that lad, and others to Christ. Are you like that, somebody that helps others to come to Christ, or do you hinder them from seeing Jesus. Andrew was a helper. Be a Helper and a Doorway to Jesus, connecting enquirers, sinners, seekers, and worshippers to Christ. Your life, teaching, work and service in the church, your singing, and smile, are they connecting others to Christ? We have come to be connected to Christ, and then we will connect others to Him. Are you connecting strangers to Christ – strangers to God, to Christ and unfamiliar with the gospel and salvation, who need somebody familiar with Christ to connect them?
…..Sir, we will see Jesus. What did they mean by that? They wanted to see Jesus, the Messiah, the Passover Lamb as revealed by John the Baptist, the Saviour like the Samaritans have known and seen Him, and the Teacher as Nicodemus knew and saw Him – Jesus, the Teacher above all teachers, exalted above all. They wanted to see Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone of the Spiritual Temple that will make their lives stand strong and steadfast in the things of the Lord. They wanted to see Jesus the Shepherd of their souls, Jesus, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. Why did you come? You must and you will see Him tonight, and then salvation, healing, deliverance and strength will be yours; He will be the Lord of your life, and the Passover Lamb that will take your sins away in Jesus Name. Here was Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb that was to be sacrificed for the sins of the whole world (1 Corinthians 5:7). For these Greeks who had gone through all the worship and all the Passover feast, to go home without seeing Jesus the Passover Lamb was vain, empty, useless and unworthy of their attention; so they asked to see Jesus. You must see Him today.
3 points:
Point 1. THE FULL RESULT OF HIS VICARIOUS DEATH
John 12:23-24
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Here is the Uplifted Christ to take away our sins, our sicknesses, and the curse and all the evil consequences of the fall of the first Adam.
Some lessons to consider here:
1. The Saviour’s Death – John 12:23-24; Isaiah 53:3-6,10-12; Hebrews 2:9-10
They had brought these Greeks who wanted to see Jesus the Saviour, Messiah, Passover Lamb, the Redeemer, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and this is how Jesus answered them.“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23). He will be glorified in your life, and this is the hour. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). Something the disciples, the Pharisees and the Jewish people did not understand was that Christ, the Messiah must die. They wondered if He is the Son of God, the Christ, how can He talk about His death, because they had learned that Christ the Messiah abides forever, but Jesus showed them something practical about the Saviour’s death, he said if He did not die, not go to Calvary, not give His life blood, nor give the sacrifice, then everything will remain as it is. You will remain in your sins, and He will abide in His own righteousness alone, but if the corn of wheat will fall into the ground and die, then it will bring forth fruit. That means if Christ will die, and thank God, Christ has died for you and He is Risen again, and that is why He is bringing forth fruits and many people are coming unto Him because He died for our sins. They should have understood that, because the Old Testament predicted and prophesied the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb that will die for our sins and then He will bring many people unto Him. (Isaiah 53:3-6,10-12) “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). You see He had to die; the corn of wheat had to fall unto the ground, so that He will not abide alone, so that He will bring many sons unto glory. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. That is the purpose of His death, that’s why He went to Calvary and died for our sins to save, forgive, justify, and redeem many. In the Old Testament we have seen He was talking about His predicted Death. Now in the New Testament – “But we see Jesus …… that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:9,10). That is the result of that Sacrifice, of giving Himself. If He did not die He would not have been able to bring many sons unto glory. I pray you will realise and partake of the benefit of the Cross and of Calvary; that the salvation that Christ produced at Calvary, that redemption, breaking of the yoke, and all the result of the redemption and provision of Calvary will come into your life as you believe and understand that He died for you to take away your sin, in Jesus name. Give your life and heart wholeheartedly and unreservedly unto Him so that the benefit of the death of Christ on the Cross at Calvary can be yours. And that benefit will be yours in Jesus Name.
