The Saviour is Waiting for You - Part 617

Jesus states that He wanted none -- not any one of us -- to miss an opportunity to experience His abundance of love toward us. His grace and mercy. His ongoing commitment towards His creation. "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign" even more. (Romans 5:21) This is why the depth of our Father's love becomes evident when Jesus is praying, just prior to being taken to the cross. Jesus' prayer also serves as a reminder of how much our Lord God and Saviour loved us -- that even when He was destined for the cross, His heart shone on you and I. Paul attempted to capture this thought when he said in Ephesians 8, "Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." John 17 further elaborates on this point. Therein, Jesus lifted up His eyes to Heaven and prayed because the hour had come. The appointed time, decided before the world was formed. Indeed, beyond Jesus praying, the entire chapter of John 17 shares with how Jesus had manifest His name unto the world -- the precious name of Jesus -- so that we would know "all things whatsoever that Thou hast given are of Thee." (John 17:7) He is not referring to Biblical scholars here -- but rather, each and every one of us. Biblical commentator Matthew Henry makes a similar observation about Jesus prayer in John 17. Henry writes, "Thou gavest them Me, as sheep to the shepherd, to be kept; as a patient to the physician, to be cured; as children to a tutor, to be taught: thus He will deliver up His charge." These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." Jesus was going to be no more in this world. Still, as a good Shepherd, He loved those who would remain in the world and prayed earnestly that the Father would "keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are one." (John 17:11) Jesus wanted none to be lost (except the son of perdition). Indeed, He wanted those who loved Him to have His "joy fulfilled in themselves." (John 17:14) To live knowing and believing the words that He had given to be truth. Further, Jesus prayed, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy Word is truth, as Thou has sent Me into the world even so have I also sent them into the world." (John 17:17-18) In the beginning God. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God .. and the Word became flesh. (John 1:1-14) "For there are three that bear record in heaven; the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." (I John 5:7) Jesus said, "For I have given unto them the words which Thou hast gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me." (John 17:8) "I and my Father are one." I am thy Lord your God and Saviour. There is no other beside Me. (Hosea 13:4, Isaiah 43:11, 25, 43, Isaiah 45:5, Malachi 3:6, Matthew 1:20-23, John 10:11, Hebrews 13:8) It is no wonder that Jesus concluded His prayer with the following words: "O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee; but I have known Thee and these have known that Thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them Thy name -- [Jesus] -- and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:25-26) Shortly after Jesus finished, we read that a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees came over the brook Cedron and into the garden where Jesus had ventured with His disciples. "Jesus knowing all things that should come upon Him went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye?" (John 18:1-4) The men answered Jesus saying, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus responded saying, "I AM He." As soon as these words were spoken, the scriptures record that the men fell backward to the ground. Once again, Jesus asked, "Whom seek ye? I have told you that I AM He. If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way." (John 18:6-8) This statement was recorded in this manner so that the saying, "Of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost none" might be fulfilled. (John 18:9) Indeed, our Lord God and Saviour loved us enough to become as one of us and shed His precious holy blood on the cross for our sins. So that we might experience His abundant love. His grace. His mercy. For God so loved the world -- you and I -- even before the foundation of the world was formed. Moreover, on the cross Jesus said, "It is finished." (John 19:30) His blood shed so that our sins -- our transgressions -- would be forgiven once and for all. That is, if we would only believe on Jesus. Come to Jesus today. Ask Jesus to fill your soul with His peace and joy. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus Raised Up a Horn for My Salvation - Part 616

When our Lord God and Saviour -- the Messiah -- visited us, He raised up a horn of salvation. Indeed, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer. The God of my rock; in Him will I trust. He is my shield,, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from mine enemies. (II Samuel 22:1-4)

Psalms 18:2 cites a similar scripture, stating, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Certainly, throughout the Old Testament scriptures, prophesies repeatedly foretell of the coming Messiah. We can also take hold of the fact that Jesus was the only begotten child of God. (John 3:16) Similarly, as it is written, we learn that He is the Seed of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, in the veins of Jesus did flow the very life and the humanity of God. Therefore, the blood in Jesus' veins was not like our blood. Why? Because in our blood flows the sinful nature acquired from our forefather Adam in the Garden of Eden.

However, as we recall from the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve were disobedient to the words of their Father who created them. Their initial desire to forever commune with the Lord had changed. As a consequence, we are all now born with a prone to sin nature, which no man of himself or herself can rectify. The Bible states that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There are none righteous, no, not one.

Therefore, in order to obtain the gift of salvation, we must recognize that Jesus was not the natural seed of Abraham. Rather, Jesus was -- and indeed is -- the promised Seed of the Holy Spirit.  God in the flesh. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh. (John 1:1-14) Jesus came forth from Mary in whose womb the promised Seed of the Holy Spirit was clothed in sin prone flesh. 

In other words, Mary became a willing surrogate (as pertaining to the flesh) but He who was inside that veil of flesh was none other than the Seed life of the Holy Spirit. Mary was blessed because she believed in the promised Seed of the Holy Spirit. She herself rejoiced to be the handmaiden of the Lord, sharing with everyone that the Lord her God had become Her Saviour. God our Creator was willing to take on the form of man so that we might have salvation.

This is not to suggest that Abraham believed God any less. Certainly that belief was accredited to him as if he were righteous. But of course he was not, for he also lived in a prone to sin natural body. Rather, it was the application of faith that brought upon him unforeseen blessings. God told Abraham that in his Seed would all the nations of the earth be blessed. We are not speaking here of Abraham‘s natural seed. In fact, most of Abraham’s natural seed even today do not believe in the promised Seed of the pure, holy, undefiled Seed of the Holy Spirit, which Seed is Jesus the Christ. 

Still, this is why the door into God’s kingdom is through faith in the Seed of promise Jesus the Christ. It is also why new believers willingly acknowledge that God Himself laid down His life as a Son for each and every one of us. That He alone offers eternal life as a free gift. That by grace are we saved through faith. Stand in the offering plate

Surely the Lord Jesus is In This Place - Part 615

And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, "Behold the Lamb of God. (John 1:36) "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews" -- posted on the cross at Calvary for all to read, including the Jews -- but also written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin just in case there would ever be any question arise regarding the authenticity of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus. (John 19)

But before Jesus was crucified, we read in the book of John that Jesus went forward into Galilee asking Philip of Bethsaida to follow Him. Philip later happened upon Nathanael -- a worthy Israelite walking righteously before His Maker -- and said unto him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1:43-51)

But Nathanael asked Philip, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" In other words, is it possible that the Messiah could come out from amidst the corruption that was prevalent in Nazareth? Further, like many others, Nathanael may have been thinking, "Is this not the son of Joseph the carpenter and Mary?" After all , the Jews at the time were expecting the King of kings. The Lord of lords. God Almighty in all His glory. How could this be that this man named Jesus might be the prophesied Messiah? Was He not born in a stable? For Nathanael, there were more questions than answers.

Still, Philip invited Nathanael to "come and see." Come and see Jesus for yourself, he said. In other words, Philip was not going to try and convince Nathanael that Jesus was the prophesied Christ. Rather, he invited Philip to come and see for himself that Jesus was the Christ which was prophesied by the prophets.

"For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor. The mighty God. The everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) 

But Nathanael wasn't so easily convinced.  How can Jesus be the prophesied Christ -- God Almighty in the flesh - who loved us so much -- even before the world was shaped -- that He would become our Lord and Saviour? Could this really be the Messiah prophesied of in Isaiah chapter 53? 

"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. [Indeed] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid, as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet, we did not esteem Him, smitten of God and afflicted. 

[Still] He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted. Yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb. So He openeth not His mouth. 

He was taken from prison and from judgement, and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death. Because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He hath put Him to grief. When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. By His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore, will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death. And He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:1-12)

Jesus knows our hearts. This is why when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Jesus knew his heart. This is why Nathanael asked Jesus, "Whence knowest thou me?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Before that Phiilip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

At that point, Nathanael knew that here was the Messiah -- the Lord of lords and King of kings. He recognized right there and then that Jesus was the King of Israel. No doubts whatsoever. But Jesus wasn't going to let Nathanael's change of heart off that easy. So Jesus asked him, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these."

And Jesus said unto him. "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:51) For those who might have difficulty understanding this last verse, the "ascending and descending" is further elaborated in Jacob's dream found in Genesis 28:12-16. 

Most importantly, Nathanael knew that Jesus was the He that said, "I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Praise you Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus Bruised for Our Iniquities - Part 614

"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. [Indeed] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid, as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet, we did not esteem Him, smitten of God and afflicted. 

[Still] He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted. Yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb. So He openeth not His mouth. 

He was taken from prison and from judgement, and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death. Because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He hath put Him to grief. When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. By His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear there iniquities.

Therefore, will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death. And He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:1-12)

Traditional Religion or Jesus? Choice is Yours - Part 613

Often, as new believers in Jesus, we are tempted to get caught up in the institutional religious form associated with church-ianity. Once there, we often adopt the respective established doctrines or creed as presented without ever questioning whether the doctrine(s) in question have a credible scriptural basis. As a consequence, when we hear John 5:39 quoted, we expect that the religious leader - whether it be minister or priest -- has already searched the scriptures for clarity and direction. "For in them ye think ye have eternal life; they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

But there is another passage whereby Jesus also spoke on this topic that is often missed. Reading in John 7:16-19, Jesus said to the Jews, "My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him."

And then Jesus asks, "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?" (John 7:19)

Herein, Jesus was giving the people a choice. This is the same choice that is extended to us today. That is, are we willing to do His will as in "if any man will do His will." (John 7:17) In essence then, these scriptures are giving us an opportunity to pursue the will of God and apply His liberty to our very being. In so doing, as the scriptures state, we will know in our hearts whether the scriptural teachings and doctrines that are being presented by man-made organizations are true. 

Remember that Jesus told us to "Beware of the scribes which love to go in long clothing and love salutations in the marketplaces, and the chief seats in the synagogues and the uppermost rooms at feasts. Which devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers." Jesus warned us that these "shall receive greater damnation." (John 7:38-40)

So instead of falling into an institutionalized form, how do we will to do His will? 

Jesus said that the first of all the commandments is "The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment." (Mark 12:29-31) 

And the second is like, namely this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:37-40)

It is on these two commandments that hang all the law and the prophets. The basis of the New Testament -- the New Covenant. This is our starting point. Read the New Testament scriptures for yourself so that you too can know the doctrines that are true. Will to do His will today. 

Admittedly, there will be questions. Even when the Pharisees (the learned of the community) gathered together, the scriptures state that they were unable to answer Jesus when He said, "What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?"

When the Pharisees responded with "The son of David" Jesus said, "How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David then call Him Lord, how is He His son?"

The promise to those who will to do His will is that we will know the doctrines of Jesus. The Word that was in the beginning and became flesh so that you and I could experience salvation. The greatest love story ever told. The love of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

Therefore, desire in your heart to do His will -- be willing to do the will of Jesus in all our endeavours. He who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will know His doctrines, whether they are of God as Jesus declared -- "whether I speak of myself" -- or whether these teachings are of man. Indeed, Jesus never fails. Embrace His teachings today. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus Paid the Ultimate Price For You and I - Part 612

Jesus the Christ was the only begotten child of the Holy Spirit of God. The scriptures state that God Himself was manifest in the flesh as a Son which is why we have an opportunity to experience the salvation of our Lord God and Saviour. God in the manifestation of Jesus (God with us) had a plan for all of His creation -- including you and I. Indeed, the promise is to us, our offspring and to those who are afar off. This is why it is important to understand that in Jesus did all the fullness of the Godhead dwell bodily.

We read in the Bible that Jesus said to Philip, "If you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father." Why? Because "I and my Father are one. He that has seen Me has seen the Father." 

Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit providing the new blood line that is in the Christ. God Himself as a Son seeded us. For it is written, "We are the seed of Jesus the Christ." The seed of Jesus the Christ is the Word of God. For we have been born again not of corruptible seed but rather by the incorruptible Seed which is the Word of God.

Jesus being the very same Word and wisdom that indwelt God. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one." (I John 5:7) Yes, one and the same. Jesus the Word coming forth from the innermost being of God, becoming for our sake God manifest in the flesh as a Son. God was manifest in visible form like unto Adam‘s sin prone race, appearing in such humiliated form to destroy the evil works and destruction of the devil. To pay the price of our salvation once and for all.

