Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.20 Messages From Heaven! #6

 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

We saw last time that John the Baptizer testified that Jesus was the Son of God, and that “He” would increase while John himself would decrease. In fact, Herod would put John to death not long after this time, so let’s not miss the import of John’s message. While John was speaking of the physical realm, the principle is also true in the spiritual realm. When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, yielding our will to His, and surrendering our control to Him—knowing the more we yield to Him the more His power and presence increase in our lives, and the more our will can decrease. It’s the same principle that Paul talked to the Galatians about:

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live

by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.” Galatians 2:20

And we see this message painted out in the examples in John 4. Here we find a woman who was consumed with her own ways—ways of delusion, disappointment, doubt and discouragement due to a life out of control. Yet her life had a “changer” on the way, a Savior who would change her life, her heart and her influence. And on top of all of that, she was a woman of Samaria—those hated by the Jews– yet Jesus, in love, had an appointment there, a divine appointment with an outcast, immoral woman (Like me!).

“And he must needs go through Samaria.”    John 4:4

Why would Jesus “need” to go through Samaria? Because there was someone there He intended to encounter with an amazing “Message from Heaven”! While John 3 finds Jesus revealing to Nicodemus that He had come to save those who would believe, and John the Baptizer clearly gave testimony that Jesus was/is the Son of God, Jesus intended to reveal even more truth at this ‘appointment’. Let’s dig in.

“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.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria

to draw water:

Jesus saith unto her,

Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away

unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

How is it that thou,

being a Jew,

askest drink of me,

which am a woman of Samaria?

for the Jews have no dealings

with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water.

11 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with,

and the well is deep:

from whence then

hast thou

that living water?

12 Art thou greater

than our father Jacob,

which gave us the well,

and drank thereof himself,

and his children,

and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh

of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh

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 4:6-14

We find Jesus sitting alone at the well of Sychar, when this woman comes to draw water. The question comes to mind, why would she come alone, and why at noon rather than in the cool of the morning or evening? It is very likely that this woman’s past had caused her to be an outcast among the women of the town, and it was simpler for her to go and draw water at noon rather than to endure the snide remarks and rejection that would be normal fare if she went to draw water with the women of the city. We do know that she was there alone with Jesus for this encounter, and Jesus was never anywhere by chance or mistake! Amen!

Jesus begins the conversation with this woman with a simple request for a drink of water. Oh, how much we could learn from the Master about how to handle our encounters with people God sends our way. We don’t have to be a great orator or evangelist, we simply need to encounter people with the simple things of life, and be ready with the Good News as the opportunities presents itself. This woman, like us, is only seeing the physical, she is seeing only with her eyes, not her heart—yet! But Jesus has a plan as He piques her interest by talking about “water” that will spring up and quench thirst “eternally”! Now she becomes the one asking questions. Yet what He is about to reveal openly and clearly for the fist time, that we have a record of, is the greatest “Message from Heaven” ever, and this lowly, sinful Samaritan woman has been chosen to receive the message!

“The woman saith unto him,

Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her,

Go,

call thy husband,

and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said,

I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her,

Thou hast well said,

I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands;

and he whom thou now hast

is not thy husband:

in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain;

and ye say, that in Jerusalem

is the place where men

ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her,

Woman, believe me,

the hour cometh,

when ye shall neither

in this mountain,

nor yet at Jerusalem,

worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what:

we know what we worship:

for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh,

and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit

and in truth:

for the Father seeketh

such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him

in spirit

and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him,

I know that Messias cometh,

which is called Christ:

when he is come,

he will tell us

all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her,

I that speak unto thee am he.” John 4:15-26

What an amazing encounter; yet this woman (again like most of us) is still perceiving only the physical, and she asks for this water, but why?

“Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.”

She simply wanted to have her physical needs met, and to save her time and energies for other things than having to come to the well every day to draw water. But what Jesus had to tell her would go much farther and be of more import than to simply save a few steps, and meet physical needs. Jesus was talking about greater water than H2O! But what a unique way to turn her attention to the spiritual; Jesus now asks about her personal life. “Go, call thy husband, and come hither”! Jesus turned her attention to her heart condition, and while her answer was still in the physical somewhat, Jesus uses this opportunity to reveal himself to the brokenness within her heart. In her answer that “I have no husband”, she has finally opened her heart to The One who already knew her condition, but He is leading her to see her own condition as God sees it. And only when we see our lost, sinful condition, will we recognize our need for a Savior.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:10-11

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Jesus was bringing this precious woman—this outcast from her society, but loved by God—to encounter the Savior of the world, the Son of God, in fact Jesus would give her a distinction that would amaze even His disciples. He was not only talking to a woman (something that wasn’t done in that day), but He was talking to a Samaritan woman, an immoral woman. What did Jesus have to say to her?