2. Our own Self-denial – John 12:25-26; Mathew 10:37-39; Luke 9:23-24
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25). He is saying to us what he said about himself, He denied himself and so must we. He who protects his life and preserves his delicate life that he cannot surrender it to Christ and have that corn of wheat fall to the ground and die, but everything is mine, guarding and protecting his life, he will abide alone, poor spiritually and eternally. But when that corn of wheat falls to the ground and die, and is given wholly to Christ, identified with Christ who died on the Cross at Calvary to save us, and have self-denial, He says whoever hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life everlasting. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). He that loves his son, daughter, father, mother more than Christ is not worthy of Him. You will remain by yourself, the salvation of Christ and the joy of heaven will not come to you. He is calling us to self-denial; that if you are going to belong to the Lord, you will deny yourself of the works and indulgence of the flesh, of that relationship with the sin partner, of the joy of that alcohol and palm wine. Not to deny yourself of sin, evil, occultism, and idolatry will take you to the other side of eternity, Hell. But if you deny yourself, follow Christ wholeheartedly with your whole soul and mind, that you have to forgo and forsake, and deny yourself, that is the principle of self-denial (Luke 9:23,24). Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. I pray that you will bring forth fruits.
3. The Saints’ Destiny – John 12:26; Colossians 3:1-4; John 14:3; 17:17-24; 1 John 3:1
“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:26). This is the saints’ destiny. Those who belong to Christ, that are following Him wholeheartedly, have forsaken their sins, and denied themselves and serve Him, where He is, they will be also. Where Jesus is right now, in heaven, you will be there with Him. Let your life, thoughts, desires, aspirations be heavenly (Colossians 3:1-4). You will be there in Jesus Name. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). There are those who say they will be on earth forever; that is not the lot of Christ’s saints. Where He is that is where we will be. You are going there, nothing will stop you, and you will not stop your journey halfway. We will be there (John 17:17-24). But what does it take to make it to heaven? “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3)
Point 2. THE FATHER’S REASSURANCE OF HIS VICTORIOUS DOMINION
John 12:27
That Jesus Christ is glorified and He has Dominion and the Father gave assurance from heaven. “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27). Here we are looking at Jesus Christ, He was thinking of Calvary, the Cross, the Sacrifice, the Shame and Suffering of Calvary, that He was going to be our Sin Bearer, the Sacrificial Lamb, our Substitute. It was going to be a heavy load, a time of agony, and a time of suffering but He was committed to God’s Glory, and that is why He prayed that the Father should glorify himself. The Father responded immediately, and gave Him assurance. It was like thunder to the people that heard. This is for the people to know that He is the Lord, the Son of God, the One that would bear all our sins away as the Messiah to come. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). Cast out. The prince of this world is cast out from your heart, surrounding, family, and everything around you, and victory, strength and power have come to you in Jesus Name. Christ went to the Cross at Calvary so that the prince of this world, the enemy of your soul and destiny will be cast out. He is cast out in Jesus Name. Some lessons to consider here:
1. The Purpose of His Coming – John 12:27,28; Luke 9:44; 24:26,27,44-47
The disciples needed to hear this, and let these sayings sink into your ears, that Jesus Christ came to die, to give His life, and to be the Sacrifice for the sin of the everyone; the man, woman, youths, young girls/boys, and everyone, so that you will know how to repent, come to Him, because without knowing and coming to Him, you will perish in your sins (Luke 9:44). That is the purpose why He came, he suffered, bore the shame of the sins of the whole world, that you might be saved, and your sins forgiven. “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26).
2. The Prayer of Christ – John 12:28-30 He prayed and the Father answered. He is praying for you right now, and the Father will answer. John 13:31,32
3. The Prince is Conquered – John 12:31; Luke 10:17-20; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Romans 16:20
Satan will not have the authority, the final say and power to oppress your life again in Jesus Name. Now, today, the prince of this world, Satan, is cast out. Thank God, it has happened, and you are totally free in Jesus name. Luke 10:17 – You are going home with joy and whatever is that thing, that problem, because the prince is under your feet, you will overcome in Jesus Name. All the people that hear the word of God, and go forth and stand on the word that cannot fail will go back home with joy in Jesus Name. Satan has fallen, and he will not rise up again in your life. “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:18-19). Always believe and remember that every time and anywhere, when you are alone, and with people – nothing shall by means hurt you. Thank God, my name is there, and your name is there if you have repented from your sins, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 10:20). The devil’s power is destroyed, his program is scattered, and his conspiracy is crushed (Hebrews 2:14). Thank God, tonight you are free. Sickness, attacks, oppression, afflictions, temptations, occult powers, barrenness, terminal diseases, cancer and all the yokes are the works of the devil, and they are destroyed (1 John 3:8). All the yokes are broken in Jesus Name. Satan has been utterly defeated at Calvary (Romans 16:20). And today, you will experience and enjoy that victory. Identify with the Lord, and come into the victory in Jesus Name.
