Without Jesus, I Can Do Nothing - Part 631

Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me, ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) Indeed, if ye abide in Jesus and His words abide in you, the scriptures promise that "you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you." Why? Because as Jesus indicated, "herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love." (John 15:7)

Imagine, Jesus spoke these truths so that we could experience His joy, in order "that our joy might be full." (John 15:11) He said, "Your heart shall rejoice and this joy, no man taketh from you." (John 16:22)

In John 15:16, we begin to learn the extent of our Lord God and Saviour's love wherein we were loved even before being formed in our mother's wombs. Herein, the scriptures state, "Ye have not chosen Me but I have chosen you ... and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you."

Jesus knew the consequences of taking up His cross and becoming a disciple. He knew that the world would hate us because the world had already hated Jesus first -- even before it hated us. Still, Jesus encouraged us to "Remember the Word." 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)

Further, Jesus taught, "Thy servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:19-20) But then Jesus said, "But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake because they know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin ... If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." (John 15:25)

As in many of Jesus' teachings, this came to pass in order that the Word in the old covenant might be fulfilled. The Word that is written in their law. That is, the scriptures that state, "They hated Me without a cause." (John 15:25, Psalm 69:4)

But the real message here is that we don't need to fret. Jesus assured believers that "when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me. And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning." (John 15:21-27)

So if they put you out of the synagogues, Jesus said not to be offended. He also said not to let sorrow fill our hearts. Because Jesus knew that when He went "My way to Him that sent Me" the Comforter would come. Jesus knew that when "the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth for He shall not speak of Himself but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak and He will show you things to come."  (John 16:1-14)

In fact, Jesus told His disciples that "it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement."

Of sin, Jesus said, because they believe not on Me.

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more.

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Judged when Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross so that we could be forgiven once and for all. The Comforter, Jesus said, "shall glorify Me for He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you." Yes, the Comforter shall testify of Jesus. "Verily, verily I say unto you. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you." In the name of Jesus. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Indeed, Jesus is the name manifested unto the men "which Thou gavest Me out of the world." The only name whereby salvation could ever be ours.

Jesus then said, "And now I am no more in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name, those that Thou gavest Me. I have kept and none of them is lost ..."

Therefore, be glad and rejoice. Be sanctified through the scriptural truths that Jesus taught. Be comforted in His love. His immeasurable grace. Know too that the glory which the Father extended to the Sonship while on earth -- God in the flesh in a Son's body --- has been given to you and I so that we may be one even as Jesus and the Father are one. (John 17:22)

Stand in the offering plate.

Thou Hast Made Known the Ways of Life - Part 630

In Acts chapter two, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, Peter and the apostles were all together, preaching to the people with one accord. As the scriptures state there were dwelling a Jerusalem Jews, and devout men out of every nation under heaven. Parthians and Medes, and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes. Cretes and Arabians too.

Just before this, a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And then, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-11)

Observers were amazed by this recent turn of events. Some doubted. Others mocked. But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. For these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day."

Peter went on to say that what had transpired was spoken by the prophet Joel. The prophecy in Acts 2:17-21 states the following:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But Peter did not stop delivering the message there. He continued, saying, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hat raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that He (Jesus) could be holden of it."

Why? Because David had foretold of this moment before concerning Jesus. David wrote in Psalms 16:8: "I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore, did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope because Thou will not leave my soul in hell. Neither will Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." (Acts 2:25-28)

Again, Peter continues. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David; that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption."

Peter told them that it is this "Jesus that God hath raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Therefore, being  by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which we now see and hear. For David is not ascended unto the heavens but he saith unto himself, "The Lord said unto my Lord, "Sit Thou on my right hand until I make Thy foes Thy footstool." (Acts 2:29-35"

And then Peter -- still in full agreement with the other eleven apostles -- said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) 

Indeed, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved. Jesus - the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end. The same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to become flesh and shed His precious blood on the cross so that we might be saved. And this undeniable love for His people -- you and I -- was decided before the world was formed. "For God so loved the world ..." The good news is that the same Jesus that was crucified then is now both Lord and Christ. Praise Jesus. Ask Jesus into your life today. Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus Both Lord and Christ - Part 629

Jesus answered unto Pilate saying, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me except it were given thee from above." (John 19:11)

There is an important message in the above scripture. Within the sentencing of Jesus, the Lord God who was to become our Saviour had ordered in advance the course of events that would transpire. And He did this in order that we might understand and see the true character and state of men's hearts. In fact, Almighty God has orchestrated the minutes leading up to Jesus being crucified on a cross so that all the prophecies of the old covenant -- written and contained in the Old Testament -- that foretold of the coming of the Christ would be fulfilled.

