"The Demonstration of God's Love"

“The Demonstration of God’s Love”

 

This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an Atoning Sacrifice for our sins.      1 John 4:9-10

 

The PERFECT DEMONSTRATION of the LOVE of God towards mankind is NOT that mankind LOVED God FIRST. But that God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His One and ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have eternal life.  God did NOT send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE the world through Him.  (John 3:16-17)

 

Mankind is SINFUL from birth, they are born with a SINFUL NATURE, and without the PERFECT ATONING SACRIFICE they will PERISH, and spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.   But because of God’s LOVE for MANKIND, He provided the PERFECT ATONING SACRIFICE through the SHED BLOOD of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. 

 

The DEATH of Jesus Christ on an old rugged cross, was the ONCE for ALL ATONING SACRIFICE that COULD set mankind FREE from their sins, and His RESURRECTION was the EVIDENCE of His VICTORY over DEATH and the GRAVE.  This act of ATONEMENT for SINS is the PERFECT DEMONSTRATION of God’s LOVE for the CROWN of His CREATION, MANKIND. 

 

It also provides an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, to those who BELIEVE, and will come to God, through Jesus Christ, for the FORGIVENESS of their sins.  In order to receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN and to ESCAPE HELL, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and the benefits of the DEMONSTRATION of God’s LOVE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Great Intercessor"

“The Great Intercessor”

 

“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.  May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One---I in them and You in Me---so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.        John 17:20-23

 

An INTERCESSOR is one who PLEADS for others.  Jesus Christ is the GREATEST INTERCESSOR that I know. He prayed NOT ONLY for His Disciples, but also for ALL the BELIEVERS who would follow Him, because of the MESSAGE that the disciples spread worldwide.  The MESSAGE was the GOOD NEWS that JESUS CHRIST SAVES, and there is NO OTHER who can bring SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world.

 

It was very close to the END of His time on earth, and these prayers were MUCH NEEDED then, as they are TODAY.  Jesus KNEW that His disciples would need STRENGTH to function in a world that HATED them and who they represented.  So Jesus prayed NOT ONLY for UNITY among them, but He prayed for God’s PROTECTION upon them. 

 

One of the BIGGEST threats in Churches of today, is a LACK of UNITY.  People who want THEIR WAY, and are NOT WILLING to be FOLLOWERS.  They cringe at the thought of being called or expected to take on the role of a SERVANT.  Instead, they want it to be ALL ABOUT THEM.  This is NOT the attitude that Jesus wants or expects His Children to have. 

 

Since they are His BODY, the CHURCH, He wants them to be ONE with Him.  He came from the glories of Heaven, the KING of KINGS, and took on the role of a SERVANT. He HUMBLED Himself and became the lowly carpenter of Nazareth.  Yet He KNEW His relationship with His Heavenly Father.  They were ONE, He was in God and God was in Him.  The PERFECT UNION, and Jesus wants His followers, the TRUE BELIEVERS, who make up His Body, the Church to be a part of that PERFECT UNION, by having COMPLETE UNITY with each other.  To do that, they MUST TAKE on the role of a SERVANT, willing to WORK and DO the WILL of GOD.  This is the PRAYER of the GREAT INTERCESSOR.  We MUST be about GOD’S WILL, with a SERVANT HEART, working within a UNIFIED BODY, for the GLORY of GOD!

 

Are you a TRUE BELIEVER of Christ?  Have you TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to Him?  If NOT, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Jesus wants to be your GREAT INTERCESSOR also, and He was WILLING to DIE for you, in order to become your GREAT INTERCESSOR.  So won’t you PLEASE, TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART? Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making INTERCESSION for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become ONE in the SON, Jesus Christ and the LORD God, Almighty, throughout ALL of ETERNITY.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"No Troubled or Fearful Hearts"

“No Troubled or Fearful Hearts”

 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.        John 14:27

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.        Colossians 3:15

 

Peace is the ABSENCE of CONFLICT.  Jesus was talking to His Apostles, just prior to His arrest.  He had mentioned a few times, that He would be leaving them, and now He wanted them to KNOW that He wasn’t going to leave them ALONE. 

 

This conversation TROUBLED the Apostles, and evidently brought FEAR into their HEARTS.  Jesus, who was/is OMNISCIENT---ALL KNOWING, did NOT want them to GIVE-UP His mission of spreading the GOSPEL---the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world.  He told them that He would LEAVE them, but He would LEAVE them with His PEACE. 

