We Remember!

Scriptures From N.K.J.V.

Intro: Today we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection from the dead. After the Lord's Supper, before Jesus made His way to the “Garden of Gethsemane” where He would face unbelievable  agony and suffering, He prayed for His disciples as they were left to carry out His kingdom's work and all those who would believe their message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus shows His love for us. He was not concerned with Himself but us. He ever lives to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)

1. In just a short time after Jesus' prayer for us, He would be suffering great agony and pain as He made His final steps to the cross. As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection this Sunday,we remember that severe agony and pain Jesus suffered for us on His way to the cross. LUKE 22:39-46 Says as He prayed there in the garden, Jesus was in such agony the angels came and ministered to Him, strengthening Him as He sweat drops of blood. There while He was praying, His disciples went to sleep on Him. They could not stay awake to help Him pray for what was ahead.

2. Even after suffering such agony in the garden, Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples.

Luke 22:47 (NKJV) ⁴⁷ And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

3. He was deserted by His disciples. Matthew 26:31 (NKJV) 
³¹ Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' Not one disciple stood by Him. Jesus walked the road of suffering to the cross all alone.

4. Peter denied Him 3 times, last time with a curse. Matthew 26:74-75 (NKJV) ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.

5. Jesus was falsely accused and denied a proper trial before the religious leaders and Pontius Pilate.

No fault could be found in Him. Luke 23:13-16 (NKJV) ¹³ Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; ¹⁵ no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. ¹⁶ I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"

6. Even though Jesus did no wrong, He was unjustly condemned to die on a cross by His own people the Jews.

Luke 23:18-24 (NKJV)¹⁸ And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"--
¹⁹ who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
²⁰ Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. ²¹ But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" ²² Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."
²³ But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.

7. This week we remember how He endured that cross, hanging there in agony with His arms outstreched in love until He gave His Life to pay the penalty for our sins. He was left alone even by the Father God while He bore our sins in His body.

Matthew 27:45-46 (NKJV) ⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

John 19:28-30 (NKJV) ²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. The payment for mankind's sin was now paid in full.

8. Today we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

A. Jesus' body was taken from the cross and put in a borrowed tomb and sealed. Matthew 27:64-66 (NKJV) ⁶⁴ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

B. But on the third day He arose! Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Hallelujah, Jesus Christ lives and He lives in His people.

7. Why is the Resurrection so important?

a. Because of the Resurrection, we know that the Kingdom of Heaven has broken into earth’s history. Acts chap. 2

b. Because of the Resurrection, we know that death has been conquered and that we who believe in Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will be raised from the dead also to live forever with Jesus and the Father God.

c. The Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world. No other religion has a risen Savior and Lord.                         1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. The apostles’ most important message was the proclamation that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead for the forgiveness of man's sin! Because He lives, we who believe will also live together with Him and the Father forever.

d. The Resurrection gives meaning to the church’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Christ’s suffering on our behalf, His victorious resurrection, and His imminent return to take us to Himself.

e. The Resurrection helps us find meaning even in great tragedy. What we experience here is not all there is. No matter what happens to us as we walk with the Lord, the Resurrection gives us certain hope for the future.

f. The Resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and ruling his Kingdom. All powers subject to Him.

This week we remember Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection as we worship and praise Him in God's house for all He has accomplished for us. What a Savior, we are free from the penalty of sin.

Invitation: All I ask is that you each respond to what you have read as God's Spirit leads you before we this Sunday!

Death is certain! Be sure you are right with God. If you have not been saved and you are not right with God, then ask Jesus to forgive your sins and then invite Him into your life to save you from Hell and live in you to guide, guard, and direct each day of the rest of your life. You will be so glad you did, so sorry if you don't!  

 The Lord's High Preistly Prayer

Jesus Prays For His Own

John 17

Intro: John 17 contains Jesus’ great “High Priestly intercessory prayer.” Please get your bible and follow along. You will be blessed if you do.

It expresses the deepest desires of Jesus’ heart for His return to the Father and for the destiny of His chosen ones. Jesus asked the Father to grant the believers the same kind of unity that He and the Father enjoyed from eternity—a unity of love.

