If The Son Has Set You Free, You Are Free Indeed! - Part 2779

"But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

"Now we believe, not because of your saying" the people said to the woman at the well but rather, because they had "heard Jesus ourselves, and know that He is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (John 4:42))

Knowing Jesus as our Lord God and Saviour (rather than just knowing about Jesus) is exemplified in the example of the Samarian woman at the well. which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Herein, Jesus' disciples had gone into the city to buy food. Sitting alone, Jesus asks the woman to "Give Me to drink." The woman aware of long-standing traditions between the Jews and the Samaritans asked, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink of me -- who am a woman of Samaria?"

But Jesus answered and said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that said to you, "Give Me to drink" you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water." Looking around the woman said "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?"

Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinks of this [well] water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of this [living] water that I shall give him, shall never thirst. [Indeed] the water that I give shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. " (John 4:8-26)

As the conversation continued, the woman began to desire the living water that Jesus spoke of -- so that she too would thirst not. Certainly, she wanted to know who Jesus was. Who was this man that in conversation could tell her all about her past? Her many transgressions. In response, the woman's desire to know the truth led her to say, "I know that when the Messiah comes, who is called the Christ, He will tell us all things."

Did the woman suspect that this Jesus, whom she conversed with at the well, was the promised Messiah?

Recognizing her love, Jesus said, "I that speak unto you am He." It is I -- Jesus -- who gives life. And life more abundantly. It is I -- Jesus -- who pours out living water on those believers who desire the Word. Those believers who desire to know Jesus and not just about the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Jesus said, "He that believes on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)

Other scriptures confirm the same. "Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

Throughout the scriptures, the Lord said He would pour water upon all those who are thirsty and flood our dry souls with His goodness and grace and mercy. 

"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let him that hears say, "Come." And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

David the psalmist had a similar experience -- "Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalms 23:5) 

"And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." (Revelation 22:1)

Like the woman at the well, desire the living water that is only available from Jesus the Christ. The Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. Our Lord God who became our Saviour and knows each and every one of us by name. The scriptures state that "if we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

Indeed, "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Revelation 21:6) This is the Jesus we serve. This is the Jesus who is willing to sit down by the well and converse with each and every one of us. The same Lord of glory who desires to commune with His beloved, and to lead and guide us beside the still waters. 

And His abundance of living water gives us hope and joy and peace, all the day long. Don't miss your opportunity to dine with the Master, who willingly shed His precious blood on a cross for you and I.

Stand in the offering plate.

Marvel Not ...Ye Must Be Born Again! - Part 2778

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) 

"Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." (James 1:18)

"... being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever." (I Peter 1:23)

In John 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees, a man and master of Israel, and a ruler of the Jews. Jesus tells Nicodemus -- “Verily, verily, I say unto thee - Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Nicodemus then asks Jesus if this means re-entering again inside his mother's womb. Jesus repeats for the second time His initial message. That is, "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! Marvel not that I have said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind blows where it lists, and thou hears the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes, and whither it goes, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8)

Why is this? Because, as Jesus notes, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jesus continues, saying, "If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12)

At this point, Nicodemus should have known the numerous written Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Jesus -- as the promised Messiah. Like Simeon in the temple, Nicodemus would have known the Lord God was going to do a brand new work. Like John the baptizer who was full of the Holy Ghost from before birth, Nicodemus would have known the call to be baptized in the Jordan River had already gone out to one and all. And yes, Nicodemus would have recognized a new day was on the horizon -- when the dayspring from on high would visit His people.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)

To Nicodemus, Jesus was speaking the New Testament salvation message: repentance, water baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 

From the Old Testament: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

In the new Testament: "Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (Mark 1:2; Malachi 3:1) “Behold, I will send My messenger (Matthew 17:12-13), and "he shall prepare the way before Me!" (Isaiah 43:11-12; Zechariah 2:10-11, Zechariah 9:9)

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 43:11-12, John 16:25, Isaiah 45:15, Psalm 50:22-23, Jude 1:25, Psalm 18:31)

You see, the Lord God had already foretold of His coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13) Making the way straight before Jesus was John the baptizer, calling all to be baptized in the Jordan river – his ministry showing that an open act of faith, believing upon God was necessary. (Matthew 3: 1-11) Before the cross, this act was considered repentance – the cleansing of the outside.

