Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Ajegunle Location, Lagos HQ
26th February 2018
Study 43 – OUR CHOICE IN FULFILLING DIVINE PROPHECIES
John 12: 37-50; Matthew 13:14-16; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Proverbs 1:24-32
“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him” (John 12:37). This is talking about Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Lord and Redeemer, who did all kinds of miracles and solved their problems for them with supernatural power; yet they believed not on Him. Look at that word ‘believe’. As you go through the passage, (John 12:37,38,39) you will find the word ‘believe’ or ‘believe not’, ‘believed’ or ‘believed not’, ‘believeth’ or ‘believeth not’; which means then that believing the word that we learn, hear or study is so very important It is when we believe the word, the prophecy, the revelation, the study and the message of God, that the arm, power, goodness, majesty and the possibilities in the Lord are reveal unto us. You will see that believing is central, very important and indispensable. It is when we believe that we get saved, forgiven, set free, and have the blessings of God; and thank God, you will believe today. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:39,42,44,46). Their believing was not to perfection, not complete. The word ‘believe’ is very important, and essential as you look at the whole passage. He tells us believing is very important. As He speaks the word of God, reveals the mind of God, tells us about freedom from sin, and His purpose and plan for coming to the world, and coming to you today, and revealing heaven and His plan to you, the important thing is that we believe on Him. You cannot say you believe in God if you do not believe in Christ. Believing in Christ will lead you to the Father (John 12:44). If you don’t believe, the majesty and glory of the Lord, the blessings and benefits of the word will not be yours. Jesus says He wants to save, forgive, redeem you, turn your life around and bring eternal life to you, but it is hinged and focused on the word ‘believe’. You must believe, and the word of God you believe will do good in your life in Jesus Name.
This passage reveals the glorious privilege of believing, and the great tragedy, danger, peril and perdition if we do not believe. It also tells us that there are prophecies of the word of God and mentions Isaiah in particular (John 12:38). The prophets in the Old Testament gave us prophecies. In the case of Isaiah, he had prophesied 700 years before this time. He died but his ministry continued and his prophecy was still there and taking effect on the children of Israel. It is telling us that as we believe, we make a choice and fulfill prophecy. If we don’t believe, we are fulfilling negative prophecy, but if we believe, we are fulfilling positive prophecy. When you believe, you will receive salvation, new life, eternal life, the grace of God for salvation, righteous living, eternal life, and have the strength and the power to be obedient unto the Lord. When you believe, you receive sanctification, holiness of life, and purity of heart. It is that believing that makes the power of the Blood of the Lamb to purge you, to perfect you, and to take away that inward sin, the depravity, the Adamic nature. When you believe you receive holiness, the divine nature, and the baptism in the Holy Ghost, you receive the promises of the Lord that lead you from earth to heaven. But if you do not believe, you reject forgiveness, freedom, salvation, God’s love and offer of eternal life, and you are going to be lost forever. (John 3:16-18), The lost and the damned fulfil prophecies of damnation by their personal choice. We need to understand that God does not force anybody to fulfill His prophecies. There are many prophecies in the word of God, even prophecies that the Lord Jesus Christ gave, but you are not forced to fulfill them. For example what He said in Matthew 24:12, some people are going to fulfill that prophecy, but not you. But what He said in Matthew 24:13, that is you. You will endure to the end in Jesus name. So you have the choice in your hands to fulfill whichever prophecy. “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:14-16). In them, these Pharisees, Religious people, Jewish people, unrepentant people, that heard the word of God and rejected it, they will not accept nor believe. It is the problem of the heart, the inner mind; whether to believe or not is within you, whether to apply it to yourself or not is within. They came to the meetings of Jesus, to hear His messages, to see the revelation that Jesus Christ brought from Heaven, but they closed their eyes so that they will not see. They made the choice that they are not going to understand, that they closed their eyes and ears. So the choice is yours, you cannot say that God did not allow me to believe, God does not tempt any man, nor hinder anyone to believe, for He wants everyone to come to repentance. If you don’t come to repentance and the arm of the Lord is not revealed to you, it is not God’s fault, it is your own fault (Deuteronomy 30:19,20). He is not imposing anything on you. God is saying look at life abundant, supernatural, eternal life, and look at death and condemnation. Both are before you, and the choice is yours. If you fulfil the prophecy of death, damnation and condemnation, it is your choice, and if you fulfil the prophecy of life eternal and salvation, it is your choice. I know what I have chosen – life, supernatural life. What about you? He has given the promise, and He says everyone can come, and you will come. You have a choice to make; salvation, eternal life, redemption are available, make your own choice. “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalms 119:30). It wasn’t imposed on him, nor was he compelled; the way of Truth and life was there, and it is still available for everybody today. The Psalmist said, I made my choice, because fulfilling prophecy whether negative or positive is a personal choice. Proverbs 1:24-32 – You see He wanted