In verses 1-5 Jesus prays for Himself! He prays to be glorified in His hour so He could glorify the Father. Jesus had glorified God while on earth. He had finished the work He came to do. (John 19:30) The way for mankind’s salvation was paid in full. He prays to be glorified in the Father as He was before the world was.

In verses 9-19 Jesus prays for His disciples!

After praying for his own glorification, Jesus turned the direction of his petition to his disciples. These were the men God had selected to give to his Son as his disciples. To these men, given to him by the Father out of the world, Jesus had expressed the reality of the Father’s person to them. And they had kept his word. Their faith wasn’t perfect, and they would fail their Savior in the coming hours; but their commitment was in the right place, and they would return to this faith and to obedience to God after His death and resurrection.

17:9 These disciples were the object of Jesus’ affection and Jesus’ prayer. He was not praying for the world. Instead, he was praying for those the Father had given him. These would carry on the good news of salvation to the world. They would need the prayers of Jesus be able to do what He had called them to do. 17:10 Jesus’ words reveal his oneness, closeness, and equality with God the Father. These disciples belonged to both him and the Father, and they were the ones in whom Jesus would be glorified on earth after he had returned to the Father. The disciples’ lives would reveal Jesus’ essential character to those who had not yet believed, so Jesus would be present in the world through them.

17:11 Jesus would be departing the world to rejoin the Father; the disciples would stay behind to carry out God’s plan by spreading the good news of salvation. Such a mission would arouse great hostility from the evil one, so the disciples needed special protection. Jesus asked that the Holy Father would keep them and care for them. The prayer itself indicates confidence in God’s ability to “keep” his children, while at the same time allowing the disciples to hear Jesus’ desire for how they are to be kept. Jesus prayed that they would be united just as he and the Father are united. They should have a unified desire and purpose to serve and glorify God. Then they would have the strongest of all possible unions.

In verse 11 He prayed for God to keep them in His care.

In verse 12 Jesus had kept all His disciples except Judas. The sciptures foretold of Judas' betrayal of Jesus.

In verse 13 Jesus prayed for His disciples to have His joy in them.

In verse 14 Jesus had given His disciples God's word which caused the world to hate them as it had Jesus.

In verse 15 Because of the world's hatred of them, Jesus prays the Father to keep His disciples from the evil one.

In verse 17 He prayed for God to sanctify them by His word. Sanctify- to purify or free from sin. That's why the word of God is so important. King David confirmed this many centuries earlier in the book of Psalms.

Psalms 119:11 (NKJV) Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

In verses 20-26 Jesus prays for all believers.

In verse 21 Jesus prayed for us to be one in each other as He and the Father are one. He prayed we would be one in Him and the Father. We are to be one in nature, character, and purpose. As the world watches us live out our oneness in them, it is for the purpose of helping people believe in Jesus and God. We must demonstrate thru our lives what we believe or there is no power to persuade. We Christians are to be differrent then the world.

In verse 22 Jesus has given us God's glory in Himself. Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV) Jesus, who being the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

When we were saved the very Spirit of the living God came into our being in all His glory. Romans 5:5 (NKJV) ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

In verse 23 Jesus’ work was not only to speak and model the character of God. His ultimate purpose was to present both the splendor and character of God (God’s glory) in such a way that God would become personally real to us. We, in turn, are to pass on what we had received to others so they may also believe. We who have received the glory should become unified in our shared relationship with Christ. Complete and perfect unity between God and believers results in worldwide belief. When we demonstrate this oneness, we will convince the world that the Father sent the Son.

In verse 24 Jesus wants all believers to be with him where he is so they can see his glory. Think of glory as the full revelation of God's nature, attributes, character and the awesomeness of God. Glory is the Weight of the full Truth of God in His holiness and fullness. What wonderful assurance Jesus’ prayer gives us to know that the Lord of heaven wants us to be with him. This request impacts our present experience and future hope. In the present, we unite with God the Father in Christ thru the Holy Spirit. In the future, we will be with Christ in eternal glory and enjoy with him the love he experienced with the Father forever.