When Jesus was eventually baptized of John, He said, "For thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-16) In so doing, Jesus was fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy. As we can see, water baptism was a part of the end of the Old Testament, and also a part of the beginning of the New Testament.

Herein, it is important to understand from I John 5: 6 that Jesus came by both water and blood: water was the baptism by John (repentance) which was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry; and His shed blood which was at the ending of His ministry. In all occasions, water baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God (I Peter 1:21)) But I digress.

In those days came John the baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, "Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:1-3; Isaiah 13:9; Isaiah 40:10-11, Isaiah 66:14, Isaiah 26:11, 1 Peter 5:6) For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias [Isaiah], saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness." (John 1:23) "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!" (Isaiah 40:3, John 5:31-35; Mark 1:3), As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before Thee.” (Mark 1:2; Malachi 3:1) “Behold, I will send My messenger." (Matthew 17:12-13), and "... he shall prepare the way before Me!" (Isaiah 43:11-12; Zechariah 2:10-11, Zechariah 9:9)

John always pointed to Jesus --- the Lamb of God. 

After the resurrection of Jesus, and more specifically, on the day of Pentecost, the people asked Peter (standing  in one accord with the apostles) what they must do to be saved. Peter had just informed them that this same Jesus whom they had crucified is both Lord and Christ. Peter then commands both the Jews and the Gentiles to repent and be baptized.

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)

We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First, whatever Christ definitely ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing and commanding everyone to be water baptized in His Name.

Please note that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include water – the cleansing/renewing of our mind in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, "Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It’s an act of faith and obedience. (II Peter 3:21; I Timothy 3:5-8; Colossians 2:11)

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism and risen with Him in the same manner that Jesus died and rose again. (Romans 6:3-4)

Notable also, is that according to Luke 7:30, "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized." (emerged in water) Those who stood on the river banks watching John baptize the multitudes but would not get into the water themselves. 

One Lord, one Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4: 5) 

The one baptism is two-fold, meaning as Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again (baptized) of both water and of the Spirit. Obedience to believing in and on Jesus includes water baptism in His precious, holy name and receiving the Holy Ghost equals one Baptism.

"He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38-39)

In other words, ye must have the experience of having both baptism of water and baptism of Spirit. And not to be confused with I John 1:7-9 - this is written to already saved people (the body of Christ church), not to sinners who are still trying to get saved. Conversely, those who say there is no need for water baptism are of their father the devil. (John 8:43: 45) Indeed, Jesus said, “Full well ye REJECT the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."  (Mark 7:9)

In summarizing, baptism is by immersion in water. "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3:16) "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38) "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4) A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil on it, but by covering it completely.

I hope this helps offer clarity.  Stand in the offering plate.

The Greatest Love Story Ever Lived, So That You And I Could Have Abundant Life In Jesus - Part 2777

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

The Lord said, |This is My blood shed for many for the remission of sin." As often as you eat this bread and drink this wine, you do show forth the Lord’s death. The Lord Jesus being the Bread of life' the Light of this world;  the Living Water wherein if ye drink, ye shall never thirst again. This is why Jesus could say that He is the resurrection and the life. 

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6)

God is not the author of confusion. Let all things be done decently and in order. Moses lifted up a bronze serpent in the wilderness which had been secured to a pole, thereby securing healing to whoever would gaze upon it. So, likewise JESUS, that He also would be lifted up on a pole that whoever should look upon Him could also be delivered from whatever bondage engulfed them!

Let's consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Jesus, who had taken upon Himself to take on a lower fashion in appearance than that of the angelic hosts. (Hebrews 2:5-6)  Angels cannot die. Thus. in order for Jesus to redeem man from His fallen estate. if He were to save man from their sins, He would have to taste death for every man, (the Just for the Unjust). In other words, He was to fulfill the determination of that which had already been predetermined before the very foundation of the earth was formed. That is He, the Lamb of God, would be delivered into the midst of wicked men and be slain, thereby achieving opportunity for the lost to have redemption. In essence, He Himself taking away the sin of all those individuals who call upon His Name - "JESUS"

He, God Himself -- as a son conceived of the Holy Ghost (as a child) to be veiled in sinful flesh , thereby enabling the predetermined counsel of God to be manifest, He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. (John 1:10-11) Further, John testified that his own hands handled the Word of Life.