Point 3. OUR FAITHFUL RESPONSE AND VALIANT DEDICATION
John 12:32
You see after hearing about and seeing Jesus lifted up, crucified for us, and that He bore all our sins, sicknesses, shame, sorrows and sufferings, there must be a response coming from you. He is talking about His Crucifixion, being lifted up and His dying on the accursed Tree (John 12:32).
Some lessons to consider here:
1. Discerning the Meaning of the Uplifted Christ – John 12:32-33; 3:14-16; 8:28
He is talking about His death here. He has spoken about this before. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). Jesus has been lifted up, and He has died on the Cross at Calvary, and as you believe tonight, turn away from your sin to the Saviour, as you abandon darkness and come to the fullness of Light, you will not perish in Jesus name. Because He has been lifted up, He is able to take all sins away (John 8:28).
2. Drawing Men to the Uplifted Christ – John 12:32; Acts 17:30,31; 22:14,15; Romans 5:18; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Timothy 2:3,4
This is what we need to do, helping people to see Christ, to repent and turn away from their sins, so that they can come to be with Christ their Saviour. “For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:15). He wants us to tell men that the chance to repent and turn away from their sins is now, and that this salvation is available for all men. Salvation, redemption, regeneration is now available. This salvation is for all men because Jesus died for all. So tell your neighbours that this salvation has come, and it is available to great, young, perpetual, backslidden and habitual sinners; the grace of God is available for all men (Titus 2:11-13). That salvation will be yours. As you come to Him, believe and accept Him, and turn away from your sins, He will draw you unto Himself (1 Timothy 2:3,4).
3. The Direct Message of the Uplifted Christ – John 12:35; 8:11,12; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:8-11; 3:3
The Light is here tonight, Christ is here tonight and as you believe in Him, He will give you salvation, freedom, forgiveness of sin, and redemption in Jesus Name. You will not abide in darkness (John 8:11,12). You are going with the salvation and the strength of the Lord, and with the knowledge that the Light of the world will drive out every darkness in your life in Jesus Name. But you must go with that understanding, and that you forsake your darkness and turn away from that sin and evil. He is the Light of the world; He is the Light in your life, and family. The backslider is in darkness too, but as you repent, and turn to the Lord, He will take all the sin of backsliding away. Whatever binds you in that dungeon of backsliding and darkness, you will be saved tonight, and Light will come in your soul, heart and spiritual experience in Jesus Name. You will have the Light of life, and darkness will not remain in your life in Jesus Name. God is Light (1 John 1:5). You will walk in the Light. He has sufficient and abundant grace to enable you walk in the Light, and everything of righteousness and light of the word will come into your life in Jesus Name. All those things hiding in darkness of your life, the Light of Christ will wash them away in Jesus Name. We are going to switch on the Light of Heaven and Christ, and all those things hiding in darkness and troubling your life and heart will begin to find their ways out of your life in Jesus Name. Darkness of sin, occultism, idolatry, hypocrisy and secret sinning are gone away from your life. If there is hatred in your heart, purge it out tonight. You are to hate sin, and not people. You are coming to the Light and when you abide and finish your Christian life in the Light, you will go from this Light here to the Light in Heaven forever. If you remain in darkness of sin and occultism, and die in that darkness, you will go into eternal darkness. But that will not happen unto you. So come to the Light and let your life be plain and transparent, and do all things according to the Will and Word of God. When the saints go marching in, you will be there and I will be there in Jesus Name. The blood of Jesus is available tonight to forgive and cleanse your soul, and darkness, sickness, sin, weakness, will vanish away. Light, salvation, grace, victory and the Light from heaven are coming now into your life. Congratulations you have the victory tonight. Christ has done everything for us.
Ponder on this! Here is the Uplifted Christ to take away our sins, sicknesses, the entire curse and the evil consequences of the fall of the first Adam. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – You are to hate sin, and not people. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Download complete message video here …….Save (High Quality) Video
Download Audio Message here …….Save Audio
NB
Download the video or audio message NOW! The links for the video and audio messages will be removed after 72 hours.
Watch the YouTube Video here ……https://youtu.be/kT1Q9WaZqqA
Read more Gleans here …….. http://aberdeen.dclm-uk.org/blog/