“For thou hast had five husbands;

and he whom thou now hast

is not thy husband:

in that saidst thou truly.”

Jesus knew this woman and her issues, and this revelation is finally getting her thoughts to turn to her real need, not just her “thirst”! She begins to question who this man is, who can tell her the truth about herself. Yet, I find it most interesting that she attempts to distract Jesus from her own “sin”, and brings up the subject of “denominational” differences (so to speak)—who is right about where to worship! But Jesus is not deterred from His mission of revealing Himself to her. He answers her question with the truth of “Who” God really is—The God who is seeking those who desire to worship Him “in spirit and in truth”! And remember, we know “WHO” truth is—Jesus! And this woman is about to find that out! Amen, and Praise the Lord—He’s still revealing Himself to sinners today!

“But the hour cometh,

and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit

and in truth:

for the Father seeketh

such to worship him.”

God knows how to reach those willing to hear and receive His “message”! And God knows those who are truly His own—those who truly receive His saving grace!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”    2 Timothy 2:19

This precious woman is about to understand, while she has asked Jesus if He is greater than Jacob, now she asks about the promised Messiah, knowing that “he will tell us all things”! Finally, she has asked the right question, of the right person, and HE is about to reveal to this precious outcast woman the truth of the ages—redeeming grace!

“Jesus saith unto her,  

I that speak unto thee am he”!!!!!

Jesus IS the Messiah—the Lamb of God, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (See John 1:29)! And that my friends, IS the “Message From Heaven”, and it is the message that we must share with confidence and boldness. Let’s be busy about the “Father’s business”! The days are short and the time of HIS coming is near—we surely want to hear “well done” when He comes for us!

But let’s not miss the rest of the story. What was the woman’s response—because as great as the message IS, we must respond in repentance and faith to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord as the payment for OUR SIN!!! Those who receive Jesus for who HE IS, can’t help but share the truth of His life-changing, transforming power. What did this woman do?

“The woman then left her waterpot,

and went her way into the city,

and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man,

which told me

all things that ever I did:

is not this the Christ?

30 Then they went out of the city,

and came unto him.” John 4:28-30

She spread the message! And I find it interesting that when she went to share the message she had just heard and received, she says that Jesus “told me all things that ever I did”, yet Jesus’ conversation only dealt with one of her issues—yet when we come to Jesus HE cleanses us of ALL sin! He cleans us up from top to bottom, and that’s what this woman had found in Him, and she readily shares the Good News. And at her testimony they went out to hear Him, invite Him into their city and received His message. It’s amazing what can happen when we encounter the Savior and receive His salvation and then share it with others.

“And many of the Samaritans

of that city

believed on him

for the saying of the woman,

which testified,

He told me all that ever I did.

40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him,

they besought him

that he would tarry with them:

and he abode there two days.

41 And many more believed

because of his own word;

42 And said unto the woman,

Now we believe,

not because of thy saying:

for we have heard him ourselves,

and know that this is indeed

the Christ,

the Saviour of the world.”

So let’s be bold to share the “Message From Heaven”-Jesus!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #308 Messages From Heaven??? #5

 

We talked last time about the things that Jesus revealed about Himself to Nicodemus. And today we will continue to look at John chapter 3 for what John the Baptizer had to say about Jesus. Because, my friends, WHO Jesus is, IS the issue—

He is the promised Messiah—

He is The Word—

He is the Light of the world—

He is THE Way—The Only Way–

The Way—

The Truth—

The Life!

Without Jesus, God in the flesh, and His substitutionary, redeeming death for us, we would have no hope. And if you choose to reject HIM, then you have no other hope! Not a very welcome stand to take but it is what Jesus said Himself about the way to God.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

So what did John have to say about this One come from God? Let’s dig in and examine John 3:25-36.

“Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he

that was with thee beyond Jordan,

to whom thou barest witness,

behold, the same baptizeth,

and all men come to him.”

This conversation began between John’s followers and the Jewish leaders. It seems that they are trying to cause a rift between John and Jesus, and if you remember Jesus knew that the Jewish religious leaders had not believed in John, or his “baptism” (See Matthew 21:24-26). So why would they bring up this question except to slight John and Jesus—since they didn’t believe that either one was truly from God or preaching God’s truth. John in his wisdom answered them with the truth about himself, and Jesus, whether they received it or not. And we can learn a lot from his response: not just how to respond, but also to understand that regardless of the wisdom of our response, not everyone will receive what we say or believe it. 

“27 John answered and said,

A man can receive nothing,

except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness,

that I said,

I am not the Christ,

but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride

is the bridegroom:

but the friend of the bridegroom,

which standeth and heareth him,

rejoiceth greatly

because of the bridegroom’s voice:

this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase,

but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above

is above all:

he that is of the earth

is earthly,

and speaketh of the earth:

he that cometh from heaven

is above all.

32 And what he hath seen

and heard,

that he testifieth;

and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony

hath set to his seal

that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent

speaketh the words of God:

for God giveth not the Spirit by measure

unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son,

and hath given all things

into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son

hath everlasting life:

and he that believeth not the Son

shall not see life;

but the wrath of God

abideth on him.” John 3:25-36

That last verse is the point—You will choose, but there is only ONE way to God. You can choose to come to Jesus, the Savior, Redeemer and The Lamb who died for YOU and ME! You can receive the word of John and rejoice in this One who loves you more than life itself; who has given HIS life for us. And He will also give us all we need to live for HIM.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

Rejoice in who HE is and what HE has done, is doing and will do for you, for me!!! Eternal life or eternal death—the choice is yours and mine, so choose wisely, for when we belong to Him we can stand in the truth knowing that we have:

“all things

that pertain

unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge

of him

that hath called us

to glory and virtue”

Jesus has called us to “glory and virtue”, but not our own—His glory and His virtue, which He lovingly and willingly imparts to us. We have but to keep our eyes on Jesus, and follow His Spirit’s leading as we live day by day. It truly is ALL about Jesus. Press on dear ones—IN HIM!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”     Hebrews 12:1-2

Bible Ballistics: BBs #307 Messages From Heaven??? #4

 

Continuing in our look at the Gospel of John and the Good News from Heaven, we get to John chapter 3—one of the most familiar of all chapters of the Bible. Here, once again, we have the testimony Jesus Himself, and one of the final recorded testimonies of John the Baptizer, and yet the two accounts recorded in John 3 are often overlooked because of the attention given to verse 16—important truly, but there is so much more in this great chapter. Let’s dig in.

As the religious leader, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night to inquire of this young Rabbi, the things he heard were clearly new and immediately incomprehensible by this leader and teacher. Yet Jesus took His time to bring him to a place of comprehension (He’ll do the same thing for us if we will but come to Him!). And we know that while Nicodemus came by night (probably to avoid being ridiculed by his peers for coming to talk to Jesus), we also know that his timidity had passed by the time of the trial, and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ—two ‘secret’ disciples found the courage to express their love for Jesus publicly, even if it seemed to be “too little, too late”. But we know that it wasn’t “too late”—because His burial wasn’t the end of the Master and Lord! Sunday was coming!

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” John 19:38-40

But back to our focus for today—looking at the message of Jesus to Nicodemus and then the message of John to his followers about Jesus.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

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.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one that is born

of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him,

Art thou a master of Israel,

and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

We speak that we do know,

and testify that we have seen;

and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things,

and ye believe not,

how shall ye believe,

if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended

up to heaven,

but he that came down

from heaven,

even the Son

of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds

were evil.” John 3:1-19

Jesus came that we could have eternal life, abundant life, new birth life, powerful, life-changing “life” IN HIM!!! And who is this “life-changer”?

The Only begotten Son–

The Savior for the world—

The Light of God—

The One come down from heaven—

The Son of Man (God taking on flesh to die for us.) —

The One who would be “lifted up” to die in our place—

And while it’s not recorded in John chapter 3, it is clearly proclaimed by our Savior in chapter 14:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

HE IS COMING AGAIN!!! For us!

Are you ready for His return? I pray that you will hear the voice of His Spirit and come to Him if you don’t know Him. And if you know Him, that these truths will encourage you to share truth with those around you know who need to hear it. Praying that we believers will be diligent and busy in these last days. Remember we are to be salt and light—let’s make a difference today. We’ll finish looking at John 3 next time.

