John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” NASB

I’ve said and heard it said – Jesus did nothing He did not see the Father doing and said nothing He did not hear the Father saying.  The basis for that finds root in this passage.  Here Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own initiative.”  The Only Begotten of the Father felt compelled to have confirmation from the Father before He did anything and if that was His mindset and mode of operation it most assuredly should be ours.  He refused to operate independently from the Father and we should refuse to operate independently from Him. 

Jesus said, “As I hear I judge.”  He waited until He Heard what the Father had to say before he judged, spoke, or acted and so should we.  Too often we put our mouths in gear before our brains are engaged or in this case before our spirits are attune to the mind and will of the Father.  In John 8:28 – “…I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.” NASB. When the LORD says “I HEAR” He is referring to those things the Father has “SHOWN” and “TAUGHT” Him.  (John 5:20).

There cannot be construed in the words of Jesus that had he acted or spoke without hearing the Father on that particular occasion that his acting or speaking would have been wrong. Rather He was in complete harmony and agreement with the Father in all things and would not act independently of that co-counsel of the God-Head.  He, as the virgin born sacrifice for the sin of mankind recognized that His will must be subject to the Divine Will and His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension was the outworking of that will.  He came to “seek and to save” that which Was lost.  He spoke it in the ‘past tense’ because He saw His sacrifice as a ‘finished work’ and ‘complete.’  There is nothing to add to or take away from His work on the Cross.  It is completely complete!

It would behoove each of us who serve in preaching ministry, counseling ministry, pastoral ministry, or any ministry as well as every individual believer to ‘wait’ for the LORD’s direction before we speak, act, or formulate a doctrine, opinion, or conviction.  We are not islands and without Him we can truly do nothing but in Him we are more than conquerors.  If He holds all the power of creation in His hands and knows the end from the beginning why would we not want to know His Will in the matter before charging in?

My button gets pressed from time to time and I want to give an immediate response, and sometimes do, but my objective is to give a measured response based on what I Hear Him say and See Him do.  If I make that the rule of my life and ministry I will have far less disappointment and reason for repentance and far more reason for rejoicing.  I want what He wants and that is renewal, restoration, and revival.  I want to see Him and His Kingdom manifest in this earth.

Blessings as you go through your day!