 

A PEACE that SURPASSES ALL understanding, a PEACE that is the PEACE of God, and it would GUARD their HEARTS and LIVES.  And IF they let His PEACE RULE in their HEARTS, since they were members of ONE BODY, it would bring UNITY, and CALMNESS to the BODY of CHRIST.  Bringing PEACE was a part of their calling.  And where there is PEACE, there is NO TROUBLED or FEARFUL HEARTS.

 

Do you have a TROUBLED and FEARFUL HEART?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you probably do. Because this world offers a TYPE of PEACE that doesn’t last.  That’s the difference between the PEACE of Christ and the worldly PEACE.  The PEACE of Christ is EVERLASTING, but the worldly PEACE, is TEMPORARY.  To KNOW you have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, will bring PEACE to your TROUBLED and FEARFUL HEART.  So why don’t you let Jesus give you His PEACE by:  You, TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING to God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God.  You, then, MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and let His PEACE reign in you, and DO NOT HAVE a TROUBLED and FEARFUL HEART.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Overseer of Our Souls"

“The Overseer of Our Souls”

 

“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.”  For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of you souls.         1 Peter 2:24-25

 

Jesus Christ, the OVERSEER of OUR SOULS, took on ALL the sins of mankind, as He, Himself hung, bleeding and dying on an old, rugged, wooden cross.  Why? You might ask would He do such a thing.  He did it so that mankind would NOT be held by the POWER and the PENALTY of sin.  And that they might DIE to sins and LIVE for RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

The statement:  “By His wounds you have been healed.”  Is NOT speaking of a physical healing, but it is an ACCOMPLISHED FACT that refers to a SPIRITUAL HEALING that brings SALVATION to every individual who comes to Him and TRUSTS Him as their SAVIOR and LORD. 

 

Jesus not only sets the example for us, but He gives PROTECTION and GUIDANCE to those who are headed the wrong way, but TURNS back to Him for their SALVATION.  “Like sheep going astray.” And like a GOOD SHEPHERD He will GUIDE and PROTECT His beloved sheep.  Are you allowing Him to OVERSEE your LIFE as a TRUE BELIEVER?  Is He the OVERSEER of your SOUL?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you are NOT a part of His flock, but you are wondering down the WRONG path, the one that will lead you straight into an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to ESCAPE that kind of DESTINY, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ALLOW Jesus Christ to be the OVERSEER of YOUR SOUL, and live for RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!  

"The Voice"

“The Voice”

 

“Now My heart is troubled---and what shall I say, ‘Father, do not let this hour come upon Me’?  But that is why I came---so that I might go through this hour of suffering.  Father, bring glory to Your name!”  Then a voice spoke from Heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.”        John 12:27-28

 

Our Scripture is during the Passover Feast, when Jesus enters Jerusalem, just prior to His DEATH and RESURRECTION.  A large crowd forms, and in this crowd were some Greeks, who may have been BELIEVERS, because they told Philip that they wanted to see Jesus.  Philip told Andrew and the two of them went and told Jesus.  The coming of the Greeks confirmed Jesus’ answer to Philip and Andrew:  “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.”  Their coming to Jesus was symbolic of the Gentiles, worshiping God, through the work of Christ on the Cross.

 

Jesus knew that the disciples would pay the ULTIMATE price for being His disciples.  And because of this, He wanted them to know the COST of COMMITMENT to the will of God.  He did this by showing His emotions. He was in turmoil and agitated at the thought of becoming SIN in His DEATH on the cross.  So, the HUMANITY SIDE of Jesus asks the question?  “What shall I say, ‘Father, do not let this hour come upon Me’?  Then He answered His own question, “That is why I came---so that I might go through this hour of suffering. “  Then He speaks and reveals His commitment to His Heavenly Father; “Father, bring glory to Your Name!”

 

Then a VOICE spoke from Heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.”  It was a THUNDERING VOICE, it was an AUDIBLE VOICE, and those who were UNBELIEVERS, thought it was THUNDER, but for the TRUE BELIEVERS, they KNEW it was much MORE than that.  This VOICE was CONFIRMATION of the works of Jesus, PAST and FUTURE. 

