What God Says and I Agree

I am a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away, and all things have become new.  (2 Cor. 5:17.) It doesn't matter what anyone else says, this is what God says about anyone who knows Jesus Christ as their Savior. What does it mean for a man to become a "new creation"? Very simply, it means just what the Scripture says: the man actually becomes a new creature—his whole being, nature, life, and behavior changes:  When unsaved a man is dead to God, in Christ he becomes a "new creation" alive to God. When unsaved a man has no relationship with God, as a new creature in Christ he is given a relationship with God. And unsaved man is not sure about God, as a new creature in Christ he is absolutely certain about God. As an unsaved man he never fellowshipped and communed with God, as a new creature he fellowships and communes with God all the time. An unsaved man is living in sin and immorality, as a new creature he lives in righteousness and holiness. An unsaved man has to face death, as a new creature he never has to die. An unsaved man is doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God, as a new creature he is destined to live eternally in the presence of God because Jesus has died on the cross as payment for his sins.                                                                                                                            2.  How does a person become a new creation? Note the words of this Scripture: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." It is being "in Christ" that makes a person a new creature. When a person truly believes in Christ as his Savior, God places and positions him in Christ, in all that Christ is. Christ lived and died and arose, so to be in Christ means that a person lives, dies, and rises to new life in Christ. The person who believes in Jesus Christ is identified with Christ: that is, he is counted and considered to be "in Christ," reckoned and credited as "in Christ." His sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. The believer's faith actually causes God to identify the believer with Christ...as his sins are already paid for in the death of Christ and he is given the righteousness of Christ. God counts the believer as having been raised in Christ. Therefore, the believer has received the "new life" of Christ. Just as Christ had a new life after His resurrection, even so the believer receives the "new life" of Christ when he believes in Him. From this, it is clearly seen that a person who is "in Christ" is a new creature. This is what is meant by such Scriptural terms as being "born again" and becoming a "new man." However, no better words describe the experience than the words of this verse: "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is the message of the Christian ministry: a man can start life all over, no matter how corrupt he has become or how far down he has fallen. God longs to make a new creature out of him. When Nicodemus asked Jesus how can a man make it to Heaven: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

          Have you been born again by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and save your soul from Hell? If not you can do that right now where you are. If you will, you too will become a “new creation” in Christ. All your sins will be forgiven and you will have eternal life.

Why Worry?

Scripture Text Matt. 6:25-33

1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.

I don't know about you, but I don't have any time to waste these days. And worrying is a waste of very precious time. Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it? Matthew 6:27-29 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (NLT)

2. Worrying is Not Good for You.

Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that can even cause us to grow physically sick.

Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (NLT)

3. Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God.

The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Faith and Prayer equals Trust.

Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?(NLT) Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)  And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT) We should have a calm God-centered and trusting attitude. A person goes about living and working ever so diligently and calmly, trusting God to take care of all. He does all he can about the necessities of life, both for himself and for others, but he seeks God and His righteousness first.

4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.

When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his kingdom. God will take care of our every need.

Matthew 6:25 (NLT) That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Matt. 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Matthew 6:31-33 So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)

Invitation: If you have not been forgiven of your sins against God it might be time to be concerned! Ask Jesus to forgive you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you until you are called home. Then you won’t have to worry because Jesus will take care of all that concerns you.

Words to Live By

Scripture Text 

Mark 5:35-36, 41-42

Intro: No matter what situation you are in or what you are facing now or what you might face in the future, Jesus has some words of truth that you can live by. Jesus’ words will never fail you! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) What He speaks He brings to pass!

I. The problem. Mark 5:35 (NLT) While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” Jairus’ daughter had died. Death is final and  seemed it was too late for help. This was a hopeless situation from a human point of view. Maybe you are going through a hopeless situation or circumstance right now or you are facing one in the future. Jairus had faith that Jesus could and would help. Jesus cares about our problems. Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV) ^5b For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 When we pray Jesus also hears our cry for help. He cares and is concerned about us.

II. Jesus heard about the problem.  Mark 5:36a (NLT) But Jesus overheard them. Messengers from Jairus’ house came with the word that his daughter was dead and Jesus heard them. Jesus had compassion on Jairus and was going to help him. He has compassion for us. We are told to ask, seek, and knock on heaven’s door for all our needs. Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) ⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

III. Jesus speaks words of faith. (Mark 5:36b) Only believe.”

 1. “Don’t be afraid.” Jesus knows our first reaction to a problem. Fear and faith can’t exist together. Fear cancels out faith! Fear paralyzes us, drags us down. Fear is all around us each and every day to some degree. How can we overcome fear? Jesus tells us how!

2. “Only Believe.” (v:36)

 a. Jesus says the way to handle our every problem is to believe. Believe means to have confidence in the truth. Jesus is the truth so He only speaks truth. Believe also means to have a conviction that a person will be involved in a given situation. It means to have faith in the reality, honesty, and benevolence of a person. When we bring a problem to Jesus in prayer, we are to have trust and confidence that He has heard us and He will take care of the problem. James 1:6-7 (NLT) ⁶ But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

IV. Jesus grants the believer’s request.  Mark 5:41-42 (NLT) ⁴¹ Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

 a. Jesus demonstrated His great love and amazing power. He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead whereby Jesus shows us His great power and as the angel told Mary “nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) When God spoke these words to Mary she meditated upon this simple statement, "With God all things are possible," she believed and was encouraged. In Mark 9:23 Where a father asked Jesus if He could do anything for his demon possessed son Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

 Conclusion: May these words of truth and faith dwell in our hearts from this day forward. When we face problems in this world and we take them to God in prayer, may we be able to remember the words of Jesus in each situation. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Invitation: Have you placed your faith and belief in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? If not ask Jesus to forgive and save you right now. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

      Invite Him into your life right now and know the love, peace and joy of sins forgiven!