Specifically, herein, the officers and band of men from the chief priests and Pharisees wanted Jesus dead. So they brought Him to Pilate. These people knew that Pilate was a magistrate and as such, free to make final life and death decisions concerning those brought in front of him. The accusers were also aware that Pilate's power and authority, as constituted by law, is ultimately given by Almighty God.

But as Jesus plainly points out, Pilate really had no authority to crucify Jesus. No power to sentence Jesus to death. That is, unless the decision for Jesus to be crucified had already been decided in heaven.  The plan of salvation already drawn by our heavenly Father in advance. As we learn from the scriptures, this was the case. God knew from the beginning that He would have to become flesh and shed His precious blood on a cross so that we could be saved. 

"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) "Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak not of Myself but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I AM in the Father and the Father in Me." (John 14:10-11)

"Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee." (John 17:1-11) The hour had come but not as the chief priests and Pharisees had supposed. Nevertheless, God knew -- because it was the same Lord God who created the world who later became our Saviour. This is why Jesus said, "I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do." (John 17:4)

Indeed, Jesus could have called legions of angels to prevent His death. But He didn't. Why? Because He knew His kingdom was not of this world. Jesus said, "If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence."

Jesus continued, saying, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice." (John 18:37)

In other words, Pilate may have thought that he had the power to crucify or release Jesus. But as Jesus answered to Pilate, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above. Therefore, He that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin." It is no wonder Pilate sought to release Jesus. Pilate even said unto the Jews, "Behold your King!" And wrote on the cross, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS." (John 19:19)

But still the Jews said "Away with Him. Away with Him. Crucify Him."

However, through it all, Jesus knew that in His death, salvation would now be accomplished. The plan of salvation that had been decided before the foundation of the earth was formed was  now fulfilled. Our Lord God and Creator -- our heavenly Father --who loved us from the beginning had now become our Saviour. "It is finished."

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) Peace be unto you. 

Stand in the offering plate.

I Will Sing of the Endless Mercies of Jesus - Part 628

Little children, let no man deceive you. He that does righteousness is righteous, even as He -- Jesus -- is righteous. (I John 3:7)

And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; in Him that is no sin. By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves but by the grace of God. Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16)

We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 5:19)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved now we are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, And every man that hath his hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. (I John 3:1)

And this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (I John 5:14-15)

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 89:1-2)

Finally, earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and who will present those who love Jesus as faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Stand in the offering plate.

In the Midst of the Paradise of God - Part 627

What is eternal life? This question is answered repeatedly by Jesus in the scriptures. For example, Jesus stated in John 17:3-4, “And this is life eternal that they might know Thee – the only true God and Jesus Christ.”

Still, many people today have only ‘heard’ of Jesus. Unfortunately for them, the ‘knowing’ Jesus consists only of a sprinkling of knowledge. They possess only a minimum understanding of the Lord God who would later become their Saviour. As a consequence, our social fabric misses the most important ingredient for our world. That is, each and every one of us getting to know our Lord God and Saviour personally. As the scriptures state, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore, in all our endeavours to conform to the ways of this world, we fail to understand the real meaning of eternal life. 

The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus offers us an example of the knowing that comes with eternal life. Herein, Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” Of course, we know that Nicodemus already knew from the miracles that Jesus performed that He must be from God. He acknowledges this point in John 3:1-21. But at the same time, Nicodemus was still focused on earthly things. “How can this be?” he asked Jesus. Similar to Jesus' response to Nicodemus, Jesus encourages us to seek Him with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds. Indeed, Jesus invited individuals to knock and the doors of heaven would be opened unto them. (Luke 11:9-13)

Further, as new believers read the Word, they begin to experience a measure of closeness that comes only from a personal relationship with Jesus. The pressing in to Jesus type of knowing that we yearn for in our inner souls. Meditating on the Word and then willingly doing His will in the days that follow. When we are committed to getting to know Jesus, we are transformed.  Passed from death to life. Our transgressions covered by the precious blood of Jesus. As well, we will be clothed in the righteousness that only pressing into Jesus the good Shepherd can bring. “As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-18)

Jesus died for our sins. He was bruised for our iniquities. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. Therefore, seek Jesus today and know the love of Christ that passes all knowledge and understanding. Be filled with the fullness of God. The scriptures state: “Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:19-20) 

Similarly, hold fast to the Word. Know in whom you have believed. “Be persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day.” (II Timothy 1:12-13) Remember too that Jesus said that He will give us “to eat of the tree of life; which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7) Eternal life, indeed. Stand in the offering plate.

