There comes a time when we need to know
"WHAT DID PETER, JAMES AND JOHN say to do"!
"WHAT DID PETER, JAMES AND JOHN say to do"!
My Friends, I come to you today to ask you to meditate on the words of 3 men who left all they had to join with Jesus. They were called, just as ALL of us are called- by God!
Jesus said- “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”.
These 3 men spent more private time with Jesus than all the other Disciples. When Jesus went in the homes to heal or in the mountains to pray He often took these 3 men with HIM. Jesus even took them with Him to the garden of gethsemane the night He was arrested.
They were HIS inner circle and they knew Him best-
their names are: PETER, JAMES AND JOHN.
their names are: PETER, JAMES AND JOHN.
Their Epistles get very little mention (compared to Paul) and this often leads to an imbalance for most Christians trying to understand what's truly expected of them to be
followers of Jesus Christ.
In my Bible (NKJV) the Epistles of Peter, James and John total less than 20 pages. With that in mind I feel anyone who desires to know what they said will -read- their Epistles so I’m not going to give you specific location of scriptures, only instructions from them.
I trust IF you really desire to know what Peter, James and John said, it will show in your study of their Epistles and your obedience to follow their instructions.
* Before you begin to read, PLEASE pray for wisdom and understanding.
What Did Peter say to do ?
#1- PURIFY YOUR SOULS and BE HOLY
Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." : love one another fervently with a pure heart. Lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people
#2- LOVE ONE ANOTHER
All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another;
love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
What Did James say to do ?
#1- BE SINGLEMINDED, FAITHFUL AND WISE
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom.
#2- ENDURE TEMPTATIONS and STAY UNSPOTTED
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God- whoever therefor wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. If anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
What Did John say to do ?
#1- GOD IS LIGHT
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
#2- DON’T SIN - PURIFY YOURSELF
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is sin.
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
#3- LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world and we know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. amen
*****************************************************************************************
IN CONCLUSION :
What I've done was share with you an overview of the wisdom taught from Peter, James and John. The closer we look at their teachings the more we’ll see that it originated with Jesus and is also covered in the 4 Gospels. The more we know WHAT JESUS SAID, the more we'll see HIS APOSTLES were teaching what they first learned from Jesus.
Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would remind them what He said and did, (after He was gone). The more we read the 4 Gospels as well as the Epistles, the easier it'll be for the Holy Spirit to remind us, what to say and how to live.
As Christians its our duty, as well as instruction to follow WHAT JESUS and HIS DISCIPLES said. When we decide to do what they say, and not just talk about what they say, then we will be a TRUE CHRISTIAN, someone who is Christ-like by our example.
I encourage you to read the Epistles from Peter, James and John, its only 20 pages or so and follow their advice. They walked with Jesus more than any one else- they ought to know, what to do, and whats expected from those who believe in Jesus Christ.
May HIS PEACE be with you forevermore!
in HIS LOVE I serve
Rev. Christian
ps. Jesus said: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".
Have you made a Conclusion in Christ ?
Who is Rev. Terry A. Christian?
He’s a former Inspirational Speaker and Executive Trainer with over 20 years experience giving more than 2,500 presentations to audiences across America and Canada. Several years ago, Terry retired as a public speaker after feeling the Holy Spirit redirecting his life.
While in prayer, he was told to create a book containing only the words of Jesus. A book that would teach Believers, without interpretations, opinions or commentary. It would take him 12 years to complete the book, What Did Jesus Say .... The Seven Messages from the Master.
While in prayer, he was told to create a book containing only the words of Jesus. A book that would teach Believers, without interpretations, opinions or commentary. It would take him 12 years to complete the book, What Did Jesus Say .... The Seven Messages from the Master.
It's now in full color- Print, eBook and Audiobook, formats.
Today, he counsels individuals and couples seeking a more mature understanding of their relationship with Jesus Christ. His life is now dedicated to helping his brothers and sisters inChrist, live in a never-ending state of peace, love, and forgiveness, as followers of Jesus Christ. Terry believes after repentance and Baptism, this was the message Jesus taught; and teaching The Way, by The Word is the cornerstone of his ministry.
Today, he counsels individuals and couples seeking a more mature understanding of their relationship with Jesus Christ. His life is now dedicated to helping his brothers and sisters inChrist, live in a never-ending state of peace, love, and forgiveness, as followers of Jesus Christ. Terry believes after repentance and Baptism, this was the message Jesus taught; and teaching The Way, by The Word is the cornerstone of his ministry.