everyone that was why He made the call, not willing that any should perish. The people that made the right choice were the people that got saved, that their lives were turned around, and they received forgiveness and had the arm of the Lord revealed unto them. The choice was theirs. And God is calling that He wants you saved and to have eternal life, but they didn’t accept that eternal life: Because they did not respond to His call, God too will not respond to their prayer. They should have made a positive choice. It is this personal choice that the Lord is calling you to make so that your coming to Bible Study will not be in vain, but that you know the Lord is going to offer the revelation and message from Heaven unto you, and He wants you to make a choice. It is error to think that God, predestination or destiny determined from all eternity that a person should or should not be saved. It is a matter of choice. I pray you will make the right choice. As you fulfill positive prophecies then eternal life, and goodness of God will come upon your life, but if you go the negative direction and choose what is not right or reject the salvation of the Lord, then damnation will come.
3 points:
Point 1. THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY OF HIS MESSENGERS
John 12:37-41; Matthew 13:14-15; Acts 28:25-27; Matthew 23:37,38; Romans 10:16-17,20,21; Acts 13:38-41; Hebrews 3:12,19; 4:1-2,11; 10:38,39
“That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:38). The prophecy has been there since 700 years but these did not believe. Back in the Old Testament, Isaiah the Prophet had seen the glory of the Coming Christ, spoke about the Messiah and that He will be going about revealing the mind of Almighty God, and he said that there will be people that will not believe, nor accept and thus fulfil that negative prophecy, and they will perish in their sins. “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:40). He is saying that the Lord did not force them but permitted them as they had chosen to perish. God will not force them to believe or accept His offer; that choice was in their hands. I pray that you will make the good choice tonight. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15). Heart waxed gross is like a dull mind, a dull brain, a tired mind that they just make themselves tired and their ears are dull of hearing. They are hearing about repentance, restitution, righteousness, narrow way that leads to heaven, joys of heaven, pains and gravity of hell, but they don’t want to hear that, they just closed their eyes to the truth. Yet they came to the meetings of Christ, and heard the revelation. Conversion and healing, salvation and healing waiting for them but they made a choice to remain in their calamity. You will not remain in darkness, calamity and sin. Christ for your choice is offered today, and He says whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. I pray that you will not fulfil negative prophecy in Jesus Name. The purpose of the revelation and the word coming to you is for conversion, salvation, transformation, so that you will make a decision and say, ‘enough of darkness, sinning, evil, of going the way of perdition. Now I make up my mind for a change of heart.’ If you are not doing that, you are making the other choice like these people, that God could not heal them (Acts 28:25-27). Damnation is at the end of not believing, but you are going to believe. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37). You will not make the foolish choice to perish, but you will make the wise choice and that wise choice will remain and abide with you. Jesus wanted to gather them under protection and security, into salvation and eternal life, so that they will be saved, but they would not. It was not God’s fault but theirs because they would not. Salvation, redemption, righteousness, eternal life, are for “whosoever”. “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:21). He was inviting them to eternal life, but they rejected. So the Lord is telling us that there were many people that saw the miracles and everything that Jesus did, but they believed not that He was the Christ, the only Saviour, the Promised Messiah and the Pascal Lamb. They did not see Him as Saviour neither did they seek Him for the salvation of their souls. They fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, and the fulfilment was a personal choice. God wanted them to believe and be saved, but they chose not to believe. They chose to perish in their sins, in unbelief. Many are still unbelieving and they perish and go to eternal punishment; not God’s fault but their own choice. You will not be like them, you will choose right. You will believe and be saved in Jesus Name. “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets” (Acts 13:40). Beware lest you fulfil a negative prophecy. You are regular at Bible Study, and Deeper Life meetings, and yet you have not taken that decision; it is your choice. Others have heard the same things you have heard and have decided, are saved, have righteousness, gone out in the strength of the Lord and have done restitution. They believe the Word of God we are preaching and have had assurance of eternal life. When are you going to make up your mind to believe? You see other people saved, healed, the arm of the Lord revealed unto them and the change in their lives, and you wonder. It is your turn. You will believe and come to eternal life in Jesus Name. The choice is yours. You can walk away after hearing the word of God, and walk away from the plan of salvation, from the Redeemer Who came to save, but that reference warns you to Beware. The choice is in your hands, but, thank God, you are going to believe (Hebrews 3:19). “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2). The word preached did not profit them because they did not allow it to mix with faith. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38). So you see that it is your choice, we can choose to believe, accept, and continue with the Lord, and I pray that you will in Jesus Name.
