Welcome to the Pearls from the Word program. My name is Miisu Piipari -
and the topic of today's episode is "I give my life".
Let us first look at one good passage of the Bible.
John's Gospel, chapter 10. Let's go to verses 17 and 18.
This time we will use the Amplified Classic translation.
"For this [reason] the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life ―
to take it back again. No one takes it away from Me.
On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.]
I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) -
and I am authorized and have power to take it back again.
These are the instructions (orders) which I have received -
[as My charge] from My Father."
It is translated a bit differently but I think the passage opens up better.
So Jesus suffered voluntarily so that you and I would be saved, -
so that we would be healed and have a new life.
He was ready to pay the full price. We might easily think -
that well, it was Jesus and He can do all that, -
but as we walk this life together with Jesus -
the Holy Spirit liberates us into an even greater surrendering -
and trusting God. Surrendering means -
that slowly we dare to give God different areas of our lives -
such as our finances, children, family, work, relationships and other areas.
So it's solely about an increase of trust and peace in our lives -
as we get to know God more.
So as we learn to know God through steps of faith -
we also learn to see that God really is good as the Bible says.
Jesus says quite a radical statement in John's Gospel, chapter 15, verse 14.
I use again the Amplified Classic translation.
"You are My friends if you keep on doing the things -
which I command you to do."
How many of you would do things if a friend commanded you to do them?
But if it's a really good friend with whom you have a deep connection -
and you know that they always mean the best for you -
you might just throw yourself into it knowing it's the good way to go.
We know from the passage John 14:6 -
the Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. From that we know -
that God's will toward us really is good as I just said.
So living according to God's will always does us good -
and also bears good fruit around us.
However, this doesn't mean there won't be suffering in life.
Everyone of us who lives in this fallen world suffers from different things.
Often the only difference between us and non-believers -
is that we can ask for help.
We have Jesus who helps us through His Holy Spirit.
We have Jesus who warns us of dangers through the Holy Spirit, -
heals us, restores us, gives us advice and reminds us of different things.
All these are tasks of the Holy Spirit.
But even if we have suffering, walking with God brings us away from sin -
and makes us to turn to God through repentance.
Repentance is not a bad thing, it is a lovely thing.
Through repentance you get rid of things that do harm in you life -
and can turn towards the real, blessed life, the zoe life, -
which in Greek means a blessed, abundant life inside of us, amen.
Living according to the will of God brings good conscience and peace -
into our hearts even in the midst of crises.
I want to share you a few personal experiences of crises.
A couple of years ago I had covid and was in hospital for four days, -
not in the ICU but in hospital anyway.
Only there I noticed what an immense peace I had. I noticed it when I saw -
how afraid the other patients were -
and how my words comforted them even though I was very sick, too.
Yet what was inside of me was so much stronger than the fear -
these people had and they also gave me thanks for it.
I also want to talk about situations I end up when I go around -
teaching about Jesus, the prophetic and hearing the voice of God.
Every now and then I end up being publicly humiliated and mocked.
Even in those situations the Holy Spirit of God asks me -
to turn into forgiveness and to be willing to love that person -
in spite of who they are and what they did wrong.
In one of such situations I remember how I felt -
I was so badly humiliated in front of everyone -
that I truly felt huge shame and humiliation.
I heard the Holy Spirit ask me: "Are you willing to do more of this?"
I thought it couldn't be the voice of God. He doesn't want to disgrace me.
But at the same time I remembered what the Bible said about Paul's life.
He was in synagogue, he was flogged and disgraced publicly. Why?
So that even one person would receive the Gospel, the good news of God.
If God does this kind of things it benefits someone. It brings life.
How deep is our love and trust in Jesus?
Could we trust in our lives that God brings us into difficult situations -
so that even one person could be met and that God could reach their hearts?
God doesn't want to disgrace us. The Word says it very clearly, -
but it's more about voluntary surrendering exactly as Jesus did.
He was willing to suffer so that someone else could be saved and live.
I feel God is calling us into this kind of growth in this darkening age.
Would you trust God this much -
and carry this deep love in your heart?
Would you suffer so that someone else could have a life?
Think about this in your mind.
In 1 John chapter 4 verse 19 it says: -
"We love him, because he first loved us."
Some translations translate it "We keep on loving..."
So it's a continuous process that keeps increasing -
but it's not possible in ourselves. It's the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
He wants to influence our will and actions -
so that His good will would be done, as it says in Philippians 2:13.
But what are we then going to experience? What does the Bible say?
John's Gospel, chapter 15, verses 19 through 21.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: -
but because ye are not of the world, -
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, -
The servant is not greater than his lord.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; -
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, -
because they know not him that sent me."
So we are offered the exact same way than Jesus had: -
a deeper knowledge of God and His love that fills all our needs.
All our outward efforts to gain love, acceptance and respect vanish.
I can tell from my own experience -
that when God has healed me after such crisis experiences, -
the presence of God's love that has come into my heart -
makes it all feel worth it. There is nothing better.
And all of a sudden all outward efforts vanish.
And yes, with the knowledge of God's love we also have persecution -
because the world doesn't recognize God.
Would you be ready to love so much -
that you would let God bring you forward in life -
in spite of suffering and persecution -
but as a reward the wonderful knowledge of God's love?
I realize these are just words for some people but I'm grateful -
that Jesus will give you revelation of what I'm talking about -
because you wouldn't know the Gospel without the suffering of someone else.
In fact Paul says that he is pleased with hardships -
because in his weak moment he experienced God's love strongly.
I remember I wondered how anyone can be pleased with weaknesses, -
but through them he learned to know God, God's power, what God can do -
and His love toward Paul and people. I can tell you it's really impressive.
No matter how difficult your life situation is, -
you can be totally calm because of the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
You can experience love. I share one more crisis situation.
When I was expecting my middle child and my waters broke too early, -
I was sent to the crisis ward of the hospital.
There were a lot of women in very difficult situations.
They went through crises, were afraid and cried.
There was a woman with an aggressive cancer -
and they had to choose which one was saved, the mother or the baby.
In such a situation one might feel that the mind is a bit confused.
I remember that my husband called and told me which new worship song -
they had been practicing, and an immense peace fell into my heart.
After that I wasn't afraid anymore, I just rested.
I had a deep rest inside of me.
2 Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 10. "Therefore I take pleasure -
in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, -
in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
So Paul considered knowing Jesus to be the most important thing -
and he had a lot of merits. He was a well-educated Roman citizen -
and he had had a good position in the Jewish society.
He says in Philippians 3:8 -
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency-
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered -
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."
So our goal is not suffering -
but the goal of God's commandment is always love for people and you.
This is said in 1 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 5, -
but in order to start moving we need faith that comes from a pure heart -
because the Holy Spirit only pours His love toward us into a pure heart.
When we are filled with such love it makes us to take the trouble -
exactly as it says in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, verse 3.
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, -
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, -
in the sight of God and our Father."
So God loves you and is ready to take all this trouble because of you.
Would you be ready to grow in Christ -
and to take the trouble for your sisters and brothers in faith?
Believe what Paul says: -
Everything else is rubbish compared to knowing Christ.
It is something that goes far beyond our understanding.
To finish with I want to read 2 Chronicles 16:9 from the Amplified.
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth -
to show Himself strong in behalf of those -
whose hearts are blameless toward Him." Amen. Be blessed.
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and sowing and give you back abundantly. Be blessed. Amen.
English translation: Anni Lähteenmäki / TV7