In verse 25 The world doesn't know God at all. But anyone who is a believer knows that the Father has sent Jesus, and the purpose was for Jesus to die as payment for our sins. We must tell the good news to others so they can know.

In verse 26 Jesus said He has declared the Father to believers and He would continue to declare Him thru the Holy Spirit. Jesus declares that we believers know that God had sent Him into the world. Jesus prays for us that thru Him we would truly know and experience God's love and fullness as He does. That the same love that God has for Jesus, He prayed we would have. What a Savior we have who thought to pray for us on His way to the cross to die for us so we could be saved from Hell. Jesus even in heaven continues to pray and interceed for us.

Hebrews 7:24-25 (NKJV)
²⁴ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Invitation: Do you know personally this Savior of the world. He died on that cross for you. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins, now would be a good time to do that. Just ask, dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins against God and His word. Please forgive me and come into my life and lead, guide, and direct me from this day forth. I pray in Your name Jesus, giving you taahnks for saving my soul from Hell.

Road to the Cross

Matt. 21:1-11

Intro: Today we will look at the last week of Jesus' life on this earth. Today we begin with Jesus' triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem.

Jesus had spent the night before in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Jesus had nothing of this world's goods. In order to fulfill the Scripture of Zachariah 9:9 that the Messiah was to enter the city riding a colt, Jesus had to borrow the colt. How materialistic we become, thinking we must have things in order to live!

He told His disciples where to find a donkey. They were to take the donkey and the colt and to bring them back to him. What was the significance of this event? By entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem in this way. Luke 19:41-42 (NKJV) ⁴¹ Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, ⁴² saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Jesus was the

Many in the crowd apparently understood that Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah, shouting, “Hosanna”—which means, “O Save!” and calling him “Son of David.” The people were excited because their long-awaited king had arrived, and for a time Jesus had their support; however, they failed to understand what kind of king Jesus was. He was not entering Jerusalem as a conquering warrior, but as a peaceful king riding upon a lowly animal. The throne that he was about to claim was not a golden throne, but a wooden cross. Sin enslaves us--but Christ gave his life as a ransom for our sins. The people would turn on Him before the week was over.

I. JESUS GOES TO THE TEMPLE in Matt. 21:12

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He entered the Temple. As the Messiah, he was a priest as well as a king, and the temple was the dwelling place of his heavenly father. This entrance would mark the beginning of a dramatic confrontation with the religious authorities who ran the temple. Jesus does the following:

II. He cleanses the temple (Mt. 21:12-13). The temple was where people came to offer sacrifices for their sins. They would give an animal to the priest, and he would sacrifice the animal and offer it up to God. If a person did not have an animal, he would purchase one. For those who came to the temple from out of town, they would have to change money first to buy the animal. Jesus was upset that this business was being conducted in the temple itself, which was supposed to be a place of prayer,

not a “den of thieves.” He drove out everyone who was buying and selling in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers.

III. He heals in the temple (Mt. 21:14-17). After cleansing the temple, all of the blind and lame come to Jesus to be healed. By caring for these unfortunate people, Jesus turns the temple into what it was supposed to be—a place of healing. How would the religious authorities respond?

IV. Jesus teaches lesson on faith. Matt. 21:17-22) Jesus leaves the city and went to Bethany where He spent the night. In the morning asHe was returning to Jerusalem He stopped long enough to teach a lesson on faith by cursing the fig tree and causing it to be dried up at the roots. Jesus said we could also by faith do the same thing by speaking to our mountain and believing in our heart it will move.

V. He teaches in the temple (Mt. 21:23-27). In the past, Jesus had spent most of his time teaching out in the countryside and in villages. Now he was claiming his right as the Son of God to teach in the temple itself—the domain of the religious leaders. They try to challenge his authority, but they cannot answer any of the religious questions that he asks them. In verses 28-32 Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for their unbelief in Him as The Messiah.

VI. He pronounces judgment in the temple (Mt. 21:33-46). Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who rented out his land and went away on a long journey. When the harvest time came, the owner sent his servants to

collect the fruit, but the tenants killed each servant that he sent. Finally, he sent his son, but they killed him too. The point of the parable was that religious leaders did not own the temple—they were tenants. They and their forefathers had killed God’s servants that he had sent. Now they would kill God’s son too.

From chapter 22 – 25 In chapter 22 Jesus tells the parable of the wedding dinner which was a metaphor of the “MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.” Many are called but few accept invitation. Leaders tried to trip Jesus up by asking Him questions about taxes and the resurrection and the greatest commandment. In chapter 23 Jesus warned the religious leaders and condemned them. Jesus did this because the leaders were hungry for more power, money, and status. That had made the people lose sight of God, and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation. Jesus once again grieves over Jerusalem for their blindness and rejection of Him as their Messiah.

In chapter 24 Jesus departs the Temple and teaches His disciples about signs and the things that would happen on earth before His return to earth to set up His Kingdom.

In chapter 25 Jesus tells the parable of the 10 bridesmaids. In this parable Jesus is telling those in the church to be ready for His return at any time to take His people home in the rapture or great catching up of the church.

The next event in Jesus' last week was the observance of the Passover feast where He instituted of the Lord's Supper.

VII. In Matt. 26:1-5 Jesus tells His disciples that the Feast of Passover is approaching and warns them concerning His coming crucifixion by the religious leaders.

The Passover refers back to the time when God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage in (Exodus 12). He had pronounced judgment, the taking of the firstborn, upon the people of Egypt for their injustices against the nation of Israel. As He prepared to execute the final judgment, those who believed God were instructed to slay a pure lamb and sprinkle its blood over the door posts of their homes. The blood of the innocent lamb would then serve as a sign that the coming judgment had already been carried out upon the sacrificial lamb. When seeing the blood, God would pass over that house. Those who believed God applied the blood to their homes and were saved, but those who did not believe did not apply the blood to their homes and they were destroyed, both Egyptians and Israelite's alike.

Then in verses 26-30 Jesus shows that He is the fulfillment of the O.T. Passover lamb by establishing a New Covenant to be confirmed by the sacrificing of His body and blood on the cross. Matthew 26:26-30 (NKJV) ²⁶ And as they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." ²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sin. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." ³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus was tying the O.T. Passover meal and the Lord's Supper to His death on the cross.

Jesus by the establishing a “new covenant” was showing that He was the fulfillment of the O.T. Passover Lamb.

John the Baptist spoke of this as he was preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah he said in:

John 1:29 (NKJV) "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He was using metaphor of O.T.

Just as the blood of the O.T. Passover lamb caused the judgment of God to passover their houses when applied to the door posts, The blood of Christ when applied to our hearts causes God's judgment for our sin to passover us. We are freed from the penalty of sin thru the blood of Christ.

Jesus offered His body and blood as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind once and for all.

Hebrews 9:28 (NKJV) Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Invitation: Are you ready for Jesus' return? If you die before His return, are you prepared to meet Him? Has Jesus' shed blood been applied to your heart's door? Have you confessed your sins and asked Jesus to forgive you? If not, don't wait another day, do it now.

Remember Jesus walked the road to the cross for you so you could be with Him and the Father in Heaven for eternity!

THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

A study of the fact of God's blessings is a wonderful study. God is the greatest giver of all. James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. The Father exemplified the greatest possible giving when he gave his only begotten Son for sinful man. There are numerous Hebrew and Greek words translated bless, blessed, and blessings. Viewed collectively they mean "to declare happy, to speak well of, very happy." Again, I stress that God is the source of all true blessings.

I. Those that God blesses. In a general sense, God blesses all men in that He has provided for all Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Matthew 5:45 That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

However, in actuality God only blesses certain ones in the sense of his salvation and providence. Consider those whom God has said he blesses (also consider the opposite application).

II. Those that trust in God. "Blessed is the man that trusts in Him," declared the Psalmist in chapter 34 v: [8] Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalms 34:7,9,10 [7] The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. [9] Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. [10] The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

To trust in God means we believe him and rely on him. The trust taught is child like, as a child trusts in his parents for provision and guidance Matthew 18:3-4 [3] "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. John 6:47-48 (NKJV) 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life.

III. Those who consider the poor. Again, God plainly speaks through his word: "Blessed is he that considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" (Ps. 41: 1). The biblical principle is, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20: 35). Giving is the key to receiving. 2 Corinthians 9:9-11 [9] As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." [10] Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, [11] while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

IV. Those who hear instruction. Wisdom says, "Hear instruction, and be wise and refuse it not" (Prov. 8: 33). "Blessed is the man that hears me," God's word continues, "watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors" (vs. 34). God also said, "Whoso loves instruction loves knowledge: but he that hates reproof is brutish (Prov. 12: 1).

V. Those who keep God's ways. God's word unequivocally says, "Now therefore hearken unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways" (Prov. 8: 32). Jesus said, "If you know these things, blessed are you if ye do them" (Jn. 13: 17, ). Matthew 7:26 [27] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-25 [24] "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: [25] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Talking about keeping God’s ways, His righteousness, merits, and atonement, while the person is not conformed to His word and spirit, is only living in self-deception. Let it be observed, that it is not the man who hears or believes these sayings of Christ, whose building shall stand, when the earth and its works are burnt up; but the man who DOES them.

VI. Those who endure. "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him," declared the Spirit in James (Jas. 1: 12). Peter taught that if one turns back to the world, it would have been better for him to have never known the way of righteousness 2 Peter 2:20-21 [20] For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. [21] For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. There is a strong warning here. If someone once knows Christ and has returned to the world, his fate is going to be worse than if he had never begun with Christ. Why? Because he has known the truth and he has chosen to deliberately reject it. And even more, he is living against it. He has corrupted the truth of Christ and is leading others into destruction, dooming their very souls. We must endure to the end to be blessed of God.

VII God's blessings are in Christ. The casual student of the scriptures should be familiar with the expression "in Christ." It is in Christ that the Father spiritually blesses man today. Hear the apostle Paul: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1: 3). Appreciate the fact that "all spiritual blessings" are in Christ.

CONCLUSION: Please note that all these blessings are “in Christ”. You must know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior to receive these blessings from God. He can not bless as long as we deny His Son that He sent into this world to forgive us our sins. If you have never confessed your sins to Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive you, do it now. Say Jesus the bible says that all of us have sinned and I ask You to forgive me my sins against God. I am sorry for my sins and I receive You right now into my life as my Savior and Lord. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now you can experience the blessings of God in your life.

Life Is Valuable

LIFE IS VALUABLE BECAUSE GOD CREATED US

PS. 139:1-6, 13-16
INTRO: We live in a world that has a growing disregard for human life. But God values human life very much because He gave His Son Jesus Christ to save all mankind. He cares even to the numbering of hairs on our head. (Luke 12:7) The thought that God knows everything there is to know may at first make us uncomfortable. But it should also show us of His concern for us. In verse 17 David said “How precious are Your thoughts toward me, how great is the sum of them.”

Psalms 139:1-6 (NKJV)
¹ For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ² You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.  ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
I. GOD VALUES HUMAN LIFE                                                                                                                                          

VS: 1 Because He cares, God knows everything about us.
VS: 2 - When I sit and rise- all of the days activity God perceives our heart and thoughts.
God knows what I am thinking every minute of every day. That thought wil help us watch what we think.

VS: 3 – From the time we get up till we go to sleep. In all our daily activities, God is familiar with every thing we do. Nothing can be hidden from Him. He understands the real reason why we do what we do.

Vs.: 4- God knows what we are going to say before we ever say it. May we use our words wisely. 

Vs.: 5- Wherever we are, we are under the eye and hand of God. He goes before us and behind us. We are completely surrounded by God's every caring Spirit.                                                                        

Vs: 6- We cannot understand how God can know so much about us. It is beyond our comprehension

II. WE ARE VALUABLE EVEN BEFORE WE ARE BORN (verses 13-16.)
Psalms 139:13-16 (NKJV)
¹³ For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
When we were created, God was there forming us. The Lord created him in his mother’s womb. Then David stressed certain features of God’s superintendence over him. In the womb his inward parts were formed. He was woven together (lit., “embroidered”; cf. “knit,” v. 13, suggesting his veins and arteries). Job 10:11, New Living Translation ¹¹ You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. ¹² You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.

This fact prompted the psalmist to break forth in praise over the thought of how marvelously he had been made. Even David’s elementary knowledge of the marvels of the human body led him to be in awe and wonder. The words fearfully and wonderfully are mindful of God’s marvelous knowledge. (Psalm. 139:14).

When he was being formed in the womb he was as remote to the human eye as the lower part of the earth. But God saw every detail. David’s frame (v: 15) means his skeleton and his substance –(unformed body) is his embryo. Moreover, God prerecorded all the days of the psalmist before he was even born. God marvelously planned out his life.

ILL> God is Pro-choice and Pro-life
These verses prove that God is pro-choice. Each unmarried woman has a choice to make as to what she shall do with her body. However, once a woman decides to get married and have sex with her husband and conception takes place, then the choice concerning the life of that baby is not longer hers. This is where God becomes pro-life. He begins to weave and knit that baby's body.
In the O.T. if a woman was physically harmed and she lost her baby, the one that caused the harm was to pay life for life. The same holds true in our society today. If a woman is harmed and loses the baby prematurely, the man can be sent to prison for manslaughter. However, a woman has the law to back her up if she decides to abort the baby. Does this seem contradictory to you? Abortion has become a way of life and is accepted by many people. However, I believe that the passages we read make it clear that we should value life from the moment of conception. We live in a world that has a growing disregard for human life.
ILL> The penalty for killing an unborn eagle in this country is a fine of up to $5000 and up to five years in prison. But, the killing of an unborn baby is not considered a crime, as long as the mother approves.
ILL> AMERICAN WAR CASUALTIES
REVOLUTIONARY WAR 25,324
CIVIL WAR 498,332
WORLD WAR II 407,316
KOREAN WAR 54,246
VIETNAM WAR 56,655
GULF WAR 293
WAR ON THE UNBORN 31,000,000 since abortion was legalize in 1973. (6 times the number of casualties in all the wars combined)
God is with us from the start; He is there forming us and watching us grow.
For those that have experienced an abortion there is forgiveness if there is true repentance. God values everyone and wants to heal their lives as well.
You are of tremendous value to God. So much so, that He sent His son into the world to die on the cross and pay the penalty for your sins and my sins. John 10:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”                                                                       

INVITATION:

His desire for your life is that you give your life to Him, make Him the Lord and Savior of your life, so that your sins might be forgiven and that you will share in the eternal life that He has prepared for His people. If you would like to give your life to Jesus Christ, ask Him to forgive you and save you from an eternity in Hell, invite Jesus into your life to take charge of you and help you live for Him. Then go to a Jesus preaching church and be baptized. Don't be ashamed of Jesus and He won't be ashamed of you, but will declare you before the Father God and His angels. Do it right now!

LIVING IN GOD’S KINGDOM POWER

INTRO: WHEN WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY TODAY WE SEE SO MUCH WEAKNESS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE SEE SO LITTLE LIVING IN  THE  POWER OF JESUS CHRIST. WHEN THE LORD JESUS SAVES SOMEONE AT THAT VERY MOMENT GOD’S SPIRIT COMES TO LIVE WITHIN. SO WE CAN LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE IN GOD’S POWER EVERY DAY IF WE DETERMINE TO DO SO.