 

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.19    Messages From Heaven???#3

 

As we continue to look at the “Messages From Heaven” in the Gospel of John, I’d like to finish up our look at John 1 & 2. As Jesus begins His public ministry, on His way to Calvary, He is identified as The One whom God promised would deliver mankind from sin—both its penalty and its power!!! Mary and Joseph were the first ones to receive this good news (Not disregarding Elizabeth and Zachariah who were told that John would go before ‘Him’, and they were privy to Mary being the mother of this promised One).

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23

God had promised to come and deliver us via the ‘Messiah’, and that is exactly who Jesus IS, why He came, and what He came to do! He came to deliver all, who will come to Him, from the penalty of SIN—Hell, and that is an amazingly good message! Mary’s son was to be called ‘Jesus’ because that name meant one that would save; and the only one who could save, was God Himself come in the flesh, ‘Emmanuel’—“God with us”! And that my friends, is good, Good News!

As the ‘forerunner’, John the Baptizer was given a sign so he would recognize this One who had come to deliver His people—to die for their sin, and give them new life.

“And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:33-34

What is the significance of Jesus being the one who “baptizeth with the Holy Ghost”? In a word—transformation! Jesus came to die for us that we might be made the children of God, and to impart to us the indwelling Holy Spirit. It took the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to pay for our sin, and to usher in the “New Covenant” which would change the “Law of God” from an engraving on stone to His Spirit ‘writing’ on our hearts to lead, guide and direct our every step. (See Galatians 5:16 & 25) Giving us the privilege to “….. come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16b) This New Covenant was promised by God and prophesied by both Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

“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. 26 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. 27 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

The same principle that Paul declares in his letters:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:15

Jesus came so that we could become the children of God; that we could be born again by the ‘Spirit of God’; that we would receive the empowering Holy Spirit to direct our walk in God’s way rather than our own. And how was this made possible? By the coming of “Messiah”, and John helps us see Jesus as this ONE! The Good News from Heaven!! This ‘Son of God’, come in flesh, to be the ‘Son of Man’ who would pay for SIN; the ‘Deliverer’ who would save all who repent and trust in His substitutionary sacrifice, receiving His forgiveness, as well as His Spirit to direct our steps.

So what else does the Apostle John reveal about this new itinerate preacher, Jesus.

“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him,

We have found the Messias,

which is, being interpreted,

the Christ.” John 1:41

“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.” John 1:43

“Nathanael answered and saith unto him,

Rabbi,

thou art the Son of God;

thou art the King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Hereafter ye shall see heaven open,

and the angels of God ascending

and descending

upon the Son of man.” John 1:49-51

“Jesus answered and said unto them,

Destroy this temple,

and in three days

I will raise it up.

20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

22 When therefore he was risen

from the dead,

his disciples remembered

that he had said this

unto them;

and they believed the scripture,

and the word which Jesus had said.”     John 2:19-22

Jesus came to accomplish the will of God—God’s will and plan to redeem mankind, all who will come to Him. He accomplished all that He came to do, all because God loves you and me—He loves the world and:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering

to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come

to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord God Almighty sent Jesus to be our substitute—to die in our place, for all who will but repent of their sin and believe in His substitutionary death for “ME” and “YOU”! In a sense it doesn’t really matter that He died for the world, if I don’t recognize that HE died for ME! I must see my own need; I must see that I have a problem that I can’t solve, and that only Jesus has a solution which I can’t live without; and when I see Jesus as my own personal deliverer and bow before Him—all things can be made new. Peter’s message about Jesus on the day of Pentecost, after the followers of Jesus received the gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us understand that all that happened to Jesus was according to God’s plan. And my friends, if God can work out every intricate detail of the life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation—HE can take care of you and your life everyday and in every way. His message from heaven is that HE loves YOU, and that Jesus came for YOU and ME!!! If we will but look up and receive Him by faith.

“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:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.

25 For David speaketh concerning him,

I foresaw the Lord always before my face,

for he is on my right hand,

that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice,

and my tongue was glad;

moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul

in hell,

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One

to see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me

the ways of life;

thou shalt make me full of joy

with thy countenance.

29 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.

30 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;

31 He seeing this before

spake of the resurrection of Christ,

that his soul was not left in hell,

neither his flesh did see corruption.

32 This Jesus hath God raised up,

whereof we all are witnesses.

