Being led by His nature rather than by His word.
This is a very interesting statement, but is it possible ?
I believe the answer is Yes !
That Jesus was a witness of this for us !
Today we are going to explore this.
Do you remember this scripture:
John 14:8 (TPT)
Philip spoke up, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be all that we need!”
What an interesting and very unusual question, right ?
I believe it’s a key to our subject today. As when the Father chooses to reveal something to us. It often comes through a question, invitation, or suggestion. Allowing us to choose to believe, understand, and act. Which is His nature, centred in Love.
The above question is one of these !
So let’s stop here and have a look at this question.
“Lord, show us the Father, and that will be all that we need!”
I believe this statement is very similar to Simon Peter’s statement, in Matthew 16:16 (TPT)
Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!”
Do you remember what Jesus’ response was?
Matthew 16:17 (TPT)
Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged, Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you.
I believe Philip’s statement asking Jesus to reveal the Father. Is also supernaturally revealed through Philip. Why ?
Because it allows the Father then to answer through Jesus ! Who was fully submitted to the Father. Through the marriage in the wilderness with the Spirit of God. Also through the time He had slipped away to take time with Him.
Let’s read the part of scripture where Jesus starts sharing about His relationship with the Father.
John 14:9 (TPT)
Jesus replied, “Philip, I’ve been with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am?”
I believe this statement is the Father revealing Himself through Jesus !
Next, Jesus says something rather interesting:
“How could you ask me to show you the Father, for anyone who has looked at me has seen the Father.”
This might sound like a rebuke or a harsh statement. But I think Jesus is trying to say, “ You knew me at the start of my ministry. Can you not see the difference in who I am now ? How I have been changed on the journey with My Father. Then Jesus reveals the Truth of who He is now, through His walk with the Father.
John 14:10 (TPT)
Don’t you believe that the Father is living in me and that I am living in the Father? Even my words are not my own but come from my Father, for He lives in me and performs His miracles of power through me.
Jesus, through His walk with the Father, had become one with the Father. What I believe started by following His Father’s word or instructions. Now had brought a complete transformation in Him. To the point they were one. That what He said, did, and the miracles He performed were all an expression of the Father, Jesus was led by His Father’s Nature.
I believe what Jesus was a witness of here, is what we can have and become too. If we are willing, to be led by His Nature.
The most amazing thing about living out of His nature or being led by His nature. Is that we will be able to be used at a higher level by the Father. As everything is done at a level beyond, what our mind can comprehend and understand. For the Father wants to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. As seen in Ephesians 3:20 (TPT)
But doubt which comes from our own personal understanding and experiences will stop this.
Doubt happens when we reason a current situation, from our lack of understanding of a past experience.
But if we are led by His nature, this will allow us to bypass our personal reasoning, understanding and our mind. To step out and experience His fullness, through us, as Jesus did. The only difference is we will enter this place through the one that has already opened the way for us, Jesus !
So I believe we can be one with the Father through Jesus. To the point that, our words are not our own, but come from our heavenly Father. For He lives in us through His Son Jesus and wants to perform His miracles of power in Him through us .
The level of being led by His nature, will be to the level of your belief, in Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit.
This is what Jesus focuses on in our next part of scripture.
John 14:11 (TPT)
Believe that I live as one with my Father and that my Father live’s as one with me—or at least, believe because of the mighty miracles I have done.
- Believe that Jesus lived as one with His/Our Father and that His/Our Father lived as one with Jesus.
- Believe because of the mighty miracles Jesus has done.
- Believe that all of the above is the Truth.
For there is a reward awaiting for those who believe, to the level they believe. Jesus explains this Truth, in His last statement of our scripture today.
John 14:12 (TPT)
“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!
Jesus wants you to do the same as He did, to witness the Love of the Father, His Power and His Presence through His Spirit.
But this can only be done, through His Son Jesus, who made the way !
John 14:13 (TPT)
For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him.
Over the next few weeks we are going to look at how we transition from being led by His word, to being led by His nature.
But before we continue, here is a question for you.
Do you want to transition from being led by His word, to being led by His nature ?
If so, we first need to understand and learn the importance of being led by His word. As this is how Jesus started, remember Jesus words to the devil in Matthew 4:4 (NKJV). But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Next we need to learn how to transition from being led by His word, to being led by His Spirit.
Luke 4:14 (NKJV)
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
Before we can enter what we have been talking about today the phase or level of being led out of His Nature.
So for those who would like some help in all these areas. I will be releasing a series over the next few weeks that will focus on each.
I hope by doing this we can find a way for us all. To move forward to the next level of His Glory.presence and power ! Becoming more effective in our ministries, He has given us.
Let’s finish today with a prayer !
Father I thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Son !
Jesus thank You for revealing the true nature of the Father to the world and us ! Now help us all to transition and grow, being able to do the same. Revealing the Father through You Jesus, in us, to the world around us Amen
For those of you, who want to place an offering at the alter or plant a finical seed in the fertile ground of the Lord. Maybe you could contribute in someway towards His House, we are currently building. To equip the saints for ministry, then release His word through them, in a variety of ways.
Below is a link to a secure website, so you can do this safely online.
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=87bf3759-ef4a-4ae2-ac5d-902b82587e44
Or our bank account details for New Zealand memebers,
Encounter Centre – 03-0481-0007448-000
If you require a receipt for tax purposes please email to info@encounterministries.org.nz
Craig Patten
Founding Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries