A Prayer For You

I pray God will bless all those who visit this page. This webpage is designed to bring you closer to God. He alone brings us the joy and contentment that we all seek. May you discover more wisdom and knowledge of God as you read these articles. And may you experience Him more and more in your daily lives.

From Old to New

John 2:1-11 (NKJV) 

¹ On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 

² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 

³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 

⁴ Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 

⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 

⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 

⁸ And He said to them,"Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 

¹⁰ And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"  

¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 

This is the first miracle or sign of seven John would record in his gospel account. Jesus used this wedding to reveal His glory which was His power over nature, death, sin, and who He was, the promised Messiah. His mission, to change old spiritually dead men into new born again saints. By this miracle Jesus would demonstrate He was sent from God to save mankind.

I. The wedding reminds us of our relationship with Jesus. When we were saved, We became betrothed to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV) For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Romans 7:4 (NKJV) Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. We are spiritually united as one with Christ.

II. The wedding reminds us of the bride price Jesus paid for us to be His bride. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed, [payed for, bought back from satan], with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

III. The marriage celebration reminds us of our celebration to come at the marriage of the Lamb when our marriage to Jesus will be consummated or finalized. Revelation 19:7 (NKJV) Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."                                                                       IV. The 6 water pots symbolized the O.T. Covenant of law and works. Man's attempts to work his way to God thru the keeping of 10 commandments. A covenant that they could not keep. The water pots were for Ceremonial cleansing and remind us of man's attempt to please God from outward cleansing and appearance. The Ten Commandments were given to show all mankind the impossibility of their efforts to please God. There must be a heart change to please God and the turning of water into wine symbolizes that change that can only be brought about by the power of Jesus Christ at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The new wine symbolizes the joy salvation brings and the new wine symbolizes the blood which Jesus shed to purchase the new covenant. Just as Jesus changed the elements of water to wine, Jesus changes a mans spirit from lost to saved, from the old man dead in sin to a new man alive in the spirit. It changes a man's spirit form fleshly, worldly thinking to spiritual and heavenly thinking. Jesus changes mankind’s direction from hell to heaven. As the new wine brought joy, Jesus brings joy to our spirit and soul. Just as wine was used to affirm marriage covenant between husband and wife, it also affirms the covenant between Jesus and us. We celebrate and affirm that covenant each time we participate in Lord's Supper.      V. In verse 10 the new wine Jesus made was better than the old aged wine. God saved the best for last and we are recipients of that new covenant which we celebrated every time we observe communion or the "Lord's Supper."                                                                        VI. The new covenant of grace we have with God through the blood of Jesus, is much better than the old covenant of law which no one could keep and was broken time and time again by the Jews. God gave the old covenant first to show mankind they could not please Him by their efforts to keep His laws and to turn them to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. God promised to change that old covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NKJV) 

³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

VII. In performing this miracle of changing water into wine, Jesus was saying that He was the One thru which the new covenant would come. By His Holy Spirit that comes in at rebirth, God would put His law in their minds and hearts. His Spirit would speak directly to our minds and hearts. This miracle was the beginning of many more that Jesus would perform while on this earth.

Many have wondered why Jesus would “waste” his powers on performing a miracle of providing wine for a wedding feast, a party. But all of Jesus’ miracles had a purpose beyond alleviating suffering; they were a display of his glory. The miracles recorded in John’s Gospel (and indeed all the miracles recorded by the other Gospel writers) demonstrated God’s great love for people and his concern for their individual needs. But on a deeper level, Jesus’ unique, divine nature was portrayed in such a way as to claim our loyalty and reverence. The sign of turning water into wine was a partial unveiling of Jesus’ full identity. His power over nature, death, sin, and evil revealed him to be the promised Messiah.

The One who would bring mankind forgiveness of their sins and change mankind from an old sinner to a new saint.

INVITATION: John says that when the disciples saw the miracle, they believed in him. God may confront us in any number of ways with our need to believe in his Son. We will be held accountable for whether or not we have believed. Have you believed what God says about His Son? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and have you invited Him into your heart to take charge of your life? If not, now is the time. Today is the day of salvation to all who will believe.

Power From Above

 There is a power that comes to us from God. In Ephesians 3:16 Paul says, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power"—dia pneumatos—"through his Spirit in your inner being." It is the power of the Spirit of the living God who dwells in every believer. So Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us, "Be filled with the Spirit." The Holy Spirit dwells in us to animate us, empower us, direct us, and strengthen us to do what we need to do.
There is a popular teaching today that says Jesus Christ can be Savior but not Lord. But this teaching that we can have this salvation without any responsibility is a lie. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13 tells us, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. . . ." Our responsibility is to do what God wants us to do. But that is not the end of the sentence. It continues, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure." God will empower us to do his work.
This divine, exceedingly great, resurrection power of God dwells in us. But how can we appropriate it? Ephesians 1:19 gives the answer: "this incomparably great power for us who believe." It is by faith and trust in God that we access and appropriate this mighty power of God. There is no other way. Unbelief cuts us off from it. Our anger, our murmuring, our sin of every kind cuts us off from it.Faith accesses this power that is resident in us. Little faith means little power. Growing faith means growing power. Great faith means great power. Jesus said, "All things are possible for those who believe." Mark 10:27

The Purpose of Power 
Why do we need this power? We need it because we have enemies. The first enemy is the world. We face opposition, not only from corrupt people in the world who oppose God and the gospel, but from the spirit of the world—its values and philosophies. In today’s society we are bombarded with worldly values and images portrayed in newspapers and books, on television and, above all, through the new technology of the Internet. As we go to school or work, we are being corrupted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boasting of things. Worldliness will creep into us, and we will begin to talk, think, and act like the world, if we are not careful.
Second, we have an enemy in ourselves called the flesh. Our sin nature is not exterminated when we are regenerated; it remains in us, though we are given a new nature. It manifests itself, not only in gross sin, but in laziness, procrastination, and various other sins of omission. Our flesh is frail and weak; we experience sickness and pain, and finally we must die. Death is the last enemy, and we need the power of God to face it.Third, there is the devil, and we must not ignore him. This personal, very powerful devil and his demons are a reality that are directed against us every day. The Bible warns us that the devil, like a roaring lion, is among us, if possible, to swallow us up. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. We are told to resist the devil.
That is why we need the mighty power of God working in our mind, our will and our emotions daily. Directed by the word and empowered by the Spirit, we can do good works every day. The Spirit of God will speak to us and empower us on the basis of the Scripture. So we must read God’s word, pray effectually, go to worship acceptably, work productively, resist temptation, love God’s people, bless our enemies, keep God’s moral commands, love our spouses, train our children, bless those who curse us, forgive freely, serve God’s people, resist the devil, praise God in pain and face the last enemy, death itself, in triumph. May God help us to pray and believe and appropriate his power for living, that we can say with Paul, "I can all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength"! Philippians 4:19
If you don't have Jesus in your life, you do not have power over the devil. You are at his mercy and he has no mercy. The bible says that "Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy." [John 10:10b] But the first part of that same verse says that "Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly." Jesus is waiting to forgive your sins and give you this abundant life if you will confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive and save you. Then you will experience that Power from above! 

Putting on the New Man

The apostle Paul speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God tells us Christians we are to put off the old man and put on the new man which was created in Christ Jesus for good works. Eph. 2:10. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. We put on the new man by first renewing our minds. How we do this.

I. What we put into our minds determines what comes out. Proverbs 23:7 ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Jesus said in Luke 6:45 (NKJV)  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The word heart here refers to the mind because we don’t think with our heart but our mind.

The following scriptures tell us to fix our thoughts on these kinds of things. Philippians 4:8 (NLT) ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

II. Putting on the new man requires surrendering all we are to God. Read Rom. 12:1-2 tells us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We renew our minds by reading God’s word to find His will and by prayer to communicate with Him.

God has given intellectual powers to man. Man thinks, reasons, and understands. Christ says that our minds and thoughts are to be centered upon God. We are to love God "with all our mind." When men push God out of their minds, their minds are void and empty of God and of His truth and morality and filled with evil thoughts.

III. We are to have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (NLT) ¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. ¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Believers understand fully, as did Christ himself, the significance of the cross and what it meant for mankind’s salvation. We understand the importance of reading God’s word and praying. God speaks to us thru His word and praying is communicating with God. Praying is for listening as God speaks to our hearts.

No one can completely comprehend God (Romans 11:34), but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers can understand spiritual truths that He chooses to reveal to us. Believers have insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts, and actions because, with the Spirit within, we have access thru God’s word and prayer to the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, believers can begin to know God’s thoughts, talk with him, and expect his answers to their prayers. Through His Sprit we can grow in putting on the new man.

what we put into it determines what comes out

how to renew yours

how to have the mind of Christ

 IV. Must control your mind—every thought. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Worldly weapons—wealth, fame, and political might—may wield some power on this earth, but they are useless in spiritual battles. The Devil’s strongholds include every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God and rebellious ideas. God has given us the power through His Spirit to control our thoughts.

When we pause and ask ourselves, where did this thought come from, we are bringing those thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Does what I am thinking glorify God and Jesus? Would I want Jesus to see me do this thing I am thinking? We have been given weapons to fight against the devil and his angels!

According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I have underlined in the following passage God’s mighty weapons. They are faith, truth, righteousness, the gospel message, and the word of God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need to be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News –Gospel message so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 Conclusion: As we put on the new man Christ created us to be we will see how victorious we can be against the attacks of the devil. This new man requires a renewed mind that the word of God brings to us. We must read God’s word daily and pray to Him. God says in His word when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. And when we find Him by reading His word, we will have the power to live victoriously the new life we have been given over self, sin, and the world. Let’s live who we were created to be.

INVITATION: If you have never asked Jesus to save you, you are totally lost forever. But you can change that by asking the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to forgive your sins against a Holy God and invite Him to live in you and take charge of your life. When you do that you will become a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  You will also be given a home in Heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Holy Son for an eternity.

THE WORD OF GOD

The word of God has the answer to every problem we face in this world. If every one read and obeyed this word what a different world this would be. The word of God tells us what God thinks of us and His plan to save mankind from his sins. There is not a more powerful thing in this world than the word of God when you decide to put it to work and live by it. There is nothing more important to mankind than the word of God. The bible says in:Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? God wants every man to hear what His word says about His Son Jesus Christ. That is why this website exists. The bible says in: 1 Timothy 2:4 That God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is why I use this website to help the spread the word of God all over the world by using this available means. My prayer to God is that this website and many like it will be used of Him to spread His love for people all over the world. Website’s like this one are strictly volunteer. I ask for no man’s money. I use my own as an offering to God. Through websites like mine, we have a chance to help reach the world for Jesus Christ. The bible says in Rom. 10:17 “that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” People must be able to hear what God has to say about them. Some are struggling to please God by their actions. But the only way to really please the Father God is found in His word. In Romans 10:4-15 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Do you see the simplicity of the gospel? This is how you please God, by believing in His Son Jesus Christ as the payment for your sins. Keeping riles will not change our hearts, but Jesus can. Your life can change the moment you believe Jesus died for your sins. You will be saved. JESUS by His Spirit will come into your life and take charge of you and care for you and protect you from the evil one for the rest of your life on this earth. Then He will take you home to be with Him and Father God for an eternity. CONCLUSION:When people read or hear this word and act on it there life is changed forever for the glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ. INVITATION: Let me ask you, have you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and then believed in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead? The promise is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Would you be saved today? The choice is yours and your decision is eternal.

More to Come

2Corinthians 5:1-11

Intro: Why do Christians continue to preach the gospel of Christ even though we get tired and weary, give out? People make fun of us, persecute us. We suffer pain, misery, discomfort. We don’t really feel at home in this world. Christ is not to be mentioned in public. Some people hate the name of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us in these verses why we continue to preach and teach the gospel in a hostile world. Paul says to look beyond what we can see in this life to what we can’t see with our physical eyes because there is more to come.

I. What every Christian should know. 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT)  For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We have the assured prospect of the resurrection, and of eternal life. Every Christian should know that when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. It is immortal! Eternal! The future body shall never be taken down or dissolved by death.  And it is to abide forever in the heavens-in the world of glory with Jesus and God the Father. It will never to be subject to a world of sin, suffering, and death again.

II. Every Christians desire. 2 Corinthians 5:2-4 (NLT) ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. ³ For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. ⁴ While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

This body is subjected to so many pains, and to so much suffering, as to make us earnestly desire to be invested with that body which shall be free from all suffering, death, and sin. We groan and sigh not to die, but to be given our new bodies from above. Romans 8:23 (NLT) And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Our desire is for this promise of God to come to pass right now!

III. Holy Spirit is preparing us for this very thing. 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NLT)  God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

The Lord God has planned not only to justify believers through his Son’s sacrificial death, but he also has planned to glorify them with heavenly bodies. [Rom. 8:30]

Part of God’s wonderful plan to save those who believe in his Son includes the Holy Spirit as proof of his and their eternal destiny with God the Father. The Spirit in us is a guarantee that God will one day pay up in full. Paul envisioned on one glorious day, at Christ’s return, God would complete the process that had already begun in us, with the help of the Holy Spirit.   

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

IV. Christians live by confident faith. 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NLT) ⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷ For we live by believing and not by seeing. While we are absent from the body, we are confident- full of courage, hope, and good cheer because we walk by faith knowing that even though we are absent from the Lord now, we have His Spirit within us and one day we will be with Him forever in person.

V.  Christians long to be with their Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT) Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. Christians actually long to be with the Lord; It is not a creation of their own ideas and thoughts. It is not worked up by their own desires and man-made hopes. It is a conviction—the sure knowledge, a state of mind—that is created by the Holy Spirit who is within the believer. When a believer dies, he or she will be with Jesus. Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul is saying, If I live, it’s for Christ. If I die it will mean I see Jesus face to face. Believers will not float in a limbo state. There is no purgatory, there is no soul sleep. Instead, they will have a personal encounter with the Savior. Then, when Jesus returns in all his glory, all believers will be given heavenly bodies that will be perfect and will last forever.  

VI. The Aim of the Christian. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NLT) ⁹ So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. The fact that we, as Christians, will meet Jesus should inspire both joy and a holy fear—joy that we will finally be with our Savior and fear that Jesus will hold us accountable for our actions.Knowing that when you die you will be with Jesus should inspire you to live to please your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ always. Just as you live for Christ’s sake on this earth, you will continue to live for him in heaven. The transformation that the Holy Spirit is working within you now will finally be completed: You will become like Jesus- Romans 8:29 (NKJV)  For God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

But Christians’ lives will still be judged by Christ. Salvation is never obtained by works, and this judgment before Christ will not determine believers’ eternal destiny. Instead, at this judgment, Christ will reward Christians for how they have lived on earth. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free Christians from the requirement of faithful obedience to Christ. All Christians must give an account for how they have lived in this body. This is a sober reminder to all Christians that we must evaluate all we do from God’s perspective.

VII. Christians should have a solemn fear of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. Many skip over fear as a motivation for serving God. But many forget that fear isn’t fundamentally bad. Fear keeps people from jumping out of airplanes without a parachute. Fear of God means awe, wonder. We have a proper respect for his perfect nature and great power. For those who have persisted in evil and rebellious ways, contemplating God should inspire dread. Believers who contemplate God should be filled with reverential awe, standing in wonder and amazement at his greatness. Knowing God’s perfection and that he will judge everyone’s actions should spur Christians to work hard to persuade others to know God.

Invitation: All men are appointed to die and after that the judgment. {Heb. 9:27} We are to be prepared to meet our Savior when we die by living for Him today. Are you personally prepared for what’s on the other side? Will these things be true of you or do you fear death and what’s on the other side? If you are not prepared to meet Christ, then you should fear dying. Be saved right now while there is still time. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Invite Him into your heart to live in you and through you. Go to church and be baptized! Don’t be ashamed of Jesus and He won’t be ashamed of you on judgment day.

Power of the Blood

Power of the Blood

Intro: We have all seen on T.V. or in the movies how Jesus was brutally beaten and nailed to that old rugged cross and we are saddened and groan within as we see our Savior and Lord crucified at the hands of cruel men. But think with me today about the nails that penetrated His hands and feet, and the spear penetrated His side from which His lifeblood flowed, and may we see the importance of what Jesus accomplished thru His precious blood that He shed there. There is truly power in the blood.

I. The power of Jesus’ precious blood redeems our souls from eternal destruction.

Mankind came under God’s curse when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God in His mercy slew the first animals and made coverings for their bodies of the animal skins. The animals shed blood was the means of forgiveness for their sin. And so in the O.T. we see animals blood shed for the forgiveness of man’s sin. Why? It was God’s law!The bible says in:  Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. So in Hebrews 9:25 (NLT) The high priests would enter the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. That blood only covered their sins; it did not take them away. Why? Hebrews 10:4 ESV For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

That system of animal sacrifices was only a picture of the real thing to come which was Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. Ransom means price paid to buy back from captivity. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver.                                                                                          The Price God paid: ¹⁹ Was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 2:13 ESV But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Revelation 1:5 (NLT) All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. Jesus’ blood eternally paid our souls sin debt, and saved us from death, Hell, and the grave.

II. The power of Jesus’ precious blood sanctifies us. Sanctify- To make holy, pure free from sin. This is a continuing process until we die. We continually Grow in this holiness He has given us.

Hebrews 13:12 ESV So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Jesus purified us in God’s eyes by His precious blood. We are to grow in that holiness.

Hebrews 9:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Worshiping and Serving God in some capacity helps us grow in holiness, exercise faith.

1 John 1:7-9 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As we walk in Jesus light and fellowship with one another, we grow in holiness, and as we daily confess our sin, we live in Jesus’ continual cleansing.

III. The power of Jesus’ precious blood opened the door to heaven.

We have an invitation from God to enter into His presence at any time to ask for our needs.  In Jeremiah 33:3 God invites us to call on Him and He will answer us and show us great & mighty things we know not.                                                                                                                                           Hebrews 10:19-22 (NLT) ¹⁹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. ²⁰ By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. ²¹ And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, ²² let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. The priests’ would wash their bodies to denote purity that God required.

IV. Power of Jesus’ precious blood gives us the sure victory over sin, death and hell.

Romans 5:9 ESV Since, therefore, we have now been justified by Jesus’ blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. We have been saved from God’s wrath forever. Revelation 7:14 ESV I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 12:11 ESV They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.                                                                           

 Power of Jesus’ precious blood has given the tribulation saints the victory over the Anti-Christ. We will sing of the victory we have been given in heaven as we gather around God’s throne.

Revelation 5:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, ¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT)
²⁰ Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— ²¹ may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Invitation: Sin dies in the presence of Jesus’ blood; death ceases to be death; and Heaven’s gates are opened. Romans 3:25-26 (NLT)  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.  Jesus died and shed His blood to forgive your sins and give you victory over death, the grave & hell! Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Have you asked Him to forgive you and make you right with God?

Hebrews 10:29 (NLT)  Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who trample on the Son of God, and treat the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and dispised the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.

Don’t be guilty of refusing God’s offer of salvation thru His Son Jesus Christ!

If you've never accepted God’s Son as your Savior, do it right now before it’s eternally too late!