Point 2. THE FATALITY OF THE FEAR AND THE PRAISE OF MEN
John 12:42-46
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). I pray that your faith, believing, choice and your profession in the Lord will not have a ‘but’. There were people that cherished their synagogue, temple, and all those carnal, ceremonial places of worship; are always conscious of the men around them, in their families, society, class, office, political party. Their position in an assembly hinders them from making their faith move on to perfection, and from believing to the final conclusion. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). He who believes will not abide in the darkness of secret societies, idolatry, sinning, worldly pleasure, and fleshly acts. These people had the fear of man and the praise of men at heart, and they forsook the praise of God. Look at these:
- The Fear of Man – John 12:42; 9:19-22; Proverbs 29:25; 1 Samuel 15:24,26; Job 31:34; Revelations 21:8
Any man you fear is more powerful than you are. If he can take the desire and decision to get to heaven, and to please God away from you, that man is stronger than you are. You love and fear him more than God and cherish his synagogue more than salvation. This is what the fear of man does. (John 9:19-22): You must ask yourself as you come to Church, who do you fear more than God, more than Christ, more than going to hell, and more than the word of God you are hearing Are there Pharisees, Sadducees, and some people here in the Church or somewhere, a sin partner that is holding you back, a backslider that you fear? Get rid of that fear. Whatever they will do, make up your mind, ‘I will get to heaven’. Before they put you out, come out of that ‘synagogue’ yourself and reject their society. Anything that will bind you and take holiness away from you, come out of them, and you will be saved in Jesus Name. “But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12:9). You cannot bear the look of ordinary person. The three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood firm before the fury of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:13-27). We have the liberty to stand firm in the Lord, and He will send His angels to protect and preserve your life. Be like Daniel who refused the dainties of the king, and prayed unto God despite the king’s edict (Daniel 1:8; 6:1-24). There is a God in heaven greater than the Lions’ den, and He knows the choice you have made. He will deliver you. Don’t fear the lions, Nebuchadnezzar and all the people that want to disturb or hinder you from getting to heaven; you will overcome in Jesus Name. “The fear of man bringeth a snare…” (Proverbs 29:25). You are not a man if you cannot take decisions, cannot plan your life, or say ‘this is the way, I am going to walk in it’. You are afraid of people in your community and far away in your village. Don’t you have a heart, a God, a revelation, a mind, a word, belief in God? You will so believe in God that your life will not be hanging in the hands of Satan and a man/woman anywhere because the fear of man bringeth a snare. King Saul had a crown to keep, a life to save, a destiny he was to enter into, and the choice of having the joys of heaven upon his life, but he feared the people and lost his kingship (1 Samuel 15:24,26). You don’t want to hear at the gate of heaven that you never made any choice with total freedom, that your life was hanging in the hand of so and so, and because of that you are turned away from the Pearly Gate. I pray this will not happen to you. For it not to happen you must take your decision and destiny in your hands, and get rid of the fear of man. You came to this world alone, and you will leave this world alone. “Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?” (Job 31:34). Job did not fear the multitude with the pressure, nor sickness, diseases and loss he encountered. There are some people still afraid to even go out and evangelize. Some others wrap their Bibles so that people will not know they are going to Bible Study, ashamed of identifying with Jesus Christ, and ashamed of people seeing them coming into the Church. As you believe in Him, the Lord will cancel all the fear of man in Jesus Name. The bottom line is, fear will hinder you from living right, righteously or being holy, and from doing restitution (Revelations 21:8). I pray you will be freed.