Herein is Love - Part 626

There is no denying that God loved us enough to become our Saviour. That the same God who created the world decided before the world was formed to become a propitiation for our sins. Indeed, if we love Him enough to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved. (Romans 10:9) 

While no man hath seen God at any time, if we love one another, God dwells in us. His love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us because He hath given us His Spirit. This is the record that God hath given to us -- eternal life on earth as it is in heaven -- through the name of Jesus. The Lord of lords and King of kings. 

This is why the scriptures state that there is no other name whereby we can be saved. Jesus -- the only mediator between God and man. The Alpha and Omega. He made a way for you and I when there was no way of salvation. As a consequence, how could we -- the "whosoever" who had nothing to offer in return -- ever begin to fathom how the same God who created us in the beginning would love us so very much that He would shed His precious holy blood on the cross?

As John wrote, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live though Him." (I John 4:9) Jesus -- Almighty God in the flesh. The mystery hid in the bosom of the Father until the appointed time. Herein is love. Stand in the offering plate.

Hereby Know We the Spirit of Truth - Part 625

"Hereby perceive ye the love of God because He laid down His life for us." (I John 3:16)

As a consequence of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice that paid the price for our transgressions once and for all -- combined with His love -- His abundant grace -- His endless mercy -- His free gift of salvation to you and I, we can know without a doubt that we have passed from death unto life. The scriptures state: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." (I John 5:2) The scriptures here are not referring to Old Testament Law or the Ten Commandments dictated to those under the old covenant. Rather,  as Matthew 22:40 states: Jesus gave only two commandments and "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40)

These commandments? "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all my mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-40)

When we begin to willingly do His will and practice these commandments, we become partakers of the blessed gospel in Jesus. We become victorious in our daily lives. Why? Because the Bible states: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4) There is a justified rationale for this. They that are of the world speak only of the world and the world hears only them. But for those of us who trust in our Lord God and Saviour and know that He hears us, "hereby know we the spirit of truth." (I John 4:5-6) Think about this. If God so loved us enough to become the Saviour of this world -- and if we love Him enough to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and similarly believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, then we can rest in His blessings. The peace that passes all understanding.  

At the same time, we ought also to love one another. (Romans 10:9) While no man hath seen God at any time, if we love one another, God dwells in us. His love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us because He hath given us His Spirit. The Comforter that was promised from the beginning. 

Therefore we are no more strangers and foreigners in the gospel, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In whom -- as members of the body of Christ -- we also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The following conversation with Jesus in the book of Matthew is telling. "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? " They said unto Jesus, "The Son of David." And then Jesus said unto them, "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?" And as we see from the text, no man was able to answer Jesus. Not a word. Not even the lawyer could respond. In fact, "neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions."" (Matthew 22:42-45)

Give Jesus your heart today. Ask our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ to have His way in your life. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you -- according to the riches of His glory -- to be strengthened by His Spirit. Be rooted and grounded in Jesus' love. There is no other. Stand in the offering plate.

Who Is The Word? Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus - Part 624

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:35-39)

Further, "whosoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." (I John 5:1-4) But this begs the question. "Who is He that overcomes the world?" Verse five responds with the announcement that the individual who "believes that Jesus is the Son of God" has overcome the world. Indeed, people who believe the same Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. The First and the Last. The Everlasting. The Almighty God in the flesh. The Alpha and Omega. (Revelation 1:8) 

Indeed, Jesus -- The Word. The scriptures verify this point. I John 5:7 states: "there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." 

God descended. And man ascended. But throughout history, God revealed Himself to His people as a faithful creator .. a loving Saviour .. a holy Redeemer and  in these latter times, our forever friend. 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)

In other words, God did not send someone else to suffer the pain and agony of the cross. Or to pay the price for our transgressions. Rather, God Himself left His throne of glory, taking upon Himself the form of a servant in order that we might have salvation. That we as believers in Jesus might experience His abundant grace. His mercy. His love that surpasses all human understanding. 

God knew throughout that He would purposely be crucified, dying an unusually cruel death upon a Roman cross. Not that He as a Son did anything to deserve such cruel punishment. Still, Jesus stood before the judge to be tried, being falsely accused. As it is written in the scriptures, “They hated me without having a cause.” In fact, we read in the scriptures that Jesus' accusers fanatically mocked, scoffed, whipped, spat, and pulled at his beard before placing a crown of thorns upon His head.