If you have, you need to praise God right now. Take time now and thank Him for all He has done for you.

SLAVERY THAT LEADS TO FREEDOM

INTRO: The word slave is not a very popular word today. But when you apply that word to our relationship to Christ it takes on a new meaning. Slavery to Christ will bring the most rewarding freedom now and forever. I am Christ's slave.  1 Corinthians 7:22-23 ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
7:22-23 Slavery was common throughout the Roman Empire, so many of the believers in Corinth were slaves when the Lord called them. Paul said that although the Christian slaves remained enslaved to other human beings, they were free from the awful power of sin in their lives. Romans 6:18, New Living Translation¹⁸ Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. In the same way, if a person was free when the Lord called him, he was now a slave of Christ. Romans 6:22, New Living Translation²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. Because God paid a high price to bring His people to Himself, He has complete authority over their lives. ‘In twentieth century Christianity, we have replaced the expression “total surrender” with the word “commitment”, and “slave” with “servant.” This has important consequences for how we view our lives as Christians: ‘we commit ourselves to do something, but when we surrender ourselves to someone [as slaves], we give ourselves up’ (p18). FROM BOOK/Slave of Christ- MURRAY J. HARRIS The prescription for freedom from worry, doubt, fear, sin, eternal death and hell, is “slavery”- “total surrender” utter devotion and allegiance of your heart to Christ. It’s a freedom that also brings peace, holiness and eternal life. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade said “when you study in the Scripture, the Scripture clearly teaches we're not our own. We've been bought with a price, (1 COR. 6:20) the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So none of us really have any rights. I'm simply acknowledging that when I say, 'Lord I want to be your slave.' I know I'm a Son of God, an heir of God, and a joint heir of Christ. I'm seated with Him in the heavenlies, but by choice; like Paul, Peter and others, I've chosen to be a slave."And it's the most liberating thing you can imagine.” God speed the day when more men will be His slaves. THERE ARE ETERNAL REWARDS AS A SLAVE OF JESUS CHRIST: I will be raised from the dead imperishable.        1 Corinthians 15:52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. Imperishable means- never to perish, die or decay. THIS BODY PERISHES AND IS BURIED, BUT WHEN JESUS RETURNS AT THE RAPTURE IT WILL BE RAISED TO LIVE FOREVER. With great emphasis Paul passed on to these Corinthians a secret—knowledge given to him by divine revelation from Christ. The phrase not all of us will die in verse 51 means that some Christians will still be alive at the time of Christ’s return. They will not have to die before they get their new resurrection bodies. Instead, they will all be transformed, immediately in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, New Living Translation 13 And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. 15 I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. 18 So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

A trumpet blast will usher in the new heaven and earth. Christ will return, the dead will be raised out of the graves with transformed bodies. Those still alive will be transformed, also receiving their new bodies. This change will happen instantly for all Christians, whether they are dead or alive. All will be made ready to go with Christ

I will put on immortality.  1 Corinthians 15:53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.I have a Mortal body– One certain to die. I will have an Immortal body- One certain to live eternally. God does offer the prospect of true sinless immortality, eternal life—not just of the soul, but also of the whole individual—spirit, soul and body! Because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Cor.15:50) We must all be changed. Because Christians are promised eternal life in God’s Kingdom, then our present perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. Death is the transformation from this life to the next. Each person will still be recognizable, will still be the person God created him or her to be, but each will be made perfect with a body that will be able to live forever in the Kingdom. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, New Living Translation SAYS: 1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. ³ For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. ⁴ Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life. ⁵ God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. Jesus by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead brought us freedom from perishable bodies by paying for and providing us bodies that will never perish.

INVITATION: As a slave of Jesus Christ we have freedom not only now but also in the future. You cannot be a slave of Christ and enjoy all the freedom He brings till you ask Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life to take charge of you and then your future is secure in heaven. He will give you His Spirit as a guarantee. The alternative is no freedom, but bondage now and forever in hell.