 John 10:10 SAYS  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I.  LETS LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT KINGDOM LIVING

THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT IN TALKING WHICH WE ARE ALL GOOD AT, BUT IT’S IN POWER.  IT’S IN LIVING IN THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT THAT RULES AND REIGNS IN OUR HEARTS. JESUS SAID BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED THAT HE WOULD NOT LEAVE US ALONE BUT THAT HE WOULD SEND THE HOLLY SPIRIT TO HELP US.  John 14:16-18 ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

   Whenever we allow the gospel to work in our lives it is effectual, it comes not in word only, but also in power, by the Holy Spirit, quickening- making alive dead sinners, delivering persons from the slavery of sin and Satan, renewing them both inwardly and outwardly, and comforting, strengthening, and establishing the saints. This cannot be done by the persuasive language of men, but by the power of God’s Spirit.

II.  THINGS THAT RELEASE GOD’S POWER IN OUR LIVES

    

      I. PRAYER

           WE MUST BE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE WILL NEVER LIVE IN GOD’S POWER UNTIL WE SPEND SOME TIME COMMUNICATING WITH HIM. PRAYER SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOT JUST TALK BUT THAT WE ARE SINCERE ABOUT LIVING IN ALL HIS POWER.

 2.   WORSHIP                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Where God’s presence is, there will be power. Where worship is released, God’s presence will abide. Our hearts are the ground on which the battle is decided. If we will worship, God’s power and rule will be established in and through us to flow to others.

Worship generates the power for God’s rule to be extended — for evangelism, for sacrificial giving, for intercession, and to break up the strongholds of hell.
  
  3. READING GOD’S WORD ON A DAILY BASIS

      WE WILL NEVER LIVE IN GOD’S KINGDOM POWER APART FROM READING HIS WORD AND FINDING OUT ALL THAT HE HAS FOR US THAT WILL HELP US LIVE IN HIS POWER. THE BIBLE SAYS IN: Hebrews 4:12 ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.                                                                                           WHEN WE PUT THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR MINDS AND HEART IT BECOMES A LIVING POWER WITHIN OUR BEING. THEN WE BEGIN TO ACT ON WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS AND THEN WE BEGIN TO LIVE IN HIS KINGDOM POWER THAT HE INTENDS FOR US TO DO. HE WANTS US TO BE OVER COMERS IN THIS LIFE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL NEVER HAVE TRIALS AND TESTS, BUT IT MEANS WE WILL GO THROUGH THEM IN A VICTORIOUS WAY. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT IN Romans 8:36-37 ³⁶ As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.                                                                                                                           NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUR WAY WE WILL BE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THRU CHRIST WHO LOVES US. LETS BEGIN TO PUT OUR FAITH TO WORK AND LIVE WHAT WE BELIEVE AND PUT THE DEVIL ON THE RUN.  WE CAN MAKE HIM RUN FROM US.                                                                                                                                          James 4:7-8 ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

CONCLUSION: IF YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR YOU HAVE NO POWER OPERATING IN YOUR LIFE. THIS IS WHY THINGS SEEM TO ALWAYS GO WRONG ALL THE TIME AND YOU CAN NEVER COME OUT ON TOP. YOU CAN CHANGE THAT RIGHT NOW IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO. JUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU AND THEN INVITE HIM INTO YOUR HEART. ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE. THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE IN GOD’S KINGDOM POWER AND WHEN YOUR TIME COMES TO LEAVE THIS EARTH YOU WILL BE IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM FOREVER.

GROWING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

PRIORITY FOR THE NEW YEAR

If you want to become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, you must make your relationship with God your highest priority. A growing love relationship with God is central to everything else that happens in the Christian life. That’s why we were created, that’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that’s why God is preparing an eternal home for us in heaven.

When Jesus was asked which is the most important commandment of all, He replied,  “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:30, NLTSE).

Do you have a personal relationship with God? If not, invite Him into your life today through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him to live in you, to guide and direct you daily.

If you have begun your relationship with God, would you describe it as “intimate”? Are you growing closer to Him with every passing day? Is that your desire? Has that become your highest priority?

Meditate on the following Bible passages and ask the Holy Spirit to increase your love relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

God's command to love with all we are has not changed. What blessings await the obedient soul.

