Hi! Welcome to the Pearls from the Word program.
My name is Miisu Piipari and today our topic is "I am with you".
This is Jesus's promise to us.
Matthew's Gospel, chapter 28, verse 20 according to the Amplified version: -
"...I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, -
and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age."
Isn't is a wonderful promise?
Always, in spite of the circumstances, in every occasion. So awesome.
So God has chosen us for a specific purpose.
When we have such a promise and we look at the following verse, -
John 15:16, we see a bit where we're at.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you -
that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, -
that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."
The testimony of Jesus and how Jesus is with us is seen -
in the life of a born-again person that has changed because of God.
In which ways is He seen? Let's look at it more closely.
We just read the passage John 15:16.
Let's study it more in detail according to the Amplified version.
"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you -
and I have appointed you [I have planted you]..."
So God knows exactly what He is doing, whom He has chosen -
and what tasks He wants us to carry out.
But what does it look like that God is with us?
I just mentioned that just the fact that our lives start to change -
as we walk with Jesus is a testimony of Him.
But it says in the Gospel of John, chapter 8 and verse 12 -
that God's actions truly are visible.
"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"
So that Jesus is with us really shows.
In the Bible there is also the parable of the lamp.
The lamp or what Jesus does in us must not be hidden out of sight, -
but we should dare to talk in a natural way about what God does.
I used to think that I must evangelize about Jesus, and it felt awkward, -
so I give you a tip: talk about Jesus as if He were a natural part of your life.
For example if you're going to your church on Sunday, -
say it to your non-believer neighbors in a natural way. Don't shame or hide it.
If your kids go to a Christian school talk about it in a natural way -
as if it was normal also for the people of this world. It testifies of Jesus.
One thing that shows people that Jesus is with us is our inner peace.
Did you know that in this age -
the peace to which you're getting used to with God is a huge testimony?
We see that people are looking for inner peace from different places, -
from other religions and other methods, -
but the inner peace we have catches their attention.
When I was a housewife and went to church clubs with the kids, -
there was a woman who asked me what was the amazing peace I had.
When she said it was a moment when I really felt I had a bad day.
I didn't feel at all that God was with me but she saw what she didn't have.
God says in John 14:27 according to the Amplified version: -
"Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; -
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.
[Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance -
and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]"
The Greek word eirene means peace, rest, quietness, -
in the Christian faith a peaceful state of the heart -
that is guaranteed because of salvation through Christ.
It also means we don't have to be afraid of what there is in the world -
because we have the peace inside of us.
Let's talk a bit of steps of faith and the courage they bring.
God is seen also as courage to take steps we wouldn't otherwise take.
All the steps of faith we take -
asked by and in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, manifest Jesus.
I remember that God has asked me to do things with more courage -
in so many situations.
For instance talking here required me a lot of courage.
Earlier I never wanted to be on the radio or TV. It felt horrible to me, -
but the work God has done in me has brought the courage -
to bear witness of Jesus and what He has done to me.
In the Bible we see that all steps asked by the Holy Spirit are good.
Ephesians 2:10 says very clearly -
that they are works that God has carefully prepared in advance.
Jesus Himself said He was doing only what He saw the Father do.
So the God-given faith brings the courage, -
the kind of courage we don't have in ourselves.
Jesus can be seen in us believers also as an inner rest.
Jesus wants us to walk with Him.
This we can see for example in John 10:4 -
where the sheep recognize His voice.
Jesus says He knows all His sheep by name, -
and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.
What is the voice of Jesus like? There is love in it, for Jesus is love.
So our spirit recognizes the love of God -
and we align ourselves with it.
We can also see it from how Jesus calls everyone personally.
He is calling you, too, and has asked you to follow Himself.
Something in our hearts wants to do it.
That our flesh or our natural self objects to it is another matter, -
but the Holy Spirit helps us in that.
In all the works of Jesus there is always rest and peace in our spirit.
Our spirit joins in the works asked by God.
All the good works of the world that are not from Jesus are useless.
The Bible says quite clearly that they are dead works -
especially if we try to gain salvation or God's love with them.
We don't have to do it, because the Word says we already have them.
It says in Matthew 11 verse 28: -
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, -
and I will give you rest." So God wants to dive you rest.
And it continues in Hebrews 4:10 "For he who has entered His rest -
has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His."
So by trusting God we get rid of unnecessary and tiring works, -
because we should only concentrate on the works God has prepared for us.
Our mutual love also shows that Jesus is with us.
Jesus says in John 13:35 "By this all will know -
that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The word for love is the agape love we can never earn, -
the kind of love God pours into us unconditionally.
We also see that love grows and is often a conscious choice.
When I personally have to choose to love someone, not to abandon them -
but stay by their side even if they don't deserve it, -
it is my choice, but I need the Holy Spirit of God in prayer -
so that I can give God the bad feelings I have in my heart towards them -
and He gives love back into my heart.
I want to emphasize that I cannot change my feelings myself.
It's always the work of the Holy Spirit, but I can decide to go -
into prayer moments with Jesus and to choose love -
even if I don't think the other person is worth it.
God thinks they are. It says in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 -
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, -
because your faith grows exceedingly, -
and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other..."
Jesus Himself is love. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 we see -
what Jesus looks like in us. Let's have a look.
As you noticed it says in the passage from Thessalonians that love grows.
Dare to start that process together with the Holy Spirit.
Let's now have a look at what Jesus looks like in us through love.
From verse 4 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; -
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, -
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; -
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; -
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Did you recognize these traits in a friend of yours or in yourself?
Don't be discouraged it you can't find them. Ask Holy Spirit to work in you.
Seek the love of God and its manifestation in you.
We truly love because God first loved us.
How could we love if God didn't first fill us with love?
Then it starts to pour out from us.
I have personally felt it so that I have a need to do something for God.
Lord, I want to tell about the healing and restoration you can give.
People must find out. I want to show Jesus in my life.
So receive the love of God in intimate moments with Him.
Jesus does say that without Him we cannot do anything, -
so stay close to Him and let Him change your heart.
When we love someone we really want to please them.
When we gradually fall in love with Jesus we want to please Him.
Then His commandments are not heavy to fulfill -
because He asks us to do them and gives us the strength for it.
Amen. So God has influenced our will and actions -
because of a deed of faith that started from a relationship -
so that they don't become legalistic and forced.
I want to end with John 21 verse 25 -
because Jesus is seen in us in so many ways that I can't tell them all.
"And there are also many other things that Jesus did, -
which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself -
could not contain the books that would be written. Amen."
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I want to thank you for your support and your prayers.
Let's do this work together with our God. Amen.
English translation: Anni Lähteenmäki / TV7