In fact, there was no other way. This is why our Lord God and Saviour Jesus purposely came in this condescended form so that we might have life eternal. Jesus did not descend into our midst to condemn us. Rather, Jesus came that we might have an opportunity to be brought out from the bondage of the law of sin and death. Into His freedom. The law of liberty that only Jesus could proclaim for His people.

The same God who was indwelling the man Jesus the Christ who desired from the beginning of time to reconcile fallen man to Himself. As many as received Jesus so shall they receive life. This is God's promise to one and all. For God SO Loved the World that He would give His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16) Stand in the offering plate.

New Beginnings With Jesus -Part 611

One Lord, one faith and one baptism. This is the short form confession of the faith that the scriptures render. In this context then, we ought to continually examine our hearts to see whether we are earnestly contending for the confession of faith that was delivered from Jesus to us by His Holy Spirit.

Indeed, the ministry of His Spirit declares that if any man has not the Spirit of Jesus the Christ, then that person has not as of yet accepted redemption. Accepted grace. His abundant love. The mercy of Jesus. Nor has he or she received the opening tongue spoken ministry of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts chapter two. The Bible states:

"I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh and as a consequence your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Similarly, your old men shall dream dreams and upon my servants and upon my handmaidens, I will pour out My Spirit." 

This is the message for today and yet so many of us get caught up in Church-ianity rather than Jesus believer Christianity. Indeed, the New Testament is all about Jesus -- the King of Kings and Lord of lords -- for a reason.   Jesus -- God Almighty in the flesh -- desired to redeem to Himself a people who previously were not a people at all. In fact, the New Testament is necessary because God walked away from the former Covenant when those He had covenanted with had walked away from the Old Covenant law. It is here that the greatest love story of all time began.

Moreover, the New Testament -- the New Covenant -- is a covenant between God who is Spirit and God Himself as a Son. This New Covenant was a ‘God In Christ' covenant involving the death of the testator - Jesus. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we as believers become the benefactors of all that is contained in this everlasting covenant of God in Christ. 

This does not mean that we have a covenant. Rather, we are the recipients of all that Jesus was heir of. All of Jesus the Christ's inheritance has been bequeathed to us as His last will and testament. One does not work for an inheritance. Rather, an inheritance is considered a gift. 

This is why Jesus Christ died for us so that we could be saved. So that all our sins and transgressions -- yesterday's, today's and even tomorrow’s sin -- would be forgiven. Cleansed by the precious blood that Jesus shed on the cross.  This is why Jesus was raised from the grave -- for our justification. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, Jesus sat down. The work is finished. There is nothing we can do because our Lord God and Saviour paid the price once and for all. 

Salvation -- freely given to those who trust in Jesus with all their hearts, their souls and their minds. Ask Jesus into your life today. Let Jesus pour out His Spirit upon you. Read Acts 2 in the Bible. Stand in the offering plate.

It Is I -- Jesus -- Be Not Afraid - Part 610

And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased. Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up His eyes and saw a great company come unto Him, He said unto Philip, "Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"

And this He said to prove him for He Himself knew what he would do. Philip answered Him suggesting that even "two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little."

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Jesus, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes. But what are they among so many?" Jesus said, "Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place so the men sat down, in number about five thousand."

Jesus took the loaves. When He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down. Likewise, of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost."

Therefore, they gathered them together and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said, "This is of a truth the prophet that should come into the world."

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone. And when evening was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea. And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But He saith unto them, "It is I; be not afraid." Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one where into His disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples were gone away alone; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks)

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?"

Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. For Him hath God the Father sealed." 

Then said they unto Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." They said therefore unto Him, "What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert. As it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." 

Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

 Then said they unto Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread"

 And Jesus said unto them, "I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven?"

Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

As it is written in the prophets, "They shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, "He that believes on Me hath everlasting life."

"I am that Bread of Life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6)

The message here is to discern between the traditions of men and the Biblical scriptures. And be taught the good news message of our Lord God and Saviour by reading the Word that Jesus so willingly gave. Know too that Jesus has a better plan for your life. He is the only answer. And Jesus never fails. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus, Thou Art My Praise - Part 609

Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters that spreads out her roots by the river. The tree shall not see when heat comes, but rather its leaf shall be green. (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Later in the same chapter, it is written, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved. Thou art my praise ... thou art my hope in the day of evil." (Jeremiah 17:14-17)

Both of these scriptural examples are taken from the Old Testament in the Bible -- when men and women lived under the Law. Still, throughout the old covenant, their faith in the Lord God Almighty is evident. They understood that everything that existed in the universe came about as a consequence of a Father who loved them. In the beginning God. (Genesis 1:1)

But what we often miss in discerning the scriptures is that now we live under the dispensation of grace. A dispensation whereby we can fully experience the grace and mercy of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- who loved us so much that He would become as one of us and shed His precious blood on the cross. The precious blood of Jesus shed to cover our sins and transgressions.

Jesus -- the only name whereby we can be saved. His name above every other name. God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16) For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Collosions 2:9) The Alpha and Omega -- the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8)

Even so, we are subtly reminded in Matthew 11:6 that there are those who do not accept Jesus to be the Christ -- the prophesied Saviour who came to save the people from their sins.  Some were even offended by Jesus. So much so, that Jesus even stated, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." 

Bible commentator Gill elaborates on Matthew 11:6. He writes that it was not only the Jews that were "offended at Christ's parentage and birth, at the poverty of His parents, and at the manner of His birth, by a virgin; and at the place of His birth, which they thought to be Galilee; at His education, because He had not learnt letters, and was brought up to a mechanical employment; at His mean appearance in His public ministry, in His own person, and in His attendants: His company and audience being the poorer sort, the more ignorant, and who had been loose and scandalous persons, publicans and sinners; at the doctrines He preached, particularly, with respect to eternity, the distinguished grace of God, and living by faith upon His flesh and blood" but that there were others too.

"The disciples of John also were offended in Him, because He and His disciples did not fast, and lead such an austere life as they and their master did; because of the meanness and obscurity of Christ's kingdom; the imprisonment of John, and the many reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which did, and were likely to attend a profession of Christ: this our Lord knew, and had a peculiar respect to them in these words." 

"But happy are those persons, who, notwithstanding all these difficulties and discouragements, are so far from stumbling at Christ, and falling from Him, that they heartily receive Him and believe in Him, make a profession of Him, and hold it fast; greatly love, highly value, and esteem Him, and are willing to part with all, and bear all for His sake: these are blessed, notwithstanding all their sufferings for Him even now; they have spiritual peace, joy, and comfort in their souls, and shall be happy in the full enjoyment of Him to all eternity." (Source: http://bible.cc/matthew/11-6.htm)

Nevertheless, happy are those persons who receive Him and believe in Him and make a profession of Him. Indeed, Jesus, thou art my praise. Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords -- who shed His precious blood on a cross for me. The one and only Jesus who said, "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. And He that believes on me shall never thirst."

Take hold of this blessed assurance today. That is, how could we ever doubt a God whose hands hold the universe? Worship our Lord God and Saviour Jesus today. Stand in the offering plate.

Rejoice in Jesus Name - Part 608

"I will make thy name [Lord] to be remembered in all generations. Therefore [Lord], shall the people praise thee forever and ever." (Psalms 45:17)

 If you are not a regular reader of the Bible, it is important to note that a significant proportion of the scriptures are written for our personal edification in order that we can grow strong in the faith that we have in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus. Indeed, the Bible encourages those of us who believe that Jesus shed His precious blood for our sins and transgressions -- so that we might be saved -- to search the scriptures. Why? Because in the scriptures are the Words of Life.

"Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

A prime justification for reading the scriptures can be found in Psalms. Herein, the scriptures state that "you are fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured upon your lips. Therefore, God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your thigh, O Mighty One, with your glory and your majesty. And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness. Your right hand shall teach you awesome things. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; the people's fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God has annointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions." (Psalm 45: 2-7)

As believers, we are encouraged to stand therefore in the liberty wherewith Jesus the Christ hath made us free. (Galatians 5:1)

Futher, "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Certainly, as an exemplary example to all of us, Jesus rejoiced in spirit. He said in Luke 10:21, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth so thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father, for it seemed good in thy sight."

He repeats the same message of joy in Matthew 11:25. At that time Jesus said. "I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children." (Matthew 11:25)

This is the reason why we stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." (Philippians 4:1) Praise your Almighty King Jesus today. Stand in the offering plate.