Psalm 63:1-8, NLT
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. I think how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”

Notice how God consumes the Psalmists' heart and mind. God is the number one priority in his life. God satisfies more than the finest richest food. Try Him and see!

Psalm 42:1,2, NIV
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

In those days they met God in the Temple. Today we can meet God in our place of prayer wherever we are as we commune with Him.

Psalm 143:6, NIV
“I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”

Hands lifted in thirst for God's presence will result in a fulness of God's presence. He will satisfy the thristy soul.

Psalm 130:6, NIV
“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Waiting on God, not trying to hurry through prayer will result in satisfacton of the soul.

Psalm 84:2, NIV
“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

The longing soul will surely be satisfied.

Psalm 73:25, NIV
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

As you grow in maturity you will find that everything here on earth will lose it's luster and all you work so hard for will belong to someone else. You can take nothing with you when you leave this earth. If you have spent no time with God, you will have nothing of any eternal value. But time spent with God will result in a close relationship with God that will last through eternity.

Isaiah 26:8,9, NIV
“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for You in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for You.”

These are the words of someone who has lived a life full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. They have lived their life in God's way, always waiting on Him for every decision in life. They understand what is really important in this life and the life to come.

Isaiah 55:6, NKJV
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.”

There are some who put off seeking God until it is too late. God's Spirit is tugging at your heart right now.  There is a time when it will be hard to find God. Wise men came a long way seeking the Lord Jesus and to worship Him.

Jeremiah 29:13, NAS95
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

This is God's promise to you and me. You will find Him when you sincerely seek Him with all your heart.

Psalm 27:8, NLT
“My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming.’”

Can you hear the voice of God saying to you “Come and talk with Me?” Then be obedient and receive all that God has for you. God waits for you right now! God desires a very intimate relationship with you. Will you come and talk with Him in prayer, right now as soon as you finish reading this article.

In these verses of scripture you see a picture of one who is truly seeking a closer walk with the Father God. As we seek a closer relationship with God, His blessings and favor will be poured out on you. God seeks those who desire more of Him in their daily lives. He wants to lead, guide, and direct us along life's journey. He made us and He knows the way for us that opens the way for His blessings in your life. God wants to bless all people, but He can only work in the lives of those who desire Him to. We have free wills with which to make decisions in life each day. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

If you begin to desire God as the above scriptures point out, you will discover something that will bless your life and give you a greater sense of the presence of God working in your life every day.

No matter what life may bring, God's Presence and victory is yours through Christ our Lord.
INVITATION: If you don't personally have a relationship with the Father God and you desire to have a relationship with Him, you must confess your sins to Jesus Christ, God's Son and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you. If you are sincere Jesus will save you and you will become a child of God forever and God Himself will come and live inside of you by His Holy Spirit. Will you do it? You won't be sorry you did. You will have the most blessed "2013."  

God's Promises to You

Psalms 91

Claim This Scripture For Yourself

It’s God’s Word To You

^{1  I dwell in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." 3 Surely He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover me with His feathers, And under His wings I shall take refuge; His truth shall be my shield and buckler. 5 I shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at my side, And ten thousand at my right hand; But it shall not come near me. 8 Only with my eyes shall I look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because I have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, my dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall me, Nor shall any plague come near my dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over me, To keep me in all my ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear me up, Lest I dash my foot against a stone. 13 I shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent I shall trample underfoot. 14 "Because I have set my love upon God, therefore He will deliver me; He will set me on high, because I have known His name (Jesus.) 15 I shall call upon God, and He will answer me; He will be with me in trouble; He will deliver me and honor me.                                                                   16 With long life God will satisfy me, And show me His  salvation."                                                                                                                                         Copy and print this. Post it in your home as a reminder of how God is always watching over you and is your protector from all enemies and harm.}

Give it to someone who is in trouble or is struggling with any problem.

If you don’t know God this well, ask Jesus to save you and invite Him into your life. Then you will know the truth of this scripture in your life!