Living Ones

"Judgment is also someone set free for what they did not do."

THE THOUGHT in Caiaphas’ head was put there by the Spirit, who wanted him to prophesy the manner of Jesus’ death. Here’s a man who hated Jesus, who desired Him to die, despite being High Priest and supposedly dedicated to God, and the Holy Spirit used Him to state His message. We don’t like to think this way. But the Spirit of God, also called the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Father, has used men and women with a wrong agenda to speak what He wanted when He wanted it on many occasions. He once even used a donkey (Numbers 22:28). His reason here was obvious, but on other occasions the reason must be asked of Him. The reason why men die of what Jesus has delivered us from also must come from the Spirit. He is the God of all comfort and the Spirit of peace (2 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 5:22). Rest and safety come from Him. Wisdom and understanding are His, and He desires to speak truth (John 14:17).

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;” (John 11:49-51)

I mentioned this a few days ago, but the Holy Spirit honors what He has placed within us. There are times where the sermon topic is not His, or the teaching is not correct according to the Word, times where the speaker pokes fun at specific people, something the Spirit does not approve of, or they speak from the body’s desires and the mind’s likes and dislikes instead of speaking His words. Yet He doesn’t abandon the speaker, the congregation, or the church body, though they may be immature spiritually. He knows all people involved and how His Word is received and also what it will do in that moment.

Question: Why can someone with strife in them lay hands on the sick?

Answer: Well, the Spirit’s motives are pure. He knows the hearts of men and our thoughts and intents. What if that one who came for prayer has faith in that prayer? They would be healed, receive an answer, and leave blessed. What if the one laying hands on those who come for prayer just had a bad day or a bad week, and the Spirit moving through them sends them in the right direction? It is encouragement to them that corrects their path. We don’t need to consider all the different reasons, necessarily, but it is worth mentioning here. We are too quick to judge, and the Spirit because of Jesus’ sacrifice and Resurrection, which brought Him to earth as the fullness of the kingdom of God, is perfect justice. There is no flaw in what He chooses to do.

The Father made Jesus the Judge, and Jesus then said His justice was not of Himself but came through the Father (John 5:22, 30). The Holy Spirit is the Breath of the Father in the Hebrew language. These three are one in unity. As They judge, Their judgment is just. Our definition of judgment is too worldly. We think of a crime and someone convicted of it. But judgment is also someone set free for what they did not do. It is reparations made in finances or other day-to-day goods. We take the picture of judgment against the sinner and make it much larger than God’s forgiveness for sins. That is His judgment, which we can receive. God’s everlasting mercy is also His choice of judgment, and in Hebrews, His rest is His choice of judgment. But we have to accept them and act upon them, speak them knowing He will bring it to pass in us.

Nothing prevents God from bringing His will to pass. Not the sinfulness of men, the corruption in government, nor the strife and debate in the church. But we do prevent His Spirit from pouring Himself out upon us and ourselves from participating in what He is doing. Caiaphas was part of God’s plan without receiving the joy and goodness of it. So was Pharaoh when facing Moses. In the end, he and his army drowned in the Red Sea because Israel WOULD RECEIVE the Promised Land. Even Israel itself tried to prevent this, refusing to enter for fear of the giants, so God’s Word was fulfilled in their children (Numbers 14:31).

The Word of God would not fail in all that was spoken over its Messiah.

It will not fail in all that is spoken over us. We limit His work in us. We do not limit God. He is just as able, just as willing, and just as faithful. He is consistent and does not change. But what we refuse to do changes His results in us. The Scripture says, “Submit to God.” This is first. Then we “resist the devil.” (James 4:7) If we “resist God” then we have “submitted to the devil.” And there’s the difference. Men walk around in darkness because they are not in the Light. There is no third choice. Jesus brought the Light to us, so we must choose Light fo be set free of all the works of darkness, which includes ignorance of God’s voice and His will among us.

We must know that the devil does not personally cause every single pain, sickness, disease, financial disaster, relationship failure, that we suffer. He was the first to sin and he conceived sin, so He is to blame. He also caused Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden. He has been held accountable, judged, and condemned for this. But most of what we suffer in the body, the mind, the emotions, and the pocketbook comes because of death being in the world. God will one day remove all of death, and it won’t be found here. Until then, we have the promises of salvation through our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ. We have all we need to have a life and to be like God (2 Peter 1:3-4), who is so very patient and kind.

Who SO LOVED us.

This should be our desire. To walk WITH Him. To be IN CHRIST. And so not to miss out on the work of the Spirit, as dead branches instead of living ones, held fast by the glory of the flourishing Vine, its fruit abundant and overflowing.

“This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more?” (Psalm 16:9 VOICE)

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com