"Jesus, the Permanent Priest"

“Jesus, the Permanent Priest”

 

…Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.       Hebrews 7:24-25

 

 

God the Father, made a promise to Jesus His Son, that Jesus would be a priest FOREVER!  Which means that Jesus guarantees us a BETTER covenant with God. 

 

Because Jesus lives FOREVER, He has a PERMANENT priesthood.  In Old Testament times there were MANY priests, because death prevented them from having a PERMANENT priesthood.  But Jesus provided the perfect sacrifice, that being Himself, and was able to COMPLETE the plan of SALVATION for ALL mankind. 

 

It was a FINAL act, which did not require the sacrificing of a perfect lamb continually, for the FORGIVENESS of sins.  When Jesus DIED on the cross, and was RESURRECTED from the dead, He COMPLETED the ceremonial provision for the plan of SALVATION with His atoning death.  He sealed the deal, and in doing so, He became the PERMANENT priest, the ONLY one who was able to save completely those who come to God through Him. 

 

We, TRUE believers, have a much better ACCESS to God because of our FOREVER ADVOCATE, the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives to intercede on our behalf.  We have the ASSURANCE that His interceding for us is what is needed to SECURE our RIGHTEOUSNESS with the Almighty God.  He is TRULY our PERMANENT PRIEST, who will NEVER leave nor forsake us.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you do not have a RIGHT relationship with Him and cannot have a RIGHT relationship with Him, unless you come to Jesus, the PERMANENT PRIEST, the ONLY ONE, who can COMPLETELY save you and INTERCEDE DAILY on your behalf, in order for you to have that RIGHT relationship with Him.  You must come to Jesus with a TRULY REPENTANT heart, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and have the ASSURANCE and HOPE of your SALVATION, through the PERMANENT PRIEST, Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Ultimate Healing of Sin-Sick Souls!"

“The Ultimate Healing of Sin-Sick Souls!”

 

 

Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.   But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.        Isaiah 53:4-5

 

Isaiah, chapter fifty-three, is dealing with the HEALING of mankind’s soul, not their physical body, although Jesus Christ did HEAL the physical body of illnesses, and still does today.  And those HEALINGS pointed to a GREATER work, that of HEALING the soul of ALL mankind from a fate that holds a much worse outcome than the temporary suffering inflicted by physical illnesses.  When a person had an illness or infirmity and received a MIRACULOUS HEALING of that illness or infirmity, they still faced a physical death at some point in time, and if their soul remained sin-sick they would die a SPIRITUAL DEATH, without the SALVATION of their soul.  Jesus, when performing a physical HEALING, would always indicate the condition of the soul, by saying, “your faith has made you whole!”  or “go and sin no more!”  The greater HEALING MIRACLE is TRULY the ULTIMATE HEALING of the SIN-SICK SOUL.

 

Our transgressions and iniquities pierced and crushed, the Lord Jesus Christ, punishment for the procurement of our PEACE was on Him.  Because of His OBEDIENCE to God, we, who are the TRUE BELIEVERS, are able to experience the INNER PEACE that is lasting and helps us maintain a HEALTHY SPIRITUAL SOUL.   All of His wounds from the beating He received from the Roman soldiers, and the agony of the cross provides SPIRITUAL HEALING for the SIN-SICK SOUL.

 

The death of Christ Jesus satisfied the wrath of Almighty God against the sins of mankind.  “Jesus paid it ALL, and ALL to Him I owe, sin had left a CRIMSON STAIN, He washed it white as snow!”  THANK YOU, JESUS!! 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are nursing your SIN-SICK soul.  And your diagnosis is SPIRITUALLY FATAL.  You are facing an ETERNITY separated from God, and ANYTHING that is GOOD, you will suffer with pain, agony, heartache and despair.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to come to the GREAT PHYSICIAN for a SPIRITUAL HEALING that will turn your life around and give you the HOPE of HEAVEN.  ALL you have to do is:  CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and experience the INNER PEACE that ONLY He can give you.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Disobedience=Disaster, Obedience=Blessings!"

“Disobedience=Disaster, Obedience=Blessings!”

 

 

Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.  So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done.  But we have not obeyed Him.           Daniel 9:13-14

 

 

I believe that God led me to this passage of Scripture in Daniel, which is Daniel’s Prayer for his beloved nation of Israel.  It concerns the disasters that have, and were plaguing his nation, God’s chosen people.  As I was reading, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and asked:  “Is this what lies in store for your beloved nation?” 

 

I believe with ALL my HEART that seeing what is presently taking place in our nation, today, we NEED to contemplate on what MIGHT be the future for our nation and for our children and grand-children.  Israel had become a REBELLIOUS nation, with a DISOBEDIENT heart.  They were REBELLIOUS and DISOBEDIENT towards God, and did not attempt to BEND a knee, SEEK God’s face nor ASK for His FORGIVENESS for all of the sin they were practicing.  They refused to pay attention to His TRUTH.    This was a heavy burden on Daniel, and he took it on as his OWN sin, which provoked him to do what the WHOLE nation should have done, ACKNOWLEDGE their REBELLION and DISOBEDIENCE towards the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God and to have SOUGHT His FORGIVENESS, with ALL of their HEARTS, and TURNED AWAY from their REBELLIOUS and DISOBEDIENT natures, and to TURN TOWARDS their HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God and become HOLY and RIGHTEOUS as He is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS.  But they did not, and they were the recipients of so great a disaster that nothing like what had been done to Jerusalem had ever been done under ALL of Heaven, all because of their DISOBEDIENCE.

