Greetings in Jesus’ name, dear listeners, to our fifth talk in our series on New Testament Survey. This is the third of three talks on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In our last talk, we presented the synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. Today, we shall present the Gospel of John.

Welcome listeners to our fourth talk of our series on New Testament Survey. This is the second of three talks on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Greetings, dear listeners, to our third talk in our series on New Testament Survey. This is also the first of three sessions on the four gospels that are the first four books of the New Testament. The names of these books are in sequence: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Let me introduce the Gospels as the type of writing.

Welcome, dear listeners, to our series entitled New Testament Survey. This is a 12-part series in 15-minute segments on a survey of the New Testament of the Bible. It is a complementary series to our series entitled Old Testament Survey.

We are living in the end times. The Lord reminds us that our present sufferings and trials are but “birth pains” of a new creation to come. What will happen in the meantime? Paul writes about a great “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He warns that “the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” - 1 Timothy 4:1. The end times are times of increasing darkness and evil.

Restoring Our Soul

God desires us to yield our soul—our mind, emotions and will—to Him. He restores our soul and helps us to increase our capacity and grow in wholeness. Our natural mind is argumentative, cynical and inclined to follow the wisdom of the world. It needs to be renewed daily after the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2 and 1 Corinthians 2:16). What does this involve?

When Jesus was baptised at the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and the Father affirmed His delight. Similarly, the Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered disciple will see the heavens opened, experience the delight of the Father and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean for the heavens to be opened and closed? The principle is found in Deuteronomy 28—obedience to the voice of God brings blessings (vv. 1-14) and disobedience brings curses (vv. 15-68). Blessings and abundance occur when the heavens are opened.

Scripture refers to the Jordan River almost 200 times, often as a crossing point or a boundary marker. You remember Joshua and the new generation of Israelites? Picture them: they stood nearing the end of a long journey, at the threshold of reaching the land flowing with milk and honey. There they stood with only this waterway separating them from the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17). It was also this same river that Elijah struck its waters and it parted, allowing him and Elisha to cross over on dry ground.

Strongholds derail us and we veer off the path of life. Momentarily, we are in the presence of God and we experience a bit of joy, but the strongholds in us cause us to leave His presence and we lose that experience.

Similarly, at the Lord’s right hand, we experience a satisfaction and fulfilment of our significance and security in the Lord. But strongholds will divert us from that true knowledge of God. Hence, the Jerichos remaining in our lives will continue to block us from entering into an increasing measure of the true knowledge of God.

Let’s begin by listening to the Book of James 4:6-10,

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.