New Life For The Nations

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

     There are lots of T.V. programs that are referred to as “reality shows.”  Supposedly, they present real life situations for people to relate to.  But, many of the programs are staged to show things not exactly as they are in reality.  What many call reality is not the real truth but the way they would like it to be.

     Sadly many living their “reality” are not aware of the truth they are missing.  As a Christian one must submit themselves to God, the Creator, and follow His Word to enjoy life as it is presented in His book, The Bible.  It is quite obvious that many people are not prone to this kind of thinking.  At the risk of sounding dogmatic, let me say this.  We believe God’s way is the only way to a truly fulfilling life.  That includes now and eternally ever after.  If we are truly a Christian, we must understand there is no way but God’s way, and we don’t decide the way ourselves.  We believe His Word and set our lives on what it says and means, not on what we want to make it say to better suit us.

     Jesus said He is the way and truth, and when we believe that, we will live a life based on real truth and not on some misunderstood reality.  God is God and we are not.  We must believe that and then strive to learn and obey the Word of God.  The Word was made Man so we could know how to relate to Him.  “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  He redeemed man with His own blood because He lived a sinless life.  Sin caused death to enter into the world.  A sinless man is never supposed to die but Jesus died.  If He was sinless, whose sin did He die for?  It was our sin that Jesus took to the cross, paid for, and rose again to justify us and reconcile us to God the Father.  What part do we play in the plan?  We just believe Jesus paid it all.  AMEN!!!

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday.  

The people cut palm branches, waved them in the air, and laid them out on the ground before Jesus as He rode into the city. The palm branch represented goodness and victory. This was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”   1 Corinthians 15:55 

The people were shouting  “Hosanna!” That word actually means “save now,” some of the people were waiting for an earthly king. But God had a different way of bringing salvation to all who would trust in Him. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”       Romans. 10:9

The Bible reads that Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Jesus must have known it would be some of these people who would turn their backs on Him. They would betray him and crucify him. His heart broke in knowing how much they needed a Savior.  “And as He (Jesus” approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace—your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness—depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes”.  Luke 19:41-42      

May this day, Palm Sunday remind us that God sent his only begotten Son in human flesh to be the ultimate sacrifice. Yes Friday is coming but so is Sunday. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,'” John 11:25

In prayer this week as what to write for the handout I heard Holy Spirit say, “It is time to gather the spoils.” This reminded me of the scripture in 2 Chronicles 20:20-25 “ When Jehoshaphat had consulted with the people he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and give thanks to him for his loving kindness endures forever. When they began to sing, the Lord set ambushments. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil it was more than they could carry away, so much so they were three days in gathering the spoil. 

 I have a word of encouragement to those who may be battle weary.  In spite of opposition or how circumstances may look like in the natural world right now your breakout is here.  We read in the Bible that when the thief is caught he must repay sevenfold.  The enemy has been found out and you are rising in victory. 

I encourage you to lift up your voice in praise today and shout out in victory.  It is time to collect the spoils. Strengthen yourself in the Lord as David did, But do not give up, for you shall surely overtake and without fail recover all!

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” Romans 10:1-2(NKJV)

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4(NKJV)

  I have heard about people that don’t agree with God’s version of the Bible but once I heard a man say that Paul’s writings should not have been put in the Bible.  Now why would one say that.  He must have been smarter than God and the Church fore-fathers.  The reason he said it was because it didn’t agree with his knowledge of Scripture.  What was it that bothered him?  It was Paul’s message about salvation by grace through faith.  He was like the Jews.  He couldn’t turn loose of the law.  Though they wouldn’t say remove Paul’s work, they still hold on to the religious law that can never do away with sin.  Don’t be caught in that trap.  Jesus set us free.  “Whom the SON sets free, is free indeed.  Live free!

What is happening at Asbury in Wilmore Kentucky and other college campuses?  Is it the great Awakening that everyone has prayed for?  Is it the last day Revival before the Lord’s return?   I don’t know.  I do know it has caught the attention of the world.  Everyone is talking about it on all the social media outlets.  I even heard Tucker Carlson on Fox News  interview a young lady about what is happening at Asbury.
It is just awesome to see  the worship and the crying out to God of the young people and those who are coming from miles to part of this.  So many have given up on the younger generation.  But God never has and His plan is fulfilling right before our eyes. 
Let us not be quick to put titles on what is happening and just be thankful for the lives that are changed and the Good News of the Gospel is going forth however long it continues. 

Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!  Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!  Let’s come before him with thanks!  Let’s shout songs of joy to him!  The Lord is a great God, the great king over all other gods.  Psalms 95:1-4

      Have you ever had someone tell you something and it kinda slaps you in the face.   Something  that leaves you saying, “are you kidding me.”   I  had this happen to me recently.   I was left wondering why this person would make the decision to do what they did.   I knew their heart and they would never do anything to disrespect me in any way.     