 

We too, are a nation that is becoming REBELLIOUS and DISOBEDIENT towards the HOLY RIGHTEOUS God, and IF we do NOT BEND our knees, SEEK God’s face, and ASK for His FORGIVENESS, and TURN AWAY from our REBELLIOUS, DISOBEDIENT natures, we too could face the same fate as Israel did, and be facing a great disaster.  Could this be why the United States is not mentioned in Bible Prophecy?? 

 

We as TRUE believers, need to be in MUCH prayer for our BELOVED AMERICA, and for REVIVAL to break loose and spread ALL across this land.  If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are living in REBELLION and DISOBEDIENCE to Him, and you could be facing disaster in your own personal life.  But God in His infinite MERCY and LOVE is extending to YOU the opportunity to come to Him, NOW, and CONFESS your sins to Him, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before GOD, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and TURN AWAY from your REBELLIOUS and DISOBEDIENT nature and TURN to GOD.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Momentous Effects of the Crucifixion of Christ Jesus!"

“The Momentous Effects of the Crucifixion of Christ Jesus!”

 

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.  The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.  

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!”          Matthew 27:50-54

 

There were three MOMENTOUS events that took place at the very moment that Jesus gave up His life.  And I did say; “that Jesus GAVE UP His life.”  NO man TOOK it, but He WILLINGLY GAVE it as a SACRIFICE for ALL mankind.   

 

Those three events were:  The torn curtain in the temple, the earthquake, and the resurrection of the Saints. 

 

The torn curtain in the temple was an act of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  It was a very thick curtain and it was torn from the TOP to the BOTTOM, which indicates that it was torn by God, and NOT by man.  This curtain separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies, the place where ONLY the high priests could go.  The ripping of the curtain indicates the FREE access of mankind into the presence of the ALMIGHTY GOD.   

The earthquake was the result of the earthshaking occurrence of the death of Jesus, and indicates the POWER of God over ALL His creation. 

The resurrection of the Saints of God is an indication of Christ’s triumph in death over sin. The bodies of those Saints were NOT raised until the body of Jesus was raised, as He was to be the FIRST of the resurrected into Heaven.    This resurrection was a token of the RESURRECTION to come when ALL the Saints will be raised from their graves. 

 

All of these MOMENTOUS events struck AWE and FEAR in the hearts of the Centurion and those who were with him guarding Jesus.  These events had NEVER taken place at any of the other crucifixions.  They were ASTOUNDED at the POWER that was displayed that day at the foot of the cross.  It terrified their very souls and caused them to CONFESS that, “Surely He was the Son of God! 

 

What will it take for you to come to the realization that Jesus is TRULY the SON of GOD, and that He died for the SALVATION of your soul?  Will it take something catastrophic, like an earthshaking event?  If you have not given your heart and life to Him, you have the opportunity to do so NOW, by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be one the those Saints that will be caught up with Jesus in the air, when He comes again.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"What' is Truth?"

“What is Truth?”

 

“You are a king then?”  Pilate asked.  “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied.  “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”   “What is truth?”  Said Pilate.         John 18:37-38

 

Jesus had been betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He ended up before Pilate.  Pilate questions Jesus, by asking if He was a king.  And Jesus answers saying:  “You say that I’m a king, I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this:  to testify to the TRUTH.  Everyone who is of the TRUTH listens to My voice.”  Then Pilate replies with:  “What is TRUTH?”

 

This is TRUTH:  God is RIGHTEOUS, mankind is UNRIGHTEOUS                                                                                                

                           God is HOLY, mankind is UNHOLY

                           God is LOVE, mankind is UNLOVING

                           God is MERCIFUL, mankind is UNMERCIFUL

                           God is SINLESS, mankind is SINFUL

 

Mankind is in DESPERATE NEED of SALVATION.  God put into place, before the beginning of time, the ONLY plan for the REDEMPTION of mankind.  That is why Jesus said that He “was born for this,” meaning that His present situation was all part of God’s REDEMPTIVE PLAN for the SALVATION of mankind.  Jesus Christ was God’s plan.  He was born to die for the PLAN of SALVATION to be carried out. 

