Jesus Teachings Why Everything Hinges on Jesus Teachings

Jesus’ Teachings Why Everything Hinges on Jesus’ Teachings “If anyone keeps my teaching, he will never see death in the age └to come┘” Jn 8: 51

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Age 8 y — taken to church

Age 12 y – decision

Age 16 y – baptised

Age 19 y – calling

Age 21 y – medical school

1993 Life Overhaul Age 30 y – “The Price of Spiritual Power” by Roberts Liardon

1993 Vanity Money & possessions Judgmental Racism Sex lust & women Single vow for 3 y Attitude to parents

Process in 1993 Pray HS brought area of life to mind Look up related words in concordance eg sex lust adultery immorality verses, verses & more verses and more and verses, verses & more verses and other verses and yet more verses and more and verses and moreverses, and more and&other verses moreverses and other verses and yet more verses and verses, verses and more and verses and moreverses, and more and&other verses moreverses and verses, verses & more verses and other verses andverses yet more verses and verses, verses and more and verses andand more andand verses more other verses, verses & more verses andand other andverses yet more and otherand verses yet verses more verses, verses andverses andand more andand verses more other verses and moreverses, and more and& other verses moreverses and otherand verses yet more verses, and verses, verses and more and verses and moreverses, and more and&other verses moreverses and other verses and yet more verses other and yet more andverses, verses and more and verses and more and other verses and yet more verses other and yet more andverses, verses and more and verses, more and other verses andverses other verses and more other and yet more andverses, verses and verses. andand other verses andand verses, verses and more other verses yet more verses, verses & more verses and verses. and other verses andand verses, verses and more verses, verses & more verses and verses. and other verses and verses, verses & more verses → Do X → Don’t Copy out those verses & draw conclusions Go and do it Pray for ideas how to do this in my case

1993 Vanity Money & possessions Judgmental Racism Sex lust & women Single vow for 3 y Attitude to parents

Found that Jesus’ teachings were: • Most concentrated • Simplest • Hardest

Question When you think of “following Jesus’ teachings”, do you think of: v Reasonably simple, doable steps or near-impossible tasks? v Everyday, personal activites or church-related activities? v Practical outward actions, or solely internal changes of the heart and mind? v Principles which the Holy Spirit helps us apply specifically, or a list of rigid and specific rules? v A set of “do”s or a set of “don’t”s?

Question What is your concept of “repent”? q q q ✔ Admitting I’m sinful (in general) Feeling remorse, guilt, or shame Confessing specific sins to other people Admitting specific sins to God Change of behaviour (to God’s ways) Other ✔ Greek metanoeō = “change of mind” (and behaviour) Hebrew shub 1 = “turn back”, “return” (to the Lord and his ways)

Baptised in Holy Spirit 3 am 12 Oct 1993

Features of the baptism in the Holy Spirit v Tangible physical manifestation (“electric wind”) v Hot line to God, directed by God v Loved & accepted, insulated from negative emotions v Could see into some people’s hearts v More energy & less sleep v Interested in God things (only) v No aches

Question What do you think of supernatural encounters like this? q q q q Great! Quite normal Outside of my own experience Psychiatric Unbelievable, probably fabricated or exaggerated Probably demonic Other

12 Oct ’ 93 convinced me that: v God is very definitely there v Supernatural realm is accessible v If I do what Jesus said, God notices and responds v My church and pastor didn’t know everything

1993— 2007

2007 World Trip of Spiritual Hot Spots London Tunisia Kansas City LA Zambia Mozambique Question: Key to the anointing? Austin Toronto Pensacola

Conversation on a beach in California

All the blessings of the new covenant are conditional upon keeping Jesus’ teachings

Major blessings of the new covenant: 1. Eternal life 2. Freedom from sin 3. The Holy Spirit 4. God’s love and presence 5. Answered prayer

1. Eternal Life “If anyone keeps my teaching, he will never see death in the age [to come]. ” John 8: 51 Peter said to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life” John 6: 68 ESV “The Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life, so whatever I say is exactly what the Father has told me to say” John 12: 49 -50

1. Eternal Life “Keep my teachings…” Never see death (eternal life)

2. Freedom from Sin “If you keep my teaching, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8: 31 -32 lit.

2. Freedom from Sin “Keep my teachings…” Know / understand the truth Set free (from sin)

3. The Holy Spirit “If you love me, you will keep my commands, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth” John 14: 15 -16

3. The Holy Spirit “Love me” “Keep my commands” “I will ask the Father to give you the Spirit of truth”

4. God’s Love and Presence “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” John 14: 23

4. God’s Love and Presence Love me Obey my teaching My Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him

5. Answered Prayer “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. This brings glory to my Father, that you bear much fruit” John 15: 7

5. Answered Prayer Remain in me and my words remain in you Ask whatever you want and it will be done for you

Jesus teachings are… …for all nations: “Go and disciple all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep everything I have commanded you” Mt 28: 19 -20 …for all time, until the Judgment: “Whoever rejects me, and does not accept what I say, has as their judge my words which will judge them on the last day” Jn 12: 48

Blessings gained in 1993: 1. Eternal life ? 2. Freedom from sin ✔ 3. The Holy Spirit ✔ 4. God’s love and presence ✔ 5. Answered prayer -

Condition Blessing “keeps my teachings…” Jn 8: 51 1. Eternal life “hold to [remain, stay, live in] my teaching…” 2. Freedom from sin “keep my commands…” Jn 14: 15 3. The Holy Spirit “obey my teaching” Jn 14: 23 4. God’s love and presence “my words/teachings remain [stay, live] in you” Jn 15: 7 5. Answered prayer Jn 8: 31

2008 -2009 Queensland 18 months studying 4 gospels

2009 -10 Bribie Island Queensland 18 mo studying 4 gospels

Change of perspective to 30 AD

Wikimedia

Listen to the Holy Spirit Does the Holy Spirit want to say anything to me? HS

? Questions people have asked: 1. “Jesus’ teachings seem impossible, and if I tried to do them I would surely fail” 2. “Isn’t it possible to hear from God without having to go through a gruelling marathon of 6 years pacing the carpet or 48 hours without sleep? ”

Questions people have asked: ? 1. “Jesus’ teachings seem impossible, and if I tried to do them I would surely fail” Ø start with small steps, eg “turn the other cheek”, “give to everyone who asks” Ø God only asks for our best effort, not faultless perfection (Lk 10: 25 -28) Ø A few verses are mistranslated and make Jesus’ teachings seem extreme or impossible, eg “do both” (not “be perfect”) in Mt 5: 43 -48, and “fall away” (not “sin”) in Mt 5: 29 -30 Ø The Holy Spirit helps, both in terms of guidance and in making it easier than we’d expect

Questions people have asked: ? 2. “Isn’t it possible to hear from God without having to go through a gruelling marathon of 6 years pacing the carpet or 48 hours without sleep? ” Ø God does speak out of the blue, but it seems to be infrequent and unpredictable. Tends to pick a good time when we can respond positively, or circumstances requires action, or my needs are great. Ø Seems that God speaks when we are ready to listen and do what he wants; hence when I am willing, determined, or desperate (which may take a long time or extreme circumstances or other changes).

? Questions 1: Did the Holy Spirit say anything to you? Was there anything new or useful to you in this topic? Are there any queries or sticking points in your mind? What are the implications for us of all the blessings of the new covenant being conditional upon keeping Jesus’ teachings?

? Questions 2: What has been your view of Jesus’ teachings up til now? Do you tend to think of them as possible or impossible to do?