      A couple of days later  I completely gave it to the Lord.  In my prayer to the Father, “I didn’t understand the decision this person made or the why but I do know you  have it covered and it will be ok.  At the time I did not realize what had happened when I prayed that prayer.  I just knew I had peace and it was going to be ok.  Later on Holy Spirit explained to me I had a Psalms 46:10 experience.   “Be still and know that I am God”.  

“Be still”   This phrase is derived from the Hebrew word rapha which means “to be weak, to let go, to release.”  Or to surrender.  “And know”  This phrase, in its original Hebrew, taken together with “Be Still,” actually contains the meaning “in order to know.”  Surrender in order that you may know.  Know what-that I AM GOD.… I AM your present help, your refuge; your strength,  your comforter.   

      Could we read Psalms 46:10 as “Surrender in order to know that I am God”.   Surrender means to submit,  to give way,  to yield.  I released the situation to God.  I could  no longer feel the way I was feeling even though I did not understand the why of the decision that this person made.  Surrender is not agreeing with what may have been said or done.  Surrendering your feelings to God concerning what was done is freeing yourself.   God knew and in his time he told me from the very mouth of the person the reason for the decision they made.  

      Has there been something that  has been said or done to you that has left you not understanding the why.  Maybe the other person has no idea what they said or done to cause you to feel the way you do.  I encourage you to release it to God.  It is in surrender freedom comes.                           

What a great feeling to let go (surrender) and let God!

Victory in Jesus my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him.  And all my love is due Him.  He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.                                                                               

The word “redeemed” comes from the Greek word “agoradzo” and it means to buy out of the marketplace.  If you have been born again you have been redeemed.  The price that was paid for you was the precious blood of Christ.  

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.  1 Peter 1:18-19                                                                                                                                                                

I Am Redeemed – Jessie Dixon  I am redeemed, brought with a price has changed my whole life.  If anybody asks you, just who I am, tell them I am redeemed.  I’ll tell of His favor, I’ll tell of His love, I’ll tell of His goodness to me. He purchased my redemption with His own precious blood, and from sin I’ve been set free.There’s no shackles on me, I’m as free as I can be; because Jesus changed my life.  He died up on the cross, that’s why I can tell the world that I am redeemed”.     

John 3:16 sums up the New Testament’s redemption message. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to redeem each one who puts their faith in Him.  

From what source do you get information to live your life?

“But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” Heb. 10:3-4

     Under The Old Covenant the sacrifices given were only a reminder of sin.  It kept the people living in a sin conscious life looking forward to a time when sins would be taken away.  Jesus came and died on the cross to shed the blood that would not just cover sin, but do away with it forever.  In addition to the one offering of Christ bringing assurance of salvation, the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us through Jeremiah that God will work in us to produce new desires to do His will. Furthermore, whereas the Old Covenant could only bring a reminder of sins the New Covenant brings real forgiveness.

     We find our confidence to enter into God’s presence founded on the blood of Jesus and His high priestly ministry.  Our hope in God’s presence must be based on an assurance of the justifying power of the blood of Christ and the sanctifying cleansing of the Word of God.

     The confession of our hope of the future consummation of our salvation will never waver as long as it is  grounded on the faithfulness of the One who promised. We must not rest our hope on our own good works.  Satan can cause anyone to doubt if they have a righteous life and therefore make us doubt our salvation but he cannot undo what God did for us in Jesus Christ.  We need to believe in Jesus’ blood and walk by the Holy Spirit.  In that we can be secure in our hope for the future.

What a wonderful time of the year!  This is the season we celebrate the birth of our Savior.   

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given- he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”    Isaiah 9:6.

We call him “Jesus” the name the angel gave to Joseph. “And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name “Jesus” for he will save his people from their sins”.  Matthew 2:21

What a person was named in Biblical times would signify a person.  It would imply such as rank or authority.  The name “Jesus” means “savior” and “deliverer”.  Jesus announced his purpose for coming in Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost”.  Jesus the Savior came to restore peace by reconciling all of Creation to God. Colossians 1:19-20 says that God was reconciling to himself all things through Jesus. By restoring our right relationship to God, Jesus also opened the door for us to live in right relationships with each other, Creation, and ourselves.

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices.  My flesh also will rest(dwell in security) in hope.” Ps. 16:9

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Rom.8:19

     The title of my sermon today is “Is your hope secure?”  “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”  Your hope does not rest on what you have done, but on what Jesus has done.  He is your hope for the future because He has done all that is necessary for you to have secure hope.

     The Psalmist in the above verse says his heart(spirit), glory(soul), and his flesh(body) rests in secure hope.  Hope doesn’t doubt that God is faithful and His promises are true.  There is a big difference between the “hope” of the world and the “hope” of God’s Word.  When the world says, “I hope it will work, but it may not” it really means “I want it to work, but you never know if it will or not.”  Biblical hope says, “God said it so it will work”  If this is true as the Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1

     In this morning’s sermon I plan to explain the value of hope and its trustworthiness as we remember that His word says He cannot lie.  If He says something, He will do it.  It is not for us to figure out how He is going to do it or when, we are called to “only believe”.  Have faith in God and leave it all in God’s hands. Trust and obey. Amen