Chapter 6
Scripture Reading: John 1:12-13; 1 John 3:1-2
The history of the children of God is a great history. We have seen in previous messages that God gave man the privilege of being born anew. He gave man the opportunity to be transferred into His kingdom, to enter into the kingdom of God. We know the importance of being born anew and we thank the Lord that in this conference many were born anew. If we are happy, God is even happier.
Now we would like to speak something referring to the life of God and how this life is manifested. We have been in the organic ministry of John throughout this time. The Lord has led us to dive into the Spirit because God wants to make our lives different. God’s desire is to give us abundant life (John 10:10b).
We need to know the sense of this life to a certain measure so that we will not misunderstand it. In the past we might have had doubts concerning the feelings within such as, “Is this feeling from deep within my spirit or from my soul? Is it from God or myself?” It is important to know the sense of this life so that our experience may be deeper and stronger. We will see some matters that we need to apply for the rest of our lives.
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word.” “In the beginning was the Word.” What does this mean? This means that there is a word that exists from eternity past that came from eternity past. This word that came from eternity past is “the Word”, not just any word, but “the Word”. Today, in this world we have many “words”, words from school, words from the radio, words from our parents, etc. In one way or another, a “word” has encouraged you, “My friend said that. My parents said such and such but whatever my friend says, I can also say.” John here wants to get our attention and to show us “the Word” who existed from eternity past.
“The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” There is the Word that “was with God” and the Word that “was God.” If the words of men have influenced you, then John will tell you to return to the Word which is particular, unique and special, the Word who existed from eternity past, who was with God and was God. This Word who is so special, does He have room in your lives? We may say, “Amen”, and then I would ask, do you pray-read this word every day? Do you seek this word every day? Do you love this Word? Or is this Word just another “word” to you?
We are talking about something organic, about being a young person who concludes this age. For this there are some prerequisites, including that you need to treasure and love this word. It’s not just another “word”, but it is God’s word, the Word who was with God and was God.
Verses 2-3 say, “He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not one thing came into being which has come into being.” The most important matter is found in verse 4 which says, “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” There is a word which contains life. There is a word which is life. It’s a matter of believing or not believing.
When we say we believe, but just in a way of doctrine, and are not touching the life of the word, then what happens is that it becomes something which we seek only when we are in trouble or only on Sundays. But the Word John is speaking about changes people. If we desire to be organic and be changed in our lives, we need the Word.
Verse 4 also says that the life is the light of men. Life is light. Everything we desire must be to gain life! Do you want life? Life is in the word. One thing we need to see is how to gain life in the word. We need to ask ourselves whether we are gaining life or knowledge from the word. John shows us clearly that if someone really gains life from the word, he gains light also. It is very simple; if I gained life then I gained light! If you say that you gained life but still remain in the darkness, then you did not gain life. If you say you gained something from the word, yet you did not gain life or light, then you did not gain the Word or life or light. We need a firm and solid base so that we may be strong young people who can conclude this age.
Verse 5 says, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” If we gain the Word and life and light, then this light will shine in the darkness and the darkness will not be able to overcome the light. We know that Satan is connected to the darkness. The enemy is darkness and you are light. Maybe in some of us this is real, but this must be real in all of us. A young person who concludes this age is one who shines! What is the difference between the planets and the stars? A star has its own light, a planet does not have its own light. So then, if you gain the Word, and this word has life and the life is light, what will happen? You will shine! So then, your shining depends on how much you touch the Word in the word of God.
Verses 6-11 say, “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for a testimony that he might testify concerning the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might testify concerning the light. This was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, yet those who were His own did not receive Him.”
We are all of the Lord, but here it says, “He came to His own, yet those who were His own did not receive him.” What a terrible thing it would be if tonight there are some here who are of the Lord, but still have not received Him. You still have the opportunity.
Verses 12 and 13 continue, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” You were not born of the will of man nor the will of flesh but of God, because God desired this.
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