 

He came to testify to the TRUTH.  God is ALL that mankind isn’t.  He is RIGHTEOUS, HOLY, LOVE, MERCY, and WITHOUT SIN.  HE IS TRUTH!  And Jesus was the manifestation of TRUTH.  He came WILLINGLY to be the sacrificial lamb, to shed His blood for the REMISSION of the sins of ALL mankind, He who knew NO sin became sin, while hanging on an old rugged cross, in shame and dishonor for the SALVATION of UNRIGHTEOUS, UNHOLY, UNLOVING, UNMERCIFUL and SINFUL mankind.  In order to give us the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL eternity.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you CANNOT possess the HOPE OF HEAVEN, until you come to Christ for the SALVATION of your soul, and you can do that by:  CONFESSING your sins to God, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and KNOW the TRUTH, because ONLY the TRUTH can set you FREE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Denial"

“The Denial”

 

Peter:  “Lord,” he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

Jesus:  “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know Me!”      Luke 22:33-34

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden, they took Him to the high priest’s house.  And Peter was following at a distance.

When a servant saw him sitting in the firelight, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with Him too.”  But he denied it:  “Woman, I don’t know Him!”  After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too!”  “Man, I am not!” Peter said.  About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with Him since he’s also a Galilean.”  But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”   Immediately, while he was still speaking a rooster crowed.  Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly.         Luke 22:56-62

 

How could one of Jesus’ most trusted, and beloved disciples deny His Master?  DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SATAN!  Jesus had warned Peter that Satan wanted to, “sift him like wheat.  But Peter, with his IMPETUOUS personality, DENIED that he would let that happen, when he avowed to Jesus that “he would go with Him both to prison and to death!”

 

Now, that was an HONORABLE thought, but that was ALL it was.  Then Jesus told Peter, that he would DENY Him, not once but THREE times, before the rooster crowed.  And that was EXACTLY what happened. 

 

When Peter was confronted with the accusations of being connected to Jesus, he did just as Jesus said he would.  It’s easy for us to sit back and point a finger at Peter and shame him for his actions, but what about those of us who claim to be Christians, yet when confronted with the affiliation we get EMBARRASSED or SHY AWAY from the connection.  We want to be a Christian, but we don’t want anyone to KNOW it, because we might be ridiculed, shunned, or the brunt of sacrilegious jokes.  Small price to pay in comparison to what Jesus did for us.  

 

So like Peter, we DENY our relationship with Him, until it benefits us, and yet, we expect Him to ACKNOWLEDGE our relationship.  I believe that when Jesus’ eyes met Peter’s eyes, they pierced to the very HEART of Peter, and Peter KNEW what he had done and with REMORSE and REPENTANCE, he wept bitterly, uncontrollably from the inner most part of his being.  So should those who try to DENY their relationship with Christ, but want to reap the rewards of that relationship.  CHECK YOUR SALVATION, is it a TRUE, HEARTFELT relationship? 

 

If NOT, or if you have NEVER given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you DENY Him DAILY, because of your SINFUL, UNREPENTFUL NATURE, and you are on your way to a place called HELL, a place that is void of ANYTHING good, and full of EVERYTHING that is painful, full of agony, torment, torture and despair.  However, God is giving you the opportunity to turn your destination around and head towards Heaven, you can do that by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and STOP DENYING HIM!! EMBRACE your relationship with Him and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Plot Unfolds!"

“The Plot Unfolds!”

 

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.  And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.  They were delighted and agreed to give him money.  He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.          Luke 22:3-6

 

Judas, a man who was one of the Twelve Disciples, who walked and talked with Jesus, who shared many meals with Him, yet when all the other disciples came to love and cherish their relationship with Jesus, Judas’ heart was on his OWN selfish desires, mainly the desire for MONEY.  Judas was the treasurer of the group, he was the ‘keeper of the purse,’ and some believe that the only reason that Judas became a part of the Twelve Disciples was for his OWN, SELFISH reasons.  It is believed that Judas thought that Jesus would overthrow the Roman government and set up His kingdom, so Judas was conniving enough to try and secure a high position in that kingdom, but when he found out that that was NOT the case, he became angry and felt BETRAYED.  So Judas wanted ‘payback.’  And that’s when the PLOT begins to unfold.

 

Judas’ heart was desperately wicked and opened for Satan to enter in, and so he did.  Judas, knowing that the religious leaders had a deep hatred for Jesus, began carrying out his dastardly plans, he did so by first of all, going to the religious leaders and discussing how he might bring about this betrayal.   Judas is NO different from the sinner today, a sinner’s heart today, is just as desperately wicked and opened for Satan to enter in, as was Judas’ heart.  And just as evil-minded as Judas was, the sinner today, is equally as evil-minded. 

 

The sinner today, betrays Christ and rejects Him and ALL that He stands for.  And it is ALL for their OWN SELFISH desires.  Some like Judas, live a LIE, by trying to portray something they REALLY are not, they may be church members, who have NEVER TRULY given their hearts to Christ, but want all the other church members think that they have.  They will suffer in Hell the same as a sinner who is NOT a part of the church. 

 

There is so MUCH that can be said about this matter, but I think you get the point.  We might point a finger at Judas and come down really hard for his acts of betrayal, when many around us are doing the very same thing.  They are betraying the very Son of the Living God, and allowing Satan to work in their hearts and lives, and ALL to appease their SINFUL desires.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Christ, then you too are living a lie and allowing Satan to work in you.  You are destined for that place of torment, torture, suffering and pain that place called HELL.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW to change your destination by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and STOP betraying Him and allowing Satan to live in you.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!