2. The Praise of Men, pride of life – John 12:43; 5:44; Luke 16:15; Galatians 1:10
The praise of men can hinder from entering into the kingdom of God. All those people wanted was the praise of men, and the Lord is saying that is dangerous (John 5:44). “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). You will not have a backbone, courage and conviction if you are seeking to please men all the time. You will not have a mind, consciousness of your own personality if you are dancing to the tunes of men all the time. Stand and believe the word of God, not minding what anybody will say
3. The Praise of God – John 12:43; Romans 2:29
This is the thing that should be uppermost in your mind. The praise, appreciation of God will be more important unto you and not the approval nor appreciation of men. Believe the word of God and be willing to stand and live by that Word; that is what the Lord wants. To have the praise of God, the Adamic nature has to be taken away. The first Adam heard the voice of God and was afraid. You will stand and reject every offer from the devil. When you are saved and sanctified, that Adamic nature, propensity to sin is gone, and then you will have the praise of God. “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:29). I pray that your honour and praise will come from God. He touches your life, and without fear or favour, compromise or cowardice, now you say that I know that I am saved, and that salvation will uphold you all the days of your life in Jesus Name.
Point 3. THE FINALITY AND THE PREEMINENCE OF THE MESSIAH
John 12:47-50; 3:17-20; 5:30; 8:24-26,28,29; Matthew 24:35; Psalms 119:89
“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). Jesus will not judge him at that point, but judgement will still come. There is a Final Day, the Day of Judgement when the Lord will x-ray your heart and convictions to see if your knowledge matches your character, and actions. If anybody should have been derailed, the Pharisees, who followed Him everywhere, could have derailed Jesus. Jesus did not allow even His own disciple Peter to derail Him. He stood on the word of God. That same faithfulness, conviction and strength that Jesus had, He is brining to us today, and you will possess and be able to stand on that same conviction in Jesus Name. Then you will be able to say with Him, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49). At home, in church, in the office, among your friends, in the village and anywhere you find yourself, you will stand firm on the word of God, and you will not compromise in Jesus Name. “And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:50). What He requires of us, is to repent, make restitution, live in peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. I pray that from today you will live by the word and precept of the Father and the courage and conviction of the Holy Ghost. You will have a conquering spirit. The world, the flesh, all the ideas floating about in the world will not conquer you in Jesus Name. You will be a conquering saint. God wants you to be saved (John 3:17), and if you are not yet saved, salvation is coming today; you will manifest that repentance and faith in the Lord to be saved in Jesus Name. “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). You must abandon your own will, desires, and of men around you, that only the Will of God will count in your life. You will change the Father’s message when you look at the faces of the people (John 8:24-26). “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). If you are going to be a follower of Christ, a faithful disciple, you will do nothing of yourself, nor contrary to the word, Will, desire of God nor the Scriptures. The grace of God, the salvation of the Lord, the righteous principles of the Lord, and the energy of the Spirit to make you stand and conquer is available there abiding in you, and you will be like Christ in Jesus Name. “……..for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29b). Like Jesus Christ in the grace of God and the strength of the Lord, you will always do the things that please Him in Jesus Name. His word shall not pass away; it will remain forever and ever (Matthew 24:35). His word, the word of salvation, sanctification, holiness of heart, His power, will not pass away, and this word is now revealed in your life in Jesus Name. The word of God will stand forever and ever in your life, family and office, and anywhere you go in Jesus Name. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalms 119:89). You will not try to change it, the world, flesh and Satan will not change it in your life. The word of power, of His precepts and promise will remain and abide in your life in Jesus Name. The fear of man, the praise of man, and the spirit of compromise are under your feet. You will not be unstable; you will be steadfast, firm, and courageous upholding the word of God in Jesus Name. In your life, family, and anywhere you go – “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” And it is settled in your heart.
Ponder on this! As we fulfill the positive prophecies then life, eternal life and the goodness of God come upon our lives; but if we go the negative direction, and choose what it is not right or reject the salvation of the Lord, then damnation will come. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – It is when we believe the Word, the Prophecy, the Revelation, the Study and the Message of God, that the arm, power, goodness, majesty and the possibilities in the Lord are reveal to us. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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