33 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 ye now see and hear.”     Acts 2:22-33

And “which ye now see and hear”—right here, right now—the “Message From Heaven”—Jesus who came  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (See john 10:10). I

Praise God, He had and has a plan for you and me, if we will but receive it. The Good News from heaven is that God loves you and Jesus died that you might have that abundant LIFE! And how can we know this? First of all, because God cannot lie; and secondly, because when we receive Jesus, He will come to dwell within the new heart that HE gives to all who will believe and open the door to His knock.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”     Revelation 3:20

As one of my favorite hymns says:

“He lives! He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today!

You ask me how I know He lives?

HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART!”

From ‘He Lives’ by Carlton Pearson

And for each of us who belong to Him, may we live as a reflection of HIS light and glory before a world of darkness and corruption. May we truly be an irrefutable testimony before the world that “HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART”!!!

 

And that should be seen in:

My words—

My deeds—

My responses–

My choices—

My walk—

My passions—

My allegiance—

My devotion!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #306 Messages From Heaven??? #2

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

As we continue to look at the “messages from heaven” which we find in the Gospel of John, we will consider another name of Jesus in chapter one of John. We talked last time about the significance of “The Word” and its clear reference to the deity, and creative nature of Jesus as the Son of God. It is imperative that we recognize that Jesus IS God! Without that acknowledgment we will never understand the Good News of the Gospel, nor the unparalleled love of God for mankind. Jesus, as God, laid aside His glory and the complete display of His power to take on human flesh. He confined Himself to a body of flesh for some 33 years and walked among us to reveal the Father to us, and to be the sacrifice for our sin. And that is what I’d like us to look at today.

While these two names of Jesus (The Word and The Lamb of God) are not technically part of the “I Am”s that John records in his Gospel, they do lay the foundation for our recognition of not only “who” Jesus was/is, but also what He came to do, be the perfect sacrifice, which He alone could accomplish– the sacrifice required by God for the salvation/redemption of mankind, the world (See John 3:16).

Jesus wasn’t’ an after-thought to deal with the sin of man, rather God had planned salvation before the creation of man, to provide for our failure. That thought, as much as anything I know about God, has amazed me beyond measure—that God would create us knowing that we would fail Him and choose to sin, and yet He not only creates us, regardless of that knowledge, but He already provided for our salvation before the “beginning”—He loved us that much! He loves YOU that much!

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest

in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him

do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith

and hope

might be in God.”     1 Peter 1:18-21

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4

I am so grateful that God loved us that much—that He wanted to have a relationship with us knowing that the price for that relationship would be His Only Begotten Son! Yet He created us anyway, and saves and delivers those who will come to Him in repentance and faith: repentance from our sin, and faith in the sinless Savior and His death, burial and resurrection for man’s sin.

“Moreover, brethren,

I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you

first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

And praise God He came for me, and for you!!! And that is what John the Baptizer declared before the world as Jesus began His public ministry– This “Lamb” which had been promised.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said,

After me cometh a man

which is preferred before me:

for he was before me.”     John 1:29-30

The “Lamb of God”, the one whom God had promised would come and resolve the “sin” problem: But why a Lamb? Because only the sacrifice of a perfect, spotless offering could pay for the sin of man, and Jesus was that spotless, sinless “Lamb of God” who “taketh away the sin of the world”! Because “….. without shedding of blood is no remission.” (See Hebrews 9:22) Jesus took away sin with His own life’s blood on Calvary, all for you and me. He had no sin but He gave His sinless life for my sinFUL one! This Lamb from heaven—who was before John because He IS God! John was about 6 months older than Jesus so he wasn’t referring to their physical age, but to the deity of Jesus and His eternal existence—the ONE who come in flesh and blood to DIE for you and me!!!

“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.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

What will you do with the Lamb of God? Will you reject His sacrifice for you or will you bow before Him and let Him make you a new creature. The choice is yours, and the message is for all—“he shall save his people from their sins”! Will you be one of “his people”? He came for you.

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.” John 10:26-28

Praise God He came to pay the price for our sin “according to the scriptures”– God promised, and God always keeps HIS promises.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs,

and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But 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.

6 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.

7 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.” Isaiah 53:4-7

Jesus didn’t have to speak because HE IS THE WORD–His person, life, ministry, death and resurrection said it all. What will you do with the “Lamb of God”? The choice is yours, and we who belong to Him need to live like HIS sheep before the world!