 

The DEATH and RESURRECTION was, at that time, a FUTUTE WORK of Jesus Christ, which brings GLORY to the Name of God, by the SALVATION of MANKIND.  It brings ATONEMENT of sins, the power of the devil was DEFEATED, and the DELIVERANCE from the domain of spiritual darkness for mankind was accomplished, through the CROSS of CHRIST.

 

Have you heard the VOICE of God, calling your name for REPENTANCE?  If you have and are ignoring it, you are in danger of spending your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  The VOICE of God, speaking, to you, is generally a SMALL, STILL VOICE, speaking to your HEART, telling you to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And to BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a TRUE BELIEVER, one who can HEAR and RECOGNIZE the VOICE of God.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Recompense of an Unrepentant Heart"

“The Recompense of an Unrepentant Heart”

 

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His Righteous Judgment will be revealed.   God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”  (Ps. 62:12)  To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking, and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.  There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil…                Romans 2:5-9a

 

Our God is a HOLY, RIGHTEOUS Judge, who JUDGES mankind according to the condition of one’s HEART.  The person who continues in their sinful lifestyle, and who has a STUBBORN and UNREPENTANT HEART, and CONTINUALLY REJECTS God’s gift of SALVATION, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and CONTINUES to carry out their EVIL, WICKED DEEDS, and REJECTS the TRUTH to FOLLOW evil, they are the ones who are storing up God’s WRATH against themselves, and it will be poured out upon them in His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

 

 TROUBLE and DISTRESS awaits EVERY human being who is self-seeking, and who rejects the TRUTH and follows evil.  The CONTINUAL conduct, good or bad, reveals the condition of the HEART.   If the conduct is EVIL, in nature, then the HEART is UNREPENTANT and will have its destiny in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.

 

However, if the CONTINUAL conduct of the HEART is GOOD, SEEKING HONOR and IMMORTALITY, the HEART is a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and will receive an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  ETERNAL LIFE is NOT rewarded for good living.  Salvation is not given by good works, but it is given because of God’s AMAZING GRACE, to those who BELIEVE, and have a REPENTANT HEART.  Their GOOD DEEDS are a PRODUCT of the condition of their HEART.   What is the condition of your HEART?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are STORING UP His WRATH and ANGER against you.  And you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But because of God’s AMAZING GRACE, He is offering you an opportunity to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO Him, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive God’s AMAZING GRACE as the RECOMPENSE of a REPENTANT HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Perfect Sacrifice"

“The Perfect Sacrifice”

 

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.  The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.  For after He says:  “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:  I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,” He adds:  “I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.”  Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.      Hebrews 10:14-18

 

The Old Covenant sacrifices did not ultimately please God, they weren’t sufficient to take away the sins of mankind.  So what came about was a New Covenant, which provided a ONCE-FOR-ALL Sacrifice, which was the PERFECT SACRIFICE of the Body of Jesus Christ.

 

For those who WILLINGLY, SINCERELY, and TRUTHFULLY will come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of their sins, they will be SANCTIFIED.  And through the SACRIFICAL DEATH and RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ, they will have a “perfected” status with FULL ACCEPTANCE in God’s presence. 

 

The Holy Spirit gives testimony of the New Covenant:   The Lord says:  “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:  I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,” He adds:  “I will NEVER again REMEMBER their sin and their lawless acts.”  Which constitutes: NO OTHER SACRIFICE is NEEDED.  Jesus Christ is the ONCE-FOR-ALL, PERFECT SACRIFICE. 

 

Now, what does that mean to the TRUE BELIEVER of today?  For one thing it gives us ASSURANCE of the FORGIVENESS of our sins.  Verse eighteen says:  Now where there is FORGIVENESS of these there is NO LONGER an offering for sin.   Jesus, our PERFECT SACRIFICE, REMEMBERS, NO LONGER, our sins and lawless acts.  We also have the ASSURANCE of an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.   John 14 tells us the words of Jesus:  “I am going away to prepare a place for you.  If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

 

Is He preparing a place for you?   If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, your DESTINY is a place called HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But because of God’s INFINITE MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, and His PERFECT SACRIFICE, Jesus Christ, you have the opportunity to be FORGIVEN and to have HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  This is what you MUST do:  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and have the ASSURANCE of FORGIVENESS and Heaven as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!