Abraham had it revealed to him that in his seed would all the nations of the earth be blessed. That seed of blessing was the seed of the holy Spirit JESUS. Like Simeon of old, who upon seeing Jesus in the temple as a babe, adopted a prayerful attitude before God saying, “Now let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation."

The bottom line is this. There was none righteous in God’s eyes. No, not one. Therefore, God Himself made a way of salvation for you and I. The same God who created us in the beginning - He Himself as a son would become man's Saviour. He came to sacrifice Himself. He offered His own flesh. which had been incapable of sin but had not sinned. Instead, He walked in the Spirit accomplishing His Father's business. He became a propitiation for sin. His own blood, the blood of the Spirit to be shed once and once for all. As a consequence, there is no more or other sacrifice for sin. JESUS, the only priestly mediator presenting Himself to the world was sacrificed, causing the veil of the temple to be rent in two from top to bottom. He did so that we who believe in Him can now come boldly to God’s throne of grace. As such, we become redeemed by God Himself as a son! Therefore, who would dare to say that this sacrifice was inadequate?

Christ died for our sins. Yes. And He arose from death for our justification. Peace in Jesus name!

A Foundation of Stone, A Tried Stone, A Precious Corner Stone, A Sure Foundation - Part 2776

"According to your measure of faith ..." 

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11) 

"Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste." (Isaiah 28:16) 

When John wrote to believers, he said, "My hearts desire and my prayer to God is this - that you may prosper and be in good health." This prosperity that John referred to is contingent with your soul prospering. Rather than limit one's growth only to health and prosperity, which admittedly are in this life desirable, John emphasized that these desires ought to work in conjunction with and not independent from the spiritual growth of the born again inner man.

The reason that John makes this statement is simple. If a man should seek to gain the whole world at the expense of his born again soul then he or she at the end of the day has not gained anything. In reality, they suffer loss. Granted, silver and gold may not be the outcome. However, it is important to recognize that God will always supply the believer's needs -- for God knows what things we have need of even before we ask. Why? Because it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Like the scriptures repeatedly state, "If you ask for bread, God will not give a stone. If you ask for fish, God will not give a serpent"

Indeed, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give born again believers the Kingdom! Do you remember the promises of God? In blessing, I will bless you and in multiplying, I will multiply you and in so doing, you shall be great. Again, the offspring of the SEED of JESUS the Christ are the inheritors of all. So who are the offspring of Christ? We are!

We are the offspring of Christ! 

We are the people which have put on Christ. As it is written - as many of us as have been baptized into the name of JESUS the Christ have put on Christ. It is we who have become members of God’s body whose body was manifest in the flesh - JESUS! We are members of His bone and of His flesh. His redeemed people. The good news is that even though at one time we were not a people, we are now the people of God as a consequence of God's plan of salvation. In fact, we are the ISRAEL of God.  

Stand in the offering plate. 

The Spirit Of The Lord Spake By Me, And His Word Was In My Tongue - Part 2775

 "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God ... (I Timothy 1:17)

"Ye are My witnesses ... before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me." (Isaiah 43:10)

"In the beginning, God!" (Genesis 1:1)

From the scriptures, we see God as the eternal Spirit Himself repeatedly clothing Himself in a visible and personal form. Remember when God appeared to Abraham in the tent? Or when the same visible form appeared to Moses?  Or to the elders of Israel? Indeed, God Himself veiled the fulness of His glory in bodily form -- the visible image of the invisible Spirit so that He could bring us (His beloved creation) salvation. (Hebrews 13)

"In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) 

He did not send another to redeem His precious beloved but willingly came Himself. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep as the Lamb slain. (Revelation 13:8; I Peter 1:20) God manifest in the flesh so that we could have abundant life. (I Timothy 3:16)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and was God ... He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1-3, 10-11, 14) 

The same Lord God who spoke the world into existence in the beginning later took on sin prone flesh (yet without sin), shedding His precious holy blood on a cross, so that our sins (though they be as crimson) would be as white as snow -- when we decidedly in our heart believe on the Lord Jesus. 

"By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm 33:6) 

Throughout the scriptures, the Word of the Lord spoke to His prophets and the psalmist. 

"The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue." (II Samuel 23:2)

"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, "This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)

"... but the Word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (I Peter 1:25)

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him believe in God." (I Peter 1:18-21) 

By whom? His name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

More to come. Stand in the offering plate.