Nevertheless, even in His death, He reigned supreme. Throughout, God was in the man Jesus. In fact, Jesus was the two Seeds of promise given by the Holy Spirit of God. The promise prophesied in the Old Testament, being “that the seed of a woman would bruise the serpent’s head.”  This promise was fulfilled by Jesus at Calvary, where Jesus laid down His natural life, offering His life as a sacrificial substitution for you and I. 

Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus who had never sinned gave up His own life for man’s redemption, providing an opportunity for Adam’s prone to sin race -- us -- to return to the God who loved us even before the world was shaped. The Spirit indwelling Jesus being Almighty God who for our sake manifested Himself as a Son - the Holy Spirit veiled in flesh. All the fullness of the Godhead did dwell within that body. God manifested as a Son in that body. What do the scriptures state?

If you have seen me, said Jesus, then you have seen the Father. I and my Father are one. The same God who made the world was in the world. Jesus then is the wisdom that was hid in the bosom of the Father until the appointed time - the very Word of God manifest. The book of John records that he had seen, and handled the Word of Life. The Word of life referred to here is Jesus. 

Moreover, the Holy Spirit who indwelt the man Jesus, raised the man Jesus from death prior to the body of Jesus entering the state of corruption. The Holy Spirit saying that He would not leave His body to see corruption. Therefore, when Jesus arose from the tomb He did so not as one of Adam’s descendants. Rather, Jesus died and was raised to life as a new Adam - the New Adam being the Lord God Himself -- still clothed in flesh but it was a new kind of flesh - a spiritual flesh.

In sum, the body of Jesus was the Holy Spirit body, for it was God who had laid aside His glory for our sake. The greatest love story ever told. Trust in Jesus today. Love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) Become more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves us. Stand in the offering plate. 

The Glorious Gospel of Jesus - Part 623

The good news is that we can trust Jesus with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds because it was He -- God in the flesh -- that made a way of salvation when there was no way. Indeed, Jesus made His light to shine in our hearts so that He could  share with us the knowledge of the glory of God that is evident in the face of Jesus the Christ. (II Corinthians 4:6) 

But unfortunately, the gods of this age have blinded the minds of many. To the point whereby unbelievers are unable to comprehend "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (II Corinthians 4:4) Rather, these same people fail to understand that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, and as such, we can rest in His blessed assurance. That you and I can be wholly satisfied in the knowledge that His light -- the gospel of Jesus that came about as a consequence of the cross -- can shine brightly within our hearts. 

Still, the gospel encourages believers in Jesus to "arise and shine and let our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ give them light." (Isaiah 60:1) The light that breaks forth like the dawn so that thy healing -- whatever healing that is needed -- quickly appears. Then, as the scriptures state, "will your righteousness go before you. The glory of the Lord will be your rereward. Then shall thou call and the Lord shall answer. Thou shalt cry and he shall say, Here I am." (Isaiah 58:8-11)

Jesus' invitation is for all of us who are weary and heavy laden, Jesus invites each and every one of us to come to Him. Come to Jesus -- your Lord God and Saviour. The Almighty God who is the first and the last. The beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega. The only mediator between God and man whereby we can be saved.

This is the light of the glorious gospel. The light that when "we all, with open face behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18)

It is this salvation that we yearn. John writes in I John 3:2 that "now we are the children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known." But what we do know is that "when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

This is why those who sleep need to awaken from their slumber. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves but to fully recognize that our sufficiency is in God our Saviour. Remembering the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead. [He] who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver -- in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." (II Corinthians 1:9-10) For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus our Lord. (II Corinthians 4:5) 

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and behold all things are become new. And all things are of God who hath reconciled the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:17) 

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:18-21) Therefore, let the light that is inherent in the gospel of Jesus rise in the darkness, so that our night can become like the noonday sun. (Isaiah 58:8-10)  Stand in the offering plate. 

Tasting the Good Word of God - Part 622

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:8-9)

Indeed, the gospel encourages believers to enter into His rest. In fact the scriptures encourage us to enter into His heavenly places. Hebrews 4:5 states: "If they shall enter into My rest." If we as believers in Jesus would "enter into the peace of God which passes all understanding" our hearts and minds would be kept in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)What an awesome place.

"The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Therefore, trust in our Lord God and Saviour. Be enlightened and taste of the heavenly gift that Jesus willingly gives to those who willingly do His will. Moreover, be partakers of the Holy Ghost as outlined in Acts chapter two. Finally, taste the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come. You will never